If I were speaking just for myself, I most likely would have come right out and told them why I wouldn't help, but this particular inquiry came to me by way of a much larger company which provides many necessary referrals. I didn't want it to reflect back on them if I had been too outspoken for one thing; and, for another, even the existence of a previous allegation, no matter how false, puts a man in a bad light. I'm not sure that if I'd told them why I was refusing, they wouldn't have gone to the larger company and claimed that they were doing business with an "abuser". I can't afford those kinds of bumps in my business.
I told the referring company that current cash flow simply didn't allow me to make any kind of contribution at this time.
bump!