How not to get stiffed

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megloff11x

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My Dad told me this story.

A regional mall developer, whose grease to zoning boards makes Jack Abramoff look like a boy scout, would always stiff his contractors. Apparently he also had an envelope for the men in the fedora's because he's still alive and walking on unbroken legs.

He was building a mall on a toxic waste site, and it was ready to open. The Electrical Contractors knew his reputation, so a few days before opening weekend, with the mall site still on a temporary permit, in the Contractors' names, they summoned the developer and the power company hookup man. Then they laid down the facts of life.

They wanted a certified check NOW. Since the permit was their's not his, if they walked, the power company man confirmed that he would be obliged to cut the service off and no amount of grease would turn it back on to someone without a license until the inspection was done - many weeks away, and who would do it for him?

They got paid, the only contractors to get paid. The rest are probably still in court twenty years later chasing bankrupt ghost firms for payment overdue. They said that the developer may have broken his hand punching the walls so hard.

Not sure if it's true, but it's one way not to get stiffed.

Matt
 
Good story. :)

Curious about a similar subject: How much credit would you provide to a General Contractor before stopping work until you get paid? Would you resume work before being paid in full?

I'm curious about the various philosophies out there about money owed.
 
That would work here on everything but work done on some one's own "primary dwelling". (And I could tell a story) The AHJ says that the permit on YOUR home, belongs to YOU, even though I pulled it and payed for it! All you have to do is fire me after the rough and hire Joe Schmo to do the trim.

Stinks! :mrgreen:
 
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