It means you give his grantor(s) shit and they pass the shit dowwards onto your adversary. As an example, when in a dispute with a large corporation I will send certified mail about the problem to the Chairman of the Board, his secretary usually passes the message down to the right person within the corporation to resolve the problem. When the COB's office asks you to jump you ask; "how high sir?"

In the case of a contracted party, i.e.; a reseller -- the message will get immediate attention as the contracting party wants to preserve its good relationship with its better. Easier to resolve the problem then get into a long go-round with the granting party i.e.; the ISP.

The shit flows downhill method almost always works. The VP at MCI taught me this when I worked for them 30 years ago.