posted
After 11 years in the sign business, I may be about ready to eat my first sign.
A repeat customer called last August about getting a sign made and installed about a block from her store. She is on a backstreet and wanted something on mainstreet to point customers to her location. The proposed sign location is, of course, on someone elses property and my customer had already struck a deal with the owner for $50 a month to place the sign there. Sometime during the process of pulling the permit, the agent at the planning and zoning department informed me that the city had plans to purchase the property for a recreation park or something. I informed the client of this and contacted the property owner as well. The owner informed me that the city did in fact want the property but had thusfar not agreed to her asking price. The client already new about the property being for sale but had not told me. Anyway, for some reason, the client told me to hold off on the sign project for now, which I did.
Fast forward to April, the client called me again and said to go ahead with the project as the city wont be buying the property anytime soon. She wants the sign to have a separate arrow sign below it instead of an arrow on it so that when/if the city does purchase the property, she can remove the sign for later use. After determining the size which the client wanted and the size the city will allow, I gave the client a price and informed her, at this time, that we will charge a $200 fee to pull the permit. She agreed to the price, the permit, and cut us a check for the deposit. So we contacted the property owner for the copy of the deed, letter of authorization and other information required to pull a permit.
After we had already measured the property, setbacks, distances to other signs etc, obtained the required letter of authorization, copy of the deed, drew a site plan, provided a scaled drawing of the sign, and photographs to the zoning department as well as obtaining all the necessary information and filling out the permit applications for the city and the building department, the client called me to ask why it cost $200 to pull the permits. I tried to explain to her the required steps and time involved. Then she wanted to know when her sign will be done as she needs it as soon as possible. I told her that we could not build the sign until the permits were isssued. That seemed to satisfy her. Well, her husband then called and wanted to know "what all kinda permits are you havin' ta pull?". After I got about a third-way through explaining the checklist, he says that's OK, he understands but could pull the permit himself as he's a building contractor. I said that would have been fine and he would have been more than welcome to pull the permits and deal with the aggravation. But I was almost done, save for the windloading calculations, and the price was still $200. He then made the comment that he charged $250 to pull permits.
After the applications are already submitted and approved, permits issued and paid for, the agent at planning and zoning department called again (after she personally had processed and issued the sign permit) to inform me that the city was about to buy the property. I thought...why is she calling me? My wife then contacted the client and the property owner again. The property owner informed her that this was not the case, the property was not about to be sold, and that she would call planning and zoning and "take care of it". My wife then contacted the client again to tell her this. The client then gave the go-ahead on the sign production. My wife called me to tell me this and so I ordered materials and began.
Fast forward to yesterday, the client called me to tell me not to build the signs as she has just gotten information that the property is about to be sold. She wants her money back. I told her that the signs were done and were scheduled to be installed this week. She went ballistic, raising her voice at me, accusing me of doing her all kinds of wrong. That's all for now.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7403 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'd bill her the balance, less installation charges if she/they pick it up and let her use the new sign wherever she wants since the original location is no longer avail.
You didn't do anything wrong and all she's doing is passing the blame onto you for her mistakes. She asked you to build a sign and you've done that, you deserve to get paid for it.
quote: She wants the sign to have a separate arrow sign below it instead of an arrow on it so that when/if the city does purchase the property, she can remove the sign for later use.
She knew it was going to happen. Not your fault she has to move it sooner than she thought.
-------------------- Compulsive, Neurotic, Anti-social and Paranoid ... but basically Happy Posts: 2677 | From: Rochester, NY, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
i see dumb people...in too many places. she orders a sign...you make it and now she doesn't want to pay??? wtf? hopefully you have a signed contract so that will hold up in court.
-------------------- Karyn Bush Simply Not Ordinary, LLC Bartlett, NH 603-383-9955 www.snosigns.com info@snosigns.com Posts: 3516 | From: Bartlett, NH USA | Registered: Jan 2001
| IP: Logged |
With all the scutlebutt around what's going on with the property, the bottom line is that a customer has approved a design, permits are pulled, and regardless of what MIGHT happen later, you've completed production of the sign.
She can whoop and holler all she wants. She's the one who's started the whole deal. She saw it coming and now expects her money back? Sheesh.
She's got a backup plan, Wayne. Remember the arrow? "She wants the sign to have a separate arrow sign below it instead of an arrow on it so that when/if the city does purchase the property, she can remove the sign for later use."
Tell her you'll be more than happy to install the sign at the location she already had in mind when she asked for a seperate arrow...not her contractor hubby, who will pull permits at another location and save her the install fee.
Rapid
PS: Go back to the town and see about doing the signs for the recreation park.
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I think they raise these people special just to aggravate signmakers. Like Karen said, WTF!
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Well...as Karen called attention to, no I don't have a signed contract That's why I have already resigned myself to eating the sign. Coroplast would taste much better right now....at least it ain't carved, sandblasted HDU with gold leaf, that would taste awful. I do have a $500 deposit, but the permit fee was $200, the permits $45, the cost of materials was over $300. But if I gave her money back (which I have no intention of doing), I would still have the materials to pay for out of my pocket at the end of this month.
When the customer called the first time, she accused me of trying to pull something, she accused my wife of lying, said that she had referred some prospects my way and then threatened to call them and tell them to beware of us. Said she thought we were good people and thought we were Christians etc. (BTW...I never said or even implied that we were). Hey, I could be a Zoroastrian for all she knows. Then she said that she was a Christian too(though she cussed at my wife later) Things were getting ugly. She called back later and wanted to know how we could "work this out" and wanted to apologize for "hollering and being ugly". But she still wants her money back and that she can't use the sign now and still insists that she put a hold on the job.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7403 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
An oral contract is still a contact. Sounds like you would have enough of a paper trail and a deposit to prove the job was approved. And didn't she have you design it with the possibility of moving it? Well it's just getting moved earlier than planned.
My mind wanders. And that's not a good thing, 'cause it's too small to be out there alone. Posts: 3129 | From: Tooele, UT | Registered: Mar 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Wayne, Amy has said it all, this is not a customer you want to keep, If in fact the situatin went down as explained, demand the money for the sign. that is what they make small claims for.
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
tell her to kiss MY lily white ass...cause i'm no christian ... i'll be the mean one so you don't have to. seriously though, verbal contracts hold some merit...she obviously gave you a deposit and must have signed for the permit..no? at any rate you certainly have a paper trail of correspondence...she sounds like a eeeediot! with a short fuse...she'll be a real gem with her customers. she wants to make it right??? pay her bill...accept her own mistakes(by choosing a location that was on the market)...and then she needs to get over it! don't worry about her threatening to blackball you...i'm sure any of her psycho babble falls on deaf ears. don't let people like her rent room in your head for free.
[ June 22, 2005, 01:32 PM: Message edited by: KARYN BUSH ]
-------------------- Karyn Bush Simply Not Ordinary, LLC Bartlett, NH 603-383-9955 www.snosigns.com info@snosigns.com Posts: 3516 | From: Bartlett, NH USA | Registered: Jan 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
She bought it. It was her demand. All was discussed. Make her pay,,
This one will win in small claims court easily.
And never ever let the threat of black balling you intimidate you. I've been threatened with all kinds of "I'm goona get my lawyer babble" and won every time.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5273 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Sounds like your ducks are lined up pretty well---the paper trail, and all.
But, if it comes to your having to go to small claims court, just remember that getting a judgement in your favor, does not mean necessarily that you will collect. Enforcement of a judgement is a very "iffy" deal. Also, at least in this area, if the other party doesn't show up for court, you win by default.
One of my customers made a career out of screwing people in just this manner---and is still doing it. He has a list of judgements against him as long as your arm, and that is just in this county. I've heard that at least two other counties have similar lists.
The other question is this---is the dollar amount owed to you small enough to qualify for small claims court? I think it can't exceed a certain amount, if it does, it goes into some other form of court. Maybe suing in civil court?
A collection agency might be a better bet, even though you have to pay the agency a percentage.
bill preston
-------------------- Bill Preston Fly Creek, N.Y. USA Posts: 943 | From: Fly Creek, N.Y. USA | Registered: Jan 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Buck up!!! move on!!! cheap lesson, no reason to add to education in areas unknown and approached from wrong angles. Like Bill said, it's easy to acquire the "paper", but not so easy to collect, so why add on to price paid? Right! none...move on..."don't let people like her rent room in your head for free." Also; "She wins everytime you think about it", other than to extract the lesson, don't dwell on it, move on, best medicine. Everything else, robs you and benefits her....besides, by your own figures, you're only in it $45.00, that's a cheeeeeep lesson.....next time, arm yourself w/proper, signed paperwork, then there would no question as to what to do, getting full job value vs: $45 scratch, that lesson is very cheap.....
-------------------- Frank Magoo, Magoo's-Las Vegas; fmagoo@netzero.com "the only easy day was yesterday" Posts: 2365 | From: Las Vegas, Nv. | Registered: Jun 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
When you get a judgement can't you then put a lein on something that the non paying customer owns? You might not get your money quickly but you will have to be paid if that property is sold. I know of someone in my town that fell out of a tree, went to the emergency room for x-rays and stuff and wouldn't pay the bill, the hospital was able to put a lein on his drivers license when he went to renew he couldn't until he paid his bill
-------------------- Mark Perkins Performance Signs & Graphics Eunice, Louisiana "The heart of Cajun Country" Posts: 506 | From: Eunice Louisiana 70535 | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Sorry, Frank, have to disagree with you on the cheap lesson angle. Wayne has gone through the whole process start to finish, and at this point is stuck with the signs. Paper trail in his favor notwithstanding, the one error on his part that I see is a lack of contract.
The other factors that come into play are (1) a long lag time between initial contact and the unpleasant end. (2) Way too many people involved with direct and indirect contact, and way too many phone calls between all those people. The margin for miscommunication is huge, and throw in people's tendency to forget who said what and when, and the makings for a fiasco become apparent.
I think Wayne has a good chance of collecting, leaving out the lack of a signed contract, and if it were me, I'd pursue it.
What he hasn't said so far, is what the selling price for these two signs was. Take that into account, and maybe he would be leaving a lot on the table by not pursuing.
bill preston
edited to add: Mark is right about the lien being placed on someone. The drawback there is that if there are a bunch of judgements already in place, then whatever proceeds from the sale of property seized amount to, they are paid out to those who have outstanding judgements in chronological order. In other words, the last judgement holder is also the last to get paid. If the money runs out before they get to you, then tough noogies. At least that is the way it works in this neck of the woods. Usually it is the sheriff's department that can seize property--say an auto---but there is also a sheriff's fee involved. It may amount to good money after bad.
One more edit: The one exception to who gets paid, and in what order, is this. If the sheriff seizes a vehicle, and it is sold, then whoever holds the loan note on said vehicle gets the first of the proceeds. If there is anything left over, then the rest is paid out in the chronlogical order of the judgements.
FWIW
[ June 22, 2005, 05:35 PM: Message edited by: Bill Preston ]
-------------------- Bill Preston Fly Creek, N.Y. USA Posts: 943 | From: Fly Creek, N.Y. USA | Registered: Jan 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Take them to court even if you do not win you know you did the right thing. Anytime someone says trust me, or I am a ________ these are red flags, dishonest people feel required to tell stories about how trustworthy they are. With these people before you started construction you should of had them further commit by coming in and signing and adding to the deposit. The cost of the permits is not part of the sign cost. Custom signs that have high material cost dictate higher deposits.
-------------------- Steve Eisenreich Dezine Signs PO BOX 6052 Stn Forces Cold Lake, Alberta T9M 2C5 Posts: 774 | From: Cold Lake | Registered: Mar 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
I disagree with going to court. I drove to San Juan, went to court, lost 2 days of work, spent so much in gas, The ruled in my favor & still, I never got paid. I don't think I'd go to court again.The law is made for crooks.
A can of paint full of gasoline & a match may ease the pain of getting screwed...
-------------------- Felix Marcano PuertoRicoSigns.Com Luquillo, PR
Work hard, party like a tourist! Posts: 2274 | From: Luquillo, Puerto Rico, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hey Frank, that's awfully hard to do if you are obssessive/compulsive, which I unfortunately am.....aren't I?...I think I am...yeah I am, I know I am...I think...well, maybe that's wrong...let me check right after I wash my hands again. No seriously, I am.
The total sign and permit cost, with tax, was $1358.39. That included installation. The client has paid us a $500 deposit which covers half the cost of the actual sign. Only problem is, now that she is refusing to pay the balance, my permit fees will have to come out of this.
My actual loss, since the sign will not be installed is $525.14. Posts, concrete, hardware,delivery and installation would have been $333.25 She will not be billed for that.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7403 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Exactly Joey, The balance of the original sign bill with the posts, concrete, install etc. would have been $858.39. Now, that we won't be installing, I won't charge the $333.25 for the install and harware. The balance would now be$525.14 for just the sign panels.I can, in fact, use the installation materials on another job. Sorry I didn't make that clear.
[quote]Anytime someone says trust me, or I am a ________ these are red flags, dishonest people feel required to tell stories a Exactly Steve, that's why I never bring up my religion while meeting with a customer or any business deal. Not throwing stones at anyone who does but, I just don't feel right about it. Been burned too many times by people who do it. I have in fact participated and instigated religious discussions on this board in the past. I try not to. But I haven't done it to try to sell something. Nuff said.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7403 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Judgements are made, Then it is up to you to collect the judgement. I had one a few years ago. Then had to goto court again to get an sheriff order to sieze property. I got my money
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5273 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Wayne, the reason I asked who had the sign at this moment was because if it were in your possession, you could at least hang it on your wall as a remembrance as well as decor for your showroom. These things that happen to many of us can be used productively unless of course you dwell on negative BS. Ya'know its always said, when you're served lemons, make lemonade
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
posted
I agree with Joey. Had a similar situation years ago with a less expensive loss. I hung the sign in my shop as a reminder and a sample. Of course anyone who asked got the rest of the story.
-------------------- Ron Costa Sign and Design 28 Ingerson Road Jefferson, NH 0358 Posts: 620 | From: New Hampshire | Registered: Oct 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Cut your losses right now. Like Frank said "Move On" Anything from here forward will take away from the positive energy that we all need. Cheap or Expensive, you have nothing to gain from pursuing this. You should be making another time with the time spent.
-------------------- Jerry Starpoli Starpoli Signs... since 1952
845-795-2438 Posts: 446 | From: Milton, NY US | Registered: Jun 2000
| IP: Logged |
I've got a 1/4" crezone sign 12" x 72" sign that I painted for a roofing company....without determining price first. I'd done some work for him previously... when delivery/pay for this sign came up, he "offered me 50 bucks". I walked out with the sign, and have it in my shop ever since.For me, don't ASSUME!! HA HA
ANYWAY, IT'S COOL PERIOD LETTERING, DONE IN 1976, , and not weathered, being in my place ever since!
John
-------------------- John Lennig / Big Top Sign Arts 5668 Ewart Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada bigtopya@hotmail.com 604.451.0006 Posts: 2184 | From: Burnaby, British Columbia,Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
| IP: Logged |
My experience without fail is that in order to get a judgment you spend time, money and emotional energy. To collect on a judgment involves the very same expenses, again. After trying to enforce it you in high probability are told there is nothing to get, they have judgment proofed themselves either thru true poverty or streetsmarts.
The only way you then can ever hope for any money is if they buy real estate, and try to get a loan. Then in order to get it they have to pay you first. At least that is my understanding.
I got a judgment a few weeks ago, albeit for a tenant I evicted, but I don't have a snowballs chance to ever collect.I got the judgment in the eviction proceedings, which I had no choice but to go through. I was faulted because, he yelled, that if I were a GOOD Christian I would not be so interested in money.
I have found that to let something like your loss go is the most economical thing to do, and frees you up to do your work, and also to learn from the experience by hopefully examining what you did wrong, if anything, and what you can try not to repeat. This woman seems unreasonable and unapproachable with logic and there is no appealing to her sense of responsibility.
If you have friends in the local sign making community, get her name out to them, and warn them.
I have a few here with whom I exchange the names of deadbeats, of cheaters. If one of theirs comes in here, I tell them I won't work for them til they pay my XYZ competitor what they owe him/her.
I have already told of the large rock a client brought in to be lettered, with pictures of lilies and the name and death date of her cat. Since I knew her, and she was distraught, I did not ask for any money. I could not get her to pick it up. I ended up putting it at my shop door, into a little garden area, planted lilies around it, took a lovely photo, sent it to her and told her that this rock was mine now, but she could come and chose a blank one in my yard.
I also told her that it was helpful to me in getting people, especially people I knew like I had known her, to understand the need for a down payment. I could show off what I had done, and tell them I never have owned a cat, yet here I own a grave marker for which I did not bother to get a deposit.
Who knows what you can do to make this work FOR you, instead of against, there are some good ideas here other than spending a lot to maybe probably get little or nothing. They may inspire you to find one that works for you.
-------------------- Myra A. Grozinger Signs Limited Winston-Salem, NC
signslimited@triad.rr.com Posts: 1244 | From: Winston-Salem, NC USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Remind her of the quote and tell her that you are forbidden to "cast your mother-of-pearl before swine"... (well, you may have to leave the "mother of" off, but she may get the message.) (how dare she label you!)
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Man Wayne . . . have you ever noticed that some people have a certain personality trait that comes to light when they are the most wrong? They start making assanine demands and accusing you of having the very behaviour that they themselves are exhibiting. A manipulative ploy of trying to take the spotlight off themselves but really only shines that much brighter on their craziness . . . .
I'm often stunned at this exhibition and try to 'cover' it gracefully with the assumption that they are truely delusional, but I still can only come up with one explaination . . .
They are maipulating/playing/using you and are angry because their plan is trying to backfire...
This woman wanted to play both ways 'in case' of the no-sale with the city, rather than using a little patience and wisdom. She wanted to use the signs as 'now or never' bait for the city, but the city came through first. She always assumed she could get out of the deal with you from the beginning. Even if you would'a insisted on a signed, formal contract, she would have hem & hawed about it. But as for the law, I think the down-payment was enough to prove a business agreement, and would stand up in small-claims.
Mabey here then is a good tip: (at least for those wishy-washy types anyway as this woman seemed to be from the beginning) Make copies of customer down-payment checks, as well as writing them reciepts for the amount. Should you legally need to protect yourself, you will have some immediate evidence, and when her bank statements are supeonaed they will be able to find it quickly as well. Obviously, written contracts stating the specs and payment arrangements should also be created and signed by both parties.
Since she's proving that she is such a (low) caliber of business woman to deal in this way, perhaps it is your duty to use this an an opportunity to help her understand the proper workings of a business deal and go ahead and do a small claims without argument or threat.
I totally see MrMc's point as well, but it could not be wrong that such an act on your part falls in the catagory of protecting your business interests and using the system to your benefit as well as filling a civic duty.
I wonder who's involved in that city sale that she has bragged to about the signs being ready to put up', if the city does'nt don't move on the property, or who knew about the permits being issued???. . . .There should also be a receipt for that headache and any judge would realize no one is going to go through all that mess unless they have a job going.
And what was the deal with her husband?? He was just around to add to the confusion of his wife's erratic behavior?
(Here's another 'mabey' . . .someone who deals in this shoddy way may have some lein or back-taxes on the property or some other difficult situation. She may need those signs yet . . . Then you can add an additional 'headache' fee... )
I would never do business with her in the future. I would'nt worry about her hurting your reputation. I'm sure her business ways will preceed her, or become evident to other's soon enough.
Wayne, I hope you don't refund her a dime, and also get the rest of the money she owes you and takes her signs elsewhere. I think I would hold her to the deal that she made which has nothing to do with decisions she made after telling you to do the signs.
If she would'a been in a bad car accident, or having chemo, well, (I know) y'all would'a handled that with compassion. But this is a train-wreck of her own poor engineering. Why should she (or anyone) be allowed to avoid responsibility for her action if there is a means of rectifying it??
Anyway, it's an unfortunate thing that some people do not take their business commitments seriously.
hey, is it a very unique reality sign?? Mabey you could just resell it and simply change a phone no./contact person??!! Then you'd be ahead $500.
posted
This is the first sign we did for the client. We also made a smaller identical one which mounts on the stucco wall by the entrance. The new signs are on Alumacorr with the exact same design except that, on the new signs, the space right below "Stardust" and to the left of the falling star has the phraise "gift boutique"
Yes, I could see how displaying this sign in my showroom could be detrimental to the client. I have another sign, in my showroom, which I did for a law firm. One of the partners left the firm and, since the sign is sandblasted, the remaining attorney could not use her sign anymore. She was also quite miffed at the guy for leaving as well and when I asked her what she planned to do with the sign, which was just a few months old, she said she planned to burn it. haha I asked her to please not do that as I would be glad to do the install for her new sign, which I had just finished, for free in exchange for acquiring the doomed sign for a sample for my showroom. Anyway, I end up having to explain why I have that sign to an awful lot of people. (without going into all the details of course). This client's sign would be no different.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7403 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
But . . .but . . .you said "at least it ain't carved, sandblasted HDU with gold leaf..."
I was only thinkin' if it was standard realty-for sale-type sign you could just remove her name and number and hold it to sell to your next realty customer.
Hey that sign you have to explain all the time?? Just attach a smaller sign with a square-dancing motif that says: 'Client changed partners'
posted
Wayne, Don't fret. . . don't bother with small claims court because you still can't get them to pay when you win. I would turn them over to a collection agency. This I've done twice with very good results.. . . .next! have fun or don't do it. . .John
-------------------- John Arnott El Cajon CA 619 596-9989 signgraphics1@aol.com http://www.signgraphics1.com Posts: 1443 | From: El Cajon CA usa | Registered: Dec 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
That's a cool idea...square dancers. Thanks for the compliment, Sheila.
I'll be sending her the bill for the balance Monday, John. I'll give her about 10 days and then try the collection agency.
BTW, I've got my second rubber check to deal with now too. The first one, I called the client and she came right over the next day and paid it. My bank didn't charge me and It was an honest mistake on her part so I didn't charge her a $25 fee. But this second one is over two months past due and the guy has ignored my calls. My wife called him one night about two weeks ago, he answered the phone and said he'd be over to pay it. She called the next week and his wife said he doesn't live there anymore. So, it's being turned over to the state's attorney's office.
[ June 25, 2005, 03:57 PM: Message edited by: Wayne Webb ]
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7403 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
| IP: Logged |
-------------------- Jimmy Chatham Chatham Signs 468 stark st Commerce, Ga 30529 Posts: 1766 | From: Commerce, GA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
I love liens. In 1986 while I owned a burglar/fire alarm company, a client stiffed me to the tune of about $5,000. $2,800 of this was labor. I got a "labor lien" on his home. This last February I was contacted by the lawyer for a title company wanting to know if I would settle for half the original price of the lien. No way says I. 19 years and I finally got some of my money. A very nice surprise for me. Liens go on forever in most states. I was told that even had he passed away, the lien was on the home, not him, and any hiers would have to settle any liens before getting title to the home.
-------------------- William "Irish" Holohan Resting...Read "Between Jobs." Marlboro, MA 01752 email: firemap1@aol.com Posts: 1110 | From: Marlboro, MA | Registered: Dec 2001
| IP: Logged |
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[I Don t Know]](graemlins/dunno.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Applause]](graemlins/applause.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
) 
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic