The Owe Zone

Sometimes the accountant isn't above pointing a finger back at the client. "I filed a return for that already," says John Blumenthal, accountant for Beach Sports International, whose general manager had directed to Blumenthal all questions about the company's purported $7599.26 debt. "[The owners] should've gotten the bill. Whether it's been paid or not I can't tell."

Most often, however, it's all a big misunderstanding. "I don't owe anything," barks Graziano Sbroggio, general manager of Tiramesu Restaurant. "Where did you get that list? There is a big mistake! We pay off everything!