Customer won't pay bill

[Oakey]

How much did you charge him for this job? Or did I miss that post..
Most of us just did quartely taxes and a reduction in price would not happen right now :-o

 

[1793]

and learn from this incident.

He agreed to pay 250 bucks for the backhoe work. I'll ask the excavator if he can reduce his bill by 50 bucks.

He wants me to sign a release of lien? I'm thinking if he pays in full, why do I need to sign the release.

I have to go to the customers place Friday to set GFCIs and check out the rest of the installation.

Thanks for the advice.

Mike

If he fired you and won't pay why go back to finish? Could hold this as a bargaining chip?

 

[celtic]

He wants me to sign a release of lien? I'm thinking if he pays in full, why do I need to sign the release.

Exactly...why?
Not why do you have to sign the release, but WHY is he in such a hurry?

I have to go to the customers place Friday to set GFCIs and check out the rest of the installation.

I wouldn't be going over there with any intentions on working....at this point, let HIM pony up ALL the money and then you'll see where he is on your schedule.

 

[Sonny Boy]

I'm gonna gamble

I'm gonna gamble

I wouldn't be going over there with any intentions on working....at this point, let HIM pony up ALL the money and then you'll see where he is on your schedule.

I'll have his check in my pocket before I finish the job.

Besides, I want to check out the finished product.

 

[brian john]

1st This guy is a lying cheap SOB that knew from the beginning what he was going to do.

2nd I would never ask my sub to eat something that was my problem and responsibility, unless you have other work where you would use him allowing him to make it up.

3rd Not sure where you live, but 300.00 dollars to excavate, seems WAY TOO LOW.

4th I would not finish the job or get the final inspection till you resolve this issue, you can do court, but I say cut your loses. If the bill is 1000.00 he wants to pay 750.00 get 900.00.

5th Small claim court rules vary from state to state, check your states website.

 

[Sonny Boy]

2nd I would never ask my sub to eat something that was my problem and responsibility, unless you have other work where you would use him allowing him to make it up.

I'm paying the sub 300 bucks.

3rd Not sure where you live, but 300.00 dollars to excavate, seems WAY TOO LOW.

It is cheap. He said he could of hired a local guy for 200 bucks.

4th I would not finish the job or get the final inspection till you resolve this issue, you can do court, but I say cut your loses. If the bill is 1000.00 he wants to pay 750.00 get 900.00.

The work passed the PoCo and State inspections prior to the disagreement.

5th Small claim court rules vary from state to state, check your states website.

That may be an option.

 

[Sonny Boy]

On Second Thought

On Second Thought

I'm going to tell the customer I want cash before completing the work and signing the release of lien.

 

[Minuteman]

I learned this from a collection agency. Have your CPA send this guy a 1099 for the whole amount. The law recognizes the fact that a person cannot be unjustly enriched. You produced labor and material, therefore, he has to report it on his taxes, and you can deduct it on yours.

 

[bradleyelectric]

What ever you do, have an alibi. : )

I once knew a guy that hired a company that guaranteed to get his money. The next day they showed up handed him his money, less their cut of course, and later he read in the paper where his customer was found beaten in his driveway.

Anyway I can get his collection agents #? Noone I have ever tried to use has ever gotten me a dime. I would not have any remorse over anything that happened to someone that desided to rip me off. We do a quality job at a fair price.

 

[renosteinke]

Back to the basics

Back to the basics

I learned long ago that there are folks out there who deliberatley look for others to victimize. These folks know all the rules full well beforehand, then deliberately lead you into breaking them ... laying the groundwork to screw you later.

For example, they search out unlicensed contractors. No license, no right to lien, no need to pay. They then dribble out just enough cash to keep the job going, and follow that with defer, delay, excuses ... until finally telling you to get lost.

A written contract can help define just what the agreement is between you and the customer. Folks are simply famous for loving you up to the moment they get a bill; then they find all manner of faults. Even if it's just "your word againt his," take him to court. Let him do his own lying. Even if the judge believes him, you've made him work for it.

If you can lien, do so. Make sure you meet any deadlines, etc... no matter what promises the customer has made. "I'll pay you Friday" is no help if you can't file a lien after thursday!

If you've been working illegally, well, you just out-clevered yourself.

Claiming someone else has a better price after the job is done is meaningless. If, in hindsight, he wanted to make a different choice, that's HIS problem.

This job is a good example of the advantages of a 'simple price,' as opposed to 'time and meterials.' T&M, or breaking out other expenses, only opens the door to dispute.

Hiring the "goon squad?" Don't you think this would be the preferred and legal means, if it had any value? Look how well that sort of think has worked for the Balkans.
You DO have "goons" on your payroll. They carry badges and take orders from judges. Use them.

Finally, there is a very real value in keeping a detailed, daily log of a job. You must note every change, every complication, every discussion with the customer. Later, should there be a dispute, the log will be a great aid to persuading others that your claim is just.

Personally, if a guy goes out of his way to say we don't need a contract, I would see that as a major red flag. Likewise, any attempt to get you to do something wrong, or possible unethical. A crook is a crook is a crook....

 

[cdslotz]

It is cheap. He said he could of hired a local guy for 200 bucks.

Tell him he should have hired the other guy, but he hired you, and you charge 300 bucks.
He's lying. 300 is too cheap. 200 is a lie.

 

[dcooper]

How much was the whole job?
Don't get a final inspection.... you can't sell a house or refi a house with an open permit in Mass.
Don't go back there! JUst cut your losses and walk away.
All time time you spend talking about it, worrying about, going to court or anything is TIME..... I get paid for my time. Is it worth all this for $300 or $100 NO WAY.
Take it as a learnig experience and move on. Somday he will get his.....

I've been beat out of thousands by customers......Ya live and learn

 

[Sonny Boy]

Legal

Legal

If you've been working illegally, well, you just out-clevered yourself.

I'm a licensed and registered Washington state electrical contractor.

Have had 4 jobs inspected and passed already in my short time as a contractor.

I rely on the cutomer to pay the bill pronto. That's money I use to start my next job. I haven't been doing this long enough, or had enough money jobs, to have a sizeable bankroll.

 

[mxslick]

Too bad you can't do what I used to do..

Too bad you can't do what I used to do..

When running advance screenings or "dailies" for studios. There were a few who were notoriously slow in paying.

So my solution was simple: a check in hand by the end of the screening, or I confiscate the film print until I get paid.

Out of several screenings (100 or so) I only had to do that three times. (Twice with the same studio.) The second time on that particular studio I held that print for over four months until they finally sent a courier with cash and I gave them the film.

I now have a great working relationship with that same studio.

I do agree with those who have said so far that you shouldn't go back to do the finish until this joker pays up.

 

[big vic]

Seems strange to me that the POCO would require a trench 2' wide

At least four people have asked what you charged for the entire job. Is it a secret????

 

[iwire]

Arc faults are going to be the airbags of the electrical industry.

If they save as many lives as air bags have how would that be bad?

I just doubt that they ever will.

 

[petersonra]

Not in my state, if your a corporation, professional, or LLC you need an attorney in small claims court, every state, has different laws.

And in most states, the defendant can opt for normal court. The scam artists will do that to discourage the use of small claims court by all but forcing one to have a lawyer, which makes the cost and time commitment impractical for relatively small amounts of money.

 

[Sonny Boy]

Seems strange to me that the POCO would require a trench 2' wide

POCO requirement is 18 inches wide. Hard to find a bucket that's 18" wide.

At least fout people have asked what you charged for the entire job. Is it a secret????

$1800 including taxes, excavating and backfilling.

 

[brian john]

If they save as many lives as air bags have how would that be bad?

I just doubt that they ever will.

Maybe not in the short term, but as time passes respect for the available energy may help some. There are those that will always take chances or worse yet get involved in something they have no business looking at, just because someone is an licensed electrician does not qualify them to perofrm all types of electric work.

I have followed up on several projects were electricians were killed, several wher the injuries were massive, and several where the electricians were just plain lucky. If I could avoid those jobs I would be a happier man.

 

[dcooper]

what's the balance he owes you?