Customer Doesn't Have Enough $ To Pay ,after The Work Is Complete!

threaderman

I got burned for $30.75 from an EX customer today.Mobile home park tenant.Total ticket was 338.75 and the old girl [50ish] hands me 308.00 cash says that's all she has.What the hell!I installed 29.00 in parts [includes taxes,my cost].You know how bad I wanted to remove those parts?!BAD!!!
I told her "Lady,mail it to me." She did sign a mechanics lein but it's not worth my time to pursue.She was very satisfied with the work so that wasn't it. She said she had other work coming too! I'd like your input on how you would handle this.Happy Thanks-giving to everyone.

send_it_all

If it was some sort of emergency repair like a leak..(sounds that way) I would let it slide. If it was for a a luxury...like a new faucet because the old one was ugly, I would hound her a little bit out of principal...don't forget to add the juice for late payment.

threaderman

Gas company shut her gas off.I repaired 4 leaks total in and under the home.Another leak just downstream of the meter.I pulled a permit.I also determined the service line was not holding ANY pressure.Trailer park took responsibility to re-place the line.They wanted to use their usual plumber,no problem,I understand that.I spent 4 hrs.in 40 degree winds for 308.00 including parts to help these people ,so I kind of take it personal.They won't have gas for a few days now.Plus I still have to get my refund from the city for the permit since another company is responsible now for the repairs.Lot of time for little rewards.Glad I didn't have to miss any other calls at least.

Hamburgjl

I would explain to her that it is very important to you to collect for all work done and ask her to send you $10/week until its paid if thats really all she has right now.

threaderman

Chris Johnson

ROFLMAO

Sorry, it's not personal towards you, it's the way it was done.

I don't think the lady was trying to short pay you, come on, $ 308.00, really sounds like all she had. Ripping you off would have been an even $ 300.00 or less. I'll lay money on it she would feed you dinner if you were there longer, sounds like she actually dug through her purse to give you everything she had.

Not that I do service work or nothing, but I would let the balance go, again I don't do service but I would bet she will tell her trailer park girls about how professional and how nice you were and how accomodating you were and who knows that could lead to more business for you FWIW.

Besides, how much time and effort and travel is going to be needed to collect the balance? Probably a lot more than what's owing. Send her a Christmas card, thinking of you or something like that, I'm thinking you'll get more business out of it. Maybe I'm wrong, again I am not service oriented.

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Chris

threaderman

I've written off the balance already.That's a nice way to look at it Chris.

send_it_all

Chris. You kinda summed up what I was getting at when I suggested to let it slide if it was for a necessary repair...(which it was). I would just say "Happy Holidays...tell a friend" and part ways.

Threaderman....you pulled down $70 per hour. Probably not super profitable for you...but you didn't lose money. She has $300.00 in her life and lives in a trailer...She or one of her kids will now probably go without a meal over this...hopefully she will refer you to a decent job and that $30 will be a finder's fee....

Makes me want to go out and help someone less fortunate than myself.

dirt diggler

um, wouldn't waste time over $30

but - i sure wouldn't let her slide. Has more work??? She can't pay for the work she already had


and i sure wouldn't want her trailer HOs callin me

just get out of that neighborhood

happy thanxgivin

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Thanks in advance!!!

send_it_all

Nice elitist attitude...Maybe if you did service work, you would want "trailer people" calling you. I don't see the problem with it. If I give someone my price, and they accept it...their money is just as green as a millionaire's money.

reveivl

"If I give someone my price, and they accept it...their money is just as green as a millionaire's money."

It's the same colour, just smaller...

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AbeBarker

Did this lady know that the final ballance would be $338.75?

daArch

I think the general attitude here is correct.

Sounds like she was a lady of minimal means in big need. (If she was wealthy and just screwing with you, that's a different story)

Let it ride, be generous, be THANKFUL you could help.

It won't go into the record books as the most profitable half day, but you didn't lose money.

The suggestion of sending her a card is a nice touch, just hope it won't make her feel guilty.

Reminds me of the ad (as much as I hate that ad) of how doing good deeds spread. You do something nice for her, and she'll do something nice for another, and they then do it unto someone else. Kindness is infectious

Happy Thanksgiving

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Stone Mountain

Had that happen a thousand times over the years. Sometimes they just want to feel they've put one over on you, sometimes they're mad that you took too long. or sometimes they're just mad at the world in general. Doesn't help that the fence or the deck is usually the last part of a reno, and they're probably taking out all the problems with the other contractors on me.

It's usually $50 or $100, or something small that it's just not worth going to small claims for. What do I do? I sent them their warranty certificate and underline the clause that says warranty is null and void if full balance of job not paid within 5 days of completion.
Had one fellow who'd received his null warranty call up and scream at me. I just told him to pay the balance with interest and I'd re-instate his warranty. He did!

In this instance, I betcha she just doesn't have the money. She probably would have liked to pay, but can't. If it was me, I'd just tell her to donate the $30.00 to a charity when she has it.

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threaderman

She new it was $80.00 hour.I showed her each leak as they bubbled,then repaired them.She still knows there may be other leaks under the home still not addressed.Her water meter is right next to the incoming gas service.The meter leaks,it's nasty under that trailer.Ran out of a particular size nipple at one point ,and when I went to the supply house I told her I was only charging 40.00 an hour for that time.That was the first 40.00 break,then with the 30.00 on top =70.00 I've bein burned before for worse.This is small potatos,just venting.This couldn't be flat-rated fairly because it is time consuming.As is the incoming gas service needs to be re-placed.Who-ever ran the gas originally cut threads too deep and buried the fittings.I ran during this time.80.00 an hour is a lot.I give people more than their moneys worth.

KentWhitten

Just be glad she didn't come up with.....creative ways to pay you

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threaderman

Yeah right!!!!!!!!!!!

mahlere

conceded...she was just betting you would be done quicker...you failed..heck, if you finished in 2 hrs, she could've given you a tip

threaderman

Always the funny guy Mahl............by the way ,I need that web site info.

mahlere

i really wasn't trying to be funny...do you think for a min she had any idea of what was involved to fix the problem? she knew this...she had a problem, you were on site, you could fix that problem...she wasn't gonna let you leave without fixing the problem. She knew it was $80/hr...she also knew that by the time you gave her the final invoice and went to collect, you would have already fixed the problem. That was her main concern...fixing the problem.

you fixed it. secondary to her was actually paying you. she knew that you would take what she gave you and like it. because you had to.

I don't think she tried to beat you out of $30...i also don't think she really cared about paying you...she just wanted he problem fixed.