Time to use a contract

[Stihl Alive]

I gave this lady a really really good deal on taking down a huge elm, and about 9 30-50' pines. $1500 all hauled away. I told her from the beginning that the group of trees that had absorbed a fence would only be cut off just above where the fence stopped. She was fine with that. She paid me $1,000 2 days ago when all we really had left was cleanup. (I feel the need to meniton that the entire elm was leaning right over her house). This morning I have a voicemail on my phone saying that she was not satisfied and the stumps and fence had to go too, cuz that's where she's putting her pool. (I told her way before we started that you can't just grnd stumps and install a pool) She hasn't answered or returned any of my calls and she would not show up at her house. I stayed there till dark. That last $500 is really all of my profit and then some. If I don't get that I may end up losing a dollar or two on this one. I'm really pi$$ed.


Any suggestions?

 

[trimmmed]

You should have a contract, but that does not guarantee you the last payment. It does make it easier for your lawyer to settle it though. Problem with that is, your lawyer don't work for free and you will settle for something less than the $500. A contract might also let you win in small claims although if it's not 1000% clear, you might settle there too.

Tis the season for getting beat on your last draw, somehow when the economy goes downhill folks will find some flaws as a reason not to pay. Tis the season, watch out.

 

[deer slayer]

If the debris and or wood still in truck, I would back it up in her front yard and dump it. She broke the verbal contract (yea its her word against yours) the only back lash is company reputation. I feel ya on this one, try to do something and keep it simple and people take advantage of you. I have even returned the funds that was paid, and left a mess that would take 3 times the labor and time to clean. Yea I hated doing business that way, but man it felt good to get revenge!!!!

 

[rngrchad]

When I'm not working demolition jobs, or hauling construction materials, I run 20, 30 and 40yd dumpsters to homeowners who rent them for 330.00 bucks over a couple weeks time span to use for waste/trash/yard cleanups. A few months ago, we had a customer who had not payed for a 30yd container and the time alloted was long overdue. I showed up to recieve payment, no-body home. Made phone calls. No returns. 3 weeks later: no returned calls...I showed up to this house, hooked to the dumpster and promptly dumped 30 yds of solid-waster material all over the side of their driveway. Talk about a weird situation....I hated doing it but you can't let your customers steal hundreds of dollars from you. I agree with an above post, go back, and return all the slash material from the job right on their front yard. You'll have the last laugh, I guarantee it.
-Chad

 

[tree md]

:agree2:

 

[TreeTopKid]

If the debris and or wood still in truck, I would back it up in her front yard and dump it. She broke the verbal contract (yea its her word against yours) the only back lash is company reputation. I feel ya on this one, try to do something and keep it simple and people take advantage of you. I have even returned the funds that was paid, and left a mess that would take 3 times the labor and time to clean. Yea I hated doing business that way, but man it felt good to get revenge!!!!

I had to resort to that in England about 12yrs ago. The work had been carried out exactly to there specification, and we had left their yard in an immaculate condition. I had actually tipped everything off the lorry but I loaded it all back on again and rolled up at their house one Saturday morning. Their face was a picture at the front door when I told them I had all their rubbish and chippings.

They actually apologized and made an excuse about it being dark when they looked at their trees, and they were now very happy with the work. They were merely trying it on with me.

These days I always use a contract. It simplifies so many things.

 

[TreeTopKid]

I gave this lady a really really good deal on taking down a huge elm, and about 9 30-50' pines. $1500 all hauled away. I told her from the beginning that the group of trees that had absorbed a fence would only be cut off just above where the fence stopped. She was fine with that. She paid me $1,000 2 days ago when all we really had left was cleanup. (I feel the need to meniton that the entire elm was leaning right over her house). This morning I have a voicemail on my phone saying that she was not satisfied and the stumps and fence had to go too, cuz that's where she's putting her pool. (I told her way before we started that you can't just grnd stumps and install a pool) She hasn't answered or returned any of my calls and she would not show up at her house. I stayed there till dark. That last $500 is really all of my profit and then some. If I don't get that I may end up losing a dollar or two on this one. I'm really pi$$ed.


Any suggestions?

That sucks dude. Take it from me always use a contract even if it's just a generic agreement that you fill in some blanks on. It will offer you much peace of mind.

Customers like that make me sick but you know what Stihl Alive they will get theirs in some kind of way.

 

[Stihl Alive]

Me and Mr. Ruger paid her visit last night about 10:30. All is well and my money is in the bank.


Well, not int he bank. I paid a guy $900 today to hold a chipper for me until I can pay him the rest ($1800 total). Its and asplundh with an old ford engine but I ran it today and its plenty to do what I need to do. I think It will save me a lot of time and money in the long run. Brush sucks.

 

[ozzy42]

If the debris and or wood still in truck, I would back it up in her front yard and dump it. She broke the verbal contract (yea its her word against yours) the only back lash is company reputation. I feel ya on this one, try to do something and keep it simple and people take advantage of you. I have even returned the funds that was paid, and left a mess that would take 3 times the labor and time to clean. Yea I hated doing business that way, but man it felt good to get revenge!!!!

I was informed in the state of Florida I would be charged with illegal dumping,and criminal mischief if any material was returned ,and dumped on the property. The key word being returned.Once you take it off the property ,it is yours to deal with ,but if the truck never left their yard,I had no obligation to haul off the customer's waste,and could dump at will.

 

[Stihl Alive]

It's not just learning how to be safe in a tree and with a saw. I'm learning the ends and outs of the business end the hard way too.

 

[Stihl Alive]

And the plot moistens

Today I check my bank balance before going to the spa with my wife for Vday. Negative $505.00. The thousand dollar check this lady wrote me before the job was finished bounced when I deposited it in my back. I showed good for a few days, but when it cleared it bounced back and was taken back out of my account. I called her today and she was very apologetic and said she would get tot he bottom of it. Then she dropped the bomb that she would have to pay me in cash 2-3 hundred dollars at a time, making me think it could be weeks before I get my money. I'm NOT happy at this point. I've been through enough with this lady. Her job was done, and done safely and properly. I want my GD money. Through me a bone here. What would you guys do? I'm leaning toward telling her to have my thousand dollars by Tuesday or I'm reporting her to the Sheriff for hanging paper. What would you do?



PS: I had to borrow money from my FIL today to take his daughter out for Valentine's day. Very embarrasing. I'm steamed. :censored:

 

[rngrchad]

Today I check my bank balance before going to the spa with my wife for Vday. Negative $505.00. The thousand dollar check this lady wrote me before the job was finished bounced when I deposited it in my back. I showed good for a few days, but when it cleared it bounced back and was taken back out of my account. I called her today and she was very apologetic and said she would get tot he bottom of it. Then she dropped the bomb that she would have to pay me in cash 2-3 hundred dollars at a time, making me think it could be weeks before I get my money. I'm NOT happy at this point. I've been through enough with this lady. Her job was done, and done safely and properly. I want my GD money. Through me a bone here. What would you guys do? I'm leaning toward telling her to have my thousand dollars by Tuesday or I'm reporting her to the Sheriff for hanging paper. What would you do?



PS: I had to borrow money from my FIL today to take his daughter out for Valentine's day. Very embarrasing. I'm steamed. :censored:

Sorry to hear that. Owning a business has soooo much extra b.s. involved. I give mad credit to those who are doing business on their own. You all put up with a lot of headaches that the employee just does not realize. Hope you have a good Valentine's man. That sucks.....if she's willing to pay at all, I would take what she will give. You'll get your money eventually. It ain't fair, but it's better than nothing. Maybe someone else will have a better idea on if reporting her would help or not.

 

[TreeTopKid]

Today I check my bank balance before going to the spa with my wife for Vday. Negative $505.00. The thousand dollar check this lady wrote me before the job was finished bounced when I deposited it in my back. I showed good for a few days, but when it cleared it bounced back and was taken back out of my account. I called her today and she was very apologetic and said she would get tot he bottom of it. Then she dropped the bomb that she would have to pay me in cash 2-3 hundred dollars at a time, making me think it could be weeks before I get my money. I'm NOT happy at this point. I've been through enough with this lady. Her job was done, and done safely and properly. I want my GD money. Through me a bone here. What would you guys do? I'm leaning toward telling her to have my thousand dollars by Tuesday or I'm reporting her to the Sheriff for hanging paper. What would you do?

You could take her to small claims court. The problem with that is they can sometimes end up paying in even smaller installments than she originally offered you (it happened to me!), they will how ever also make her pay any extra costs or charges incurred from your bank. I would see if she comes good with her offer of installments. If she fails to meet her promise take her to a civil court for all your costs. Warn other Tree companies in your area about her also they will be grateful of the information.

 

[Raymond]

You underbid the job for damn sure, now turn around.

I've really always had satisfied customers myself. But the few times I did get the round around, seemed to be from the people I was being to fair with in the first place.

See a pattern here? :monkey:

 

[tree md]

I would try to give her the opportunity to pay before taking it to small claims. Sucks I know but that sounds like the best bet of getting your money. I don't know that I would want to go though the headache of small claims. I have had to eat a couple of jobs before too. Nothing too big TG.

 

[pinemartin]

I have never been totally screwed as I use the (well what do you have that is worth X amount of dollars). Got a nice boat and motor one time.

 

[Mama Tried]

make sure to charge her a bounced check fee

 

[WSTREE]

i don't know if it's a state or federal law but in mi. it's a felony to bounce a check. i wouldn't have a problem telling that to her.

 

[FIRESMOKE]

Not to bust your stones, but ........if your on that tight of a budget perhaps you should'nt be going to the spa? My wife and I would have loved to get a way for V day but deciced on spending a nice evening at home. No to the point at task, When I was in business I had a guy give me the go ahead on nice job only 3 blocks from my place (yes I had a contract) when the time came to pay his wife gave me the run around about she did not know her husband was spending that much money and I would have to wait for payment. It took them over 3 months to pay. In that three months I must have stopped in at least a dozen times since it was so close to home. Twice when I was there the Mrs. comes home with all kinds of take out food and shopping bags from the local mall, and once I stopped on a suterday and no one was home a neighbor told me that they went away for a lonf weekend.
After hearing this I went through the roof with them and explained a simple little thing called responsibility and integrity and assured them that since they were local and so was I we would sooner or later end up in public at the same place and I was surely not going to be afraid to bring up the money he owed me in front of his friends or family or other community members. Amaing how quick I got paid after that.

 

[Rickytree]

Hey Stayin Alive, If she wants to pay in payments I say take it and she don't pay get a load of Willow or junk wood with branches and shavings and dump it in her yard. Work for a guy with some big equipment and he did a job for a guy that had a cottage locally but lived to Toronto. The guy didn't pay and he got a Poplar log with a dbh of 4 feet on his front lawn and in front of his door and steps. I say go for the throat! Sound like she got a good deal maybe too good. Sometimes with fair market prices the takers are weeded out. Good luck with that. It's a hard game we play. But hey your Stihl Alive!