She had the nerve to call me!

[65hoss]

I cut this womans lawn last year. Her boyfriend lives about 2 miles away and I did his also. He was always a slow payer. Then the last payment took him about 4 months to send me. The girlfriend owes me money still. I left several messages and bills since last fall. No response.

She has the nerve to call me this morning. "Phil (boyfriend) needs your help. He's having an argument with the spraying company and wants me to help him. Oh, by the way I think I owe you some money. You can cut my grass in about 2 weeks and I'll pay you what I owe you."

I promise I will be there in 2 weeks. But ONLY TO COLLECT MY MONEY. Then she is on her own. I still can't get over the fact that she actually called me.

[Fantasy Lawns]

kinda like "Free Beer" ..... it's always Tomorrow ....:->

[LoneStarLawn]

people are stupid like that...

[awm]

it takes all kinds and that kind is one of my favorites
they got so much class, kinda makes you wanta put your sunday clothes on to do their yd

[Guido]

Tell her you need money up front if she still wants you to do work for her this season.

If she paid me 1 week or month ahead of scheduele, I'd do it. If he didn't pay on time (early, technically) I just wouldn't go.

Easy as pie to fix this problem.

But if you don't need the work I suggest you turn your back and find some better customers to replace these.

[Charles]

Yea, I agree you better get your money in advance before the first cut. I did this to one of my female customers too. She mails me a check and then I cut. Problem is she is late with the check letting the grass get high. So I gave her another and final warning this year to be on time with the check or idios.

[Freetime]

One more time “the lawn guy” is last on the list she/he lives in a 30,60,90 day world however that does not mean you have to. Get the money owed to you and send them down the road. Had this happen before “ oh our budget is tight” and what do I see in the driveway a week after we terminate? A big shinny RED SUBURBAN 2000 MODEL.

People will use you if they can and not blink an eye, you will find better customers.

[bob]

I'd get your money, then find a new customer to replace her(and the boyfriend). Chances are down the line , she'll bouce checks or give you a sob story.

[thelawnguy]

She's not that stupid, guess she figures that if you were stupid enough to let them take you for a ride on your dime last year, maybe they would try again for more free lawn service...

[MikeLT1Z28]

in addition to her wanting it cut in two weeks, it looked like a weed field about two weeks ago. i say we collect when we are out that way and tell her thanks but no.

[guntruck]

Its amazing the lengths that people will go when they really need you isnt it? Its just disgusting to think about sometimes aint it.........oh well good luck collecting your money!!

[cos]

Wonder what the boyfriend was argueing over to the spraying company. He was probably complaining about service that he didn't pay for and is trying to get it free of charge. Kinda like the old, this food sucks after you eat everything on your plate at a resteraunt.

I would put her on a cod cutting plan. Pay cash first before the cut or else its nothing but tail lights.

[John Allin]

Screw ya once, shame on her.
Screw ya twice, shame on you.

[geogunn]

my advice today, the way I feel right now, is get over it and cut it AS LONG AS you get full payment.

I'll check in about 9:00am and see if I still feel the same way.

GEO

[ron]

go down to your nearest walmart buy some round up and fun in her yard write whatever is on your mind works very well as a stress reliever.......

[MikeLT1Z28]

she'd be grateful if someone killed her yard, then she wouldn't have to call anyone for a free cut. :D

[65hoss]

JA, No shame on me :), I don't plan to deal with them anymore. I guess I just will not get my $$, because to get them I will need to do this years work for them first. There is no way that I'm doing any work for these two. I thought at first maybe I could BS enough to get my money, but its not enough for me to worry over. I think I will just forget the money and keep the lesson.


Here is the lesson I learned from these two:
Always listen to the potential customer when they are telling you about past problems. They will usually give themselves away if they are a bad customer. When you hear something like, "we just can't keep a cutter", start to wonder why and listen real hard. The lesson I learned from these two last year actually helped me many times over since. That lesson has paid dividends over and over.