I am bringing this up because twice this month previous customers have inquried about returning for service. Both customers asked if we still had copies of their files. As a provider, you can’t help but feel bad when a customer requests to cancel service.

Usually you delete all the files and use the server for something else or for a different customer. We started compressing customer files and storing them on tapes for a period of 12 months. When customer cancel (at least in our case) they do so becuase they either found a cheaper provider, were bought out or obsorbed by another company, or simply closed up shop. I have run into all 3 over the last few years, but it seems most of them return because we provided such good service. As sad as it sounds, sometimes customers need to see that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

If you are a service provider, you may want to take the extra 10 minutes to archive your customer data. It really makes you look like a rockstar when you can turn up a returning customer with their old data.