[6stringmason]

What do you say to someone who owes you money that you could use who said they will mail the check next week now instead of this week, because they have a death in the family?

I'd like to say "Im sorry for you loss. That being said I still need the money as promised on time."

Any suggestions?

 

[KennMacMoragh]

Is one week a problem? Is there a due date in your contract?

 

[superseal]

Suck it up and give them a week is what I would do.

Easier said then done when you need the money though...

 

[6stringmason]

Yes, another week is a problem. I've had a slow late winter due to record days of low temps, and record lows all in a row. It was a horrible winter for masonry.

My contract, that he signed, said payment due upon completion. That was a month ago. The HO wanted me to touch some things up, then I'd get the remainder of the money 'right away', GC's words.

I touched things up, HO was happy, was supposed to get my money, now its another week. Im just wondering what the excuse will be next week. I have bills to pay. Does business just shut down due to a death in the family? As much as I feel for him, I still have a life to live, and food to put on the table.

Am I being difficult here?

 

[Jaws]

Happened when we started. Had to loan the company money for a month waiting.

Personally it was a class issue. The particular client would never pay late withlut that situation. Mercifully they sent a check before we called.

It does suck when you need the money.

Personal choice. I dont have any imput.

 

[Jaws]

Yes, another week is a problem. I've had a slow late winter due to record days of low temps, and record lows all in a row. It was a horrible winter for masonry.

My contract, that he signed, said payment due upon completion. That was a month ago. The HO wanted me to touch some things up, then I'd get the remainder of the money 'right away', GC's words.

I touched things up, HO was happy, was supposed to get my money, now its another week. Im just wondering what the excuse will be next week. I have bills to pay. Does business just shut down due to a death in the family? As much as I feel for him, I still have a life to live, and food to put on the table.

Am I being difficult here?

I understand, completely. Id give them a call.

 

[KennMacMoragh]

You need to change your contract and specify the number of days after completion payment is due. That could be part of the reason they're not paying, playing word games with your contract. But I think what you said is a reasonable thing to ask. It reminds me of a time my plumber delayed my message because they found out someone died. But come to find out he was just as irresponsible for the remainder of the job I had him on, never using him again.

 

[Tom M]

Went through it last year,the client died on an insurance job no less. I needed the money too did the whole job out of pocket and waited months for money.

Had to go through an estate where all money was tied up and needed legal approval for the next of kin to approve all kinds of stuff.

I waited, expressed sympathy went to the wake, did other work for family. Im sure it was a classy move. They recommend me all of the time.

 

[Metro M & L]

Yes, another week is a problem. I've had a slow late winter due to record days of low temps, and record lows all in a row. It was a horrible winter for masonry.

My contract, that he signed, said payment due upon completion. That was a month ago. The HO wanted me to touch some things up, then I'd get the remainder of the money 'right away', GC's words.

I touched things up, HO was happy, was supposed to get my money, now its another week. Im just wondering what the excuse will be next week. I have bills to pay. Does business just shut down due to a death in the family? As much as I feel for him, I still have a life to live, and food to put on the table.

Am I being difficult here?

No youre not being difficult. They said you werent done because there was touch up. Then they were supposed to pay. Then they had to come up with another excuse.

If theryre paying a mason thousands for brick work, they can put a plane ticket on a visa. Do you believe they would give a crap if you had a death in your family and didnt show up for six weeks holding their CO on a new construction home?

Call their bluff. They may be stringing you along to get past the lien dead line.

 

[WBailey1041]

Yes, another week is a problem. I've had a slow late winter due to record days of low temps, and record lows all in a row. It was a horrible winter for masonry. My contract, that he signed, said payment due upon completion. That was a month ago. The HO wanted me to touch some things up, then I'd get the remainder of the money 'right away', GC's words. I touched things up, HO was happy, was supposed to get my money, now its another week. Im just wondering what the excuse will be next week. I have bills to pay. Does business just shut down due to a death in the family? As much as I feel for him, I still have a life to live, and food to put on the table. Am I being difficult here?

When customers blow our due dates we call everyday, usually twice a day. How long does it take to write a check? I'd pester them to death

 

[66 Shelby]

So who 'died'? Was it a mother or father? If so, I'd give them a few days for compassionate reasons. If it was a cousin/uncle/neighbor/friend I would call BS and be very demanding for my payment. Sorry for your loss, but I gotta eat. If your car is out of gas, do you tell the attendant you'll pay him next week because your cat died? :laughing:

 

[TNTRenovate]

Sorry but they are a month past due and now have a death as an excuse. I'm not sure why a death in the family keeps one from opening the checkbook and writing a check, sticking into a envelope and mailing it to you. If it is a close relative, they are having no issue writing checks to the funeral home.

Let them know that while you understand their situation is difficult you cannot pay your bills because you are still waiting on their payment.

 

[rosethornva]

Sorry but they are a month past due and now have a death as an excuse. I'm not sure why a death in the family keeps one from opening the checkbook and writing a check, sticking into a envelope and mailing it to you. If it is a close relative, they are having no issue writing checks to the funeral home.

Let them know that while you understand their situation is difficult you cannot pay your bills because you are still waiting on their payment.

That was my thought, too.

Do you think they're still paying their utility bills and grocery bills? I'd imagine that they are.

Why is it that the smallest businesses on the tightest budgets are the budget items that homeowners "put off" paying FIRST?

Because they can.

IMHO, of course.

 

[rselectric1]

Gut feeling only here. They are preparing to string you along for quite awhile with excuse after excuse after excuse.

Give them one complimentary week and then get ruthless.

This is a standard excuse for not paying up when they promised, unless of course the customer also has to embalm the dead relative personally.

 

[B.D.R.]

I Think that you might be able to confirm the death, it should be public record.
See if they are lying or not.

 

[Stoneyard]

Yes, another week is a problem. I've had a slow late winter due to record days of low temps, and record lows all in a row. It was a horrible winter for masonry.

My contract, that he signed, said payment due upon completion. That was a month ago. The HO wanted me to touch some things up, then I'd get the remainder of the money 'right away', GC's words.

I touched things up, HO was happy, was supposed to get my money, now its another week. Im just wondering what the excuse will be next week. I have bills to pay. Does business just shut down due to a death in the family? As much as I feel for him, I still have a life to live, and food to put on the table.

Am I being difficult here?

No your not being difficult. I would call them tomorrow and tell him you need the money NOW, not in two weeks. Tell him you will stop by and personally pick up the check, so there is no reason to mail it. Call him out on it now, because in 2 weeks when the check doesn't come your back to square one. Take it to the end game now, if they wont pay you now what makes you think they will pay you in 2 weeks? It only takes 15 seconds to write a check. A death in the family is just an excuse to put you off. No offense but if someone is dead they aren't going anywhere but in the meantime the living need to put food on their table. Frankly I would be offended that someone would use an excuse like that to not pay a man what is owed to him. No offense brother but he played on your compassion and you fell for it hook line and sinker. There is a time for diplomacy and a time for action, diplomacy is dead...

 

[Calidecks]

Tell them there will be another death in the family if you don't get your money.

 

[6stringmason]

Well it seems my gut feeling was right. I will call him today. Thanks!

 

[pinwheel]

This type thing is why we keep emergency reserve money in savings. Sometimes cash flow becomes an issue, regardless of whether it's a death in the family, or I for some unforeseen reason can't get the jobs to 100% completion. Nothing ruins excellent credit faster than being slow pay to my creditors. I hate taking that money out of savings, but I hate more not being able to pick up the phone & say send me 1000 ft of flooring & know it's on it's way.

 

[TNTRenovate]

This type thing is why we keep emergency reserve money in savings. Sometimes cash flow becomes an issue, regardless of whether it's a death in the family, or I for some unforeseen reason can't get the jobs to 100% completion. Nothing ruins excellent credit faster than being slow pay to my creditors. I hate taking that money out of savings, but I hate more not being able to pick up the phone & say send me 1000 ft of flooring & know it's on it's way.

Its just hard gettin to the point of having a cash reserve.