In a dilemma!! Need some help/advice ASAP

I got laid off more than 2 months ago after 8-1/2 years, no severance, no nothing, not even a thank you from owner or my boss.

My former supervisor emailed me yesterday and asked multiple (8-10) questions about a software program I used for the position so he can work on it. They are detailed questions and will take hours to explain or answer.

What do I do?

thanks

still open to more suggestions!

Politely, but firmly and unequivocally. Advise that you will NOT BEGIN ANY WORK on the questions until you've received at least half of the fee. If they refuse, simply refuse to answer any of the questions. You don't work there anymore and you are not obligated or required to do anything they ask. If they're having trouble with a program or anything else you worked on, that's their damned problem and they should have thought of that before letting you go.

I've had that same problem after being terminated from positions. One boss got rid of me before realizing how difficult and involved some of the files I was working on were and went nuts trying to figure them out. When she called to ask about them and refused to pay me for helping out on them, I told her where she could put it and never looked back.

You are NOT NOT NOT NOT in ANY way obligated or required to do ANYTHING for employers once they've let you go. What can they do to you if you refuse, they've already gotten rid of you so they can't threaten your job. If they won't pay you, politely refuse any assistance and don't look back. And be firm about it.

here is contents of what I said and confirmed in an email:

I would be willing to work as consultant/contractor to either help you learn or part time on the Robohelp files for company.

I just felt you were asking too many questions – I indicated I would have helped with a question or two, but this is way too many and too involved, would take quite a bit of time and lead to more questions in the future.

I hope you understand my position.

My former boss then said on phone he was expecting this and then replied the next morning with:

my name,
Talked to owner and we decided that we do not need your services at this time.

Please keep in touch (I will do so also).

boss's name

So that's it... and no more looking back! I'm MOVIN'ON!

the way it should have been; polite and professional, but firm. There's no point to getting nasty and angry, especially when you may need them for references in the future, so you were correct in explaining your position but doing so in a way that didn't burn any bridges. Good luck.

for references. All the remaining employees (16) were told "specifically not to be business references" for us. And my boss did not return the calls from a recruiter I was working with after she left 3 messages.

The hardest thing is that the others laid off were there just over a year and they still had other current business references. I was there 8-1/2 years, my previous employer was in another state and my boss died, his replacement was European and is in France somewhere, so I am screwed for current business references. One of the managers still at the old job will be a reference, but who really cares what somebody I worked for/with 9 years ago says?

they take the position that going beyond that is a risk.

i am reluctant to provide references until I am in serious consideration for a position, and by that time, sometimes the references become moot, because they have already formed their own opinions....