left company and started on my own..

[acer1]

recently I was let go by my company that I was working for 10 years
it was a consulting/crm type of buisiness

Since then I sortoff have been doing some freelance crm consulting work on my own but here's the problem few of my "old" clients have started contacting me for work but technically they're my old companies clients
however they no longer want to deal with my old company but rather switch all services to me

what should I do? I know I signed a contract way back (old company) but I cant seem to find that contract but Im pretty sure I'm not allowed to contact anyone when I leave the company

[eliz4biz]

Usually a non compete is in place for at least a year. You NEED to find that copy or contact your previous company's HR dept. and ask for a copy. It may be that you did not sign a non compete at all or you may have signed one for years...you do need to find out as you could be sued.

By the way, you sound a lot like me. Check out my website Corporate Downsizing American Dream - Home Corporate Downsizing
The company I left wanted me to sign saying that I would not work in my industry at all for one year. I told them that would effect my livelihood and they backed off. Even though I have no intentions of going back to the corporate world, I did not want that hanging over my head.