I never got the hot flue warning but I did get one about never putting water on a chimney fire, and of course I tried it anyway about six months in, figuring what could go wrong. Turns out a lot, and I looked like a total idiot standing there in the driveway with a soaked porch and a neighbor laughing at me. My old boss just shook his head and said he hoped the lesson stuck better than his words did. It did stick, but my pride took a while to recover. Some lessons you just have to learn the hard way, and some you get lucky enough to hear first.

That "ask who their AP person is" tip is solid gold and I wish I'd known it years ago. Had a client once who took almost five months because their bookkeeper retired and the new person was only part time, so checks went out maybe once a month if you were lucky. The worst part was nobody told me, so I just kept sending polite emails into the void like a fool. Learned the hard way to get a name and a direct line before I lift a finger. Your Boise story beats mine though, 14 emails is a lot of patience.