GC Lets Me Go, Cuz I Asked For Payment... What Next?

Bsecdone

So, I finished the rough electrical on a project. the GC didn't have the money to pay me. So < told him NO WORKY till I get paid. He got mad a 1 day later told me he had to have it done and he would find someone else.
This other project needs trimmed out, Plugs switches and lights installed. What should be my next step to make sure I get paid on this last project. I have only been paid 50% of the job and I want to get the other 25% for the job and the extras. What is the best course of action for me to take?
thanks

joasis

File a lien, immediately....that is your only option, or try to contact the customer direct to notify them you are filing a lien and why...they might want to know.

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send_it_all

If you haven't had payment problems with this guy in the past, you might want to give him a chance to get a payment from the H.O. just a thought...i know its risky, but put yourself in his shoes....he's a little behind. Give him a chance to make it right.

AtlanticWBConst

All I can say is that would tick me off, if my electrician couldn't wait a bit...and proceeded to make matters worse by pulling off a job. Now, I don't know all the details, nor do I know the GC's reputation on paying subs. - and those are important factors that affect one's decisions.

As a GC, we have several jobs going on, we are thus financing all of them. We are acting like a bank.
We have alot of work we do for commercial realistate investment companies. They take up to 8 weeks to pay us for some large sized projects. Thus, it is not uncommon to be 'in the hole', so to speak, by 6 digits. But, they always pay us, and they pay us good.
Thus, about once or twice a year, we get stretched a little thin for a few weeks, trying to pay our subs.

Our electrician realizes that, and he cooperates with us, and helps us by being patient and trusting us. We in turn, help him out. There's been times when he is waiting on other GC's to pay him and they are late. He'll asked us for money up front....no problemo.
There's been times when he overbooks himself, and he can't get back to a job that he is doign for us, and we have to be on schedule, we need to move forward.
We have a crew member who was a licensed electrician, but does carpentry for us now. I've had him wrap up roughing, or finish to keep things moving. Do I have a right to backcharge my electrican for having to do this because he screwed up my schedule and we did some of his work, Heck yah. Do I?...heck No. I even pay him the original amount, nothing deducted. Why? because, he helps me, and I help him...

(Again, I know nothing about the actual details of the original poster's actual circumstances or his relationship with his GC)

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RippySkippy

AtlanticWBConst -- you sure seem to have your wheels on the ground...keep doing things "right"...

Dave Mac

sounds like the gc want you the sub to finance their project, all to typicall, I would never work for a gc, that wanted me to finance his job(wait to get paid until he gets paid) bs, sounds like they dont have the right to be in buisness if they dont have the money i to run a buisness.

glad i only work directly for ho,

Bsecdone

He has had troible paying on time before. When I talk about money/payment, there is a instant change in his attitude. Then he gets paid from the HO and stalls a few weeks, not returning phone calls, emails, etc.. I really got tired of it.

ButlerDesigns

Post a Lien today

I would call him one last time telling him he has 12 hours to have payment to you or lien will take effect. Show him your not out to play games. Go get him!

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John Butler
Butler Designs, LLC

DT Tilemaster

As a specialty contractor, I'm all too familiar with the frustration in trying to get paid. I hear that the GC is acting like a bank and has several projects going on at once. However, the same is true for a sub. I have many projects going at the same time along with many accounts at suppliers. It's troublesome when GC's get mad when approached for money. It's simple really: I was hired to do a job for x amount of money and I am to get paid in such and such terms. If I get paid a few days after said date, no problem. But when it turns into weeks and sometimes months, I have a problem. I can't tell my suppliers or credit card companies that they'll get paid when I get paid. So why does a GC feel like that's a resonable excuse? I hear GC's say "be suspicious of subs who can't fund projects." What about GC's who can't do the same?

Bottom line, if they can't pay you, then work for someone who will. And ALWAYS file your 20-day pre-lien notices so you don't lose lien rights. At least that's what you have to do in CA.

George Z

Unless there is understanding and full trust between the two of you,
He has to pay up.
His lack of cashflow is not your problem.

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mdshunk

You're probably the umpteenth electrician he's used. He's burned all the other one's too. He doesn't care about you, because he'll stumble on the next guy that's new in the biz and screw him the same way. Keep an eye on that job that needs trimmed out yet. Chances are real good that your replacement will be finishing up that job. Maybe that guy could benefit from hearing your story, if you know what I mean. Oh, and yeah... get a lein. You'll never work for that GC again after you file a lein, but you don't want his work at this point anyhow. Think about service... you get paid almost the minute you're done sweeping up.

Bsecdone

Yep, u r right. I wnr to one of the jobs and spoke with the sparky that was there. After a 30min talk he pafked up and walked off. Then I spoke to the home owner and told them that I was going to lien the property and he almost crapped a brick. He said he would make sure I got paid (we will see.)

Called the city and found out this guy isn't even a GC! He has someone else pullin permits for him. Is there anyway I can get the attention of the Real GC to let him knw what's up? I'm blown the top off this mama.

mdshunk

Might want to check to see if that's even legal in your area. Some building departments would love to catch some of these guys.

england030

That's a shame to hear about the guy not being a real GC. I am a GC and when I do need another sub on my team I always get references but here is the thing, I give references too. All of my sub contractors fully understand before they take the job that all payments will be paid one week after completion of work. Like clockwork, they show up at the office one week after and their check is waiting on them. Now, I do pay slightly higher rates but everything is done promptly, professinally and clean. It is true that GC's finance the project and it disturbs me to hear people say "if they don't have the money they shouldn't be in business" I don't know about anyone else but at any one given time for me it would be difficult to come up with 20-30000 to pay sub's and suppliers out of my personal funds. GC's are a source of jobs for subcontractors so they should be a bit more sympathetic.

For instance, I've got 35,000 of my funds outstanding on a house that on tuesday, lord willing, I will receive the 51,000 that is owed to me. All bills are paid on this house but it is not always the case.

Now if the GC is constantly late on his bill, what is late? One day, one week, or more? One week is plenty of time to submit a request, have an inspection, and receive funds. Does he always pay or does he hold out on her?

Bsecdone

Well, the city said. The permit isn't valid anymore because it has been falsified (is that a word ). all I knw is I am telling all cities/jurisdictions about this and informing all the homeowners.

england030

You can report him to his GC licensure board, in alabama, it is a criminal offense to build without a license unless you are the owner, and then you are limitted to two per year.

Mike Finley

I'm going to take a not so wild guess and guess this is in Aurora?

mdshunk

That's beautiful. All because he wouldn't pay you like he should have. What a can of worms he opened up for himself, huh? That'll learn him.

Bsecdone

AURORA, LITTLETON.

We have been corresponding via email now. He has written a lot of thing that will no help his situation.

I plan on serving 3 homeowners with lien notices, talking to the other 8 about this guy not being a GC, and then I am going to let the REAL GC know, he is in a world of crap right now.

PipeGuy

Go get one of these (I like the middle ones) and "re-submit" your bill.

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