What’s the dumbest way you’ve ever received a document from a client?

The Most Unconventional Ways Clients Have Submitted Documents

As professionals, we often find ourselves navigating a minefield of client submissions that can at times be less than conventional. Have you ever had a document sent to you in a way that left you scratching your head? I certainly have one such experience that still makes me chuckle.

Once, I received a document from a client in the most bizarre manner imaginable. They sent me a photograph of a PDF file displayed on their iPad—captured using a Samsung phone—and then emailed it over. Believe it or not, we had to manually process that invoice!

This got me thinking: what are some of the strangest or most problematic document submissions you’ve encountered? From handwritten notes to upside-down scans or files renamed in cryptic ways—like “Image(345).jpg”—the possibilities are endless.

I’m on a quest to gather these amusing anecdotes as I work on a project aimed at tackling these challenges in document submission. I’m not selling anything; I simply want to know I’m not alone in this chaotic world of client communications.

Feel free to share your stories in the comments! I’m eager to hear about the unique experiences you’ve had with document submissions. Let’s bond over the quirks of our profession!