WHAT IS KICK-BACK MONEY?

Kick-back money has been around since the beginning of time.  It is money that impacts many business deals, and it is prevalent in many governments.

When a company or a government undertakes a project and agrees to a contract for a contractor to take on the project, without a restrictive bidding process in place, this gives the person(s) who is in power the ability to receive kick-back money.

The person in power may get several bids, even if it is not a requirement, and they make a deal with the bidder who agrees to give them the most kick-back money.  Example:  A project may be awarded for six billion dollars, but the person in power receives two billion dollars back, leaving the contractor to do the project for four billion, and the person(s) in power deposits the two billion in their personal account, or in some off-shore account.

When is it apparent that kick-back money has played a part in any given project?

• When a project is awarded to a contractor at a far greater price than the work can be obtained from another contractor.
• When the project is poorly constructed, does not work right, is unstable, and does not meet even minimum standards of competency.

When you see projects that are way over-priced, and are produced in a shoddy manner, you should stop and ask, "Why is this happening?"