customer wont pay

[Mitchell]

I have a customer that wont pay his bill. We agreed that I would mow his yard once every 2 weeks for $30. I mowed it twice and he paid both times. I mowed it again and he didnt pay that time so I called him when it was due again and he said go ahead and do it again and he would pay for both cuts. Well it has been 2 months later , several phone calls later, on his machine, and 2 invoices sent to his address with no results. I have thought about doing a "drive by" on his yard but I wont stoop to his level. Any suggestions? Thanks

[Keith]

Try to run into him in public places. Then "ask" for your money. People don't like that. Make sure you talk loud enough for the people around him to hear. Say, "Mr. X I have sent you a bill for the landscape service 4 times, I am starting to think you are trying to get out of paying your bills. I can wait right here if you want to right me a check." :eek: Grocery stores work nicely.

[Mitchell]

Im afraid I would "woop" on the top of his head if I saw him. Its just the fact they think they are beating me. And Im not the one. Had a lady wrote a hot check for $35 I called her ansd said it bounced, she wrote one for $45 , it bounced. I left her a note to send a money order for $65 or I would turn in both checks to hot check division. No money order. Sent a certified letter to her for demand of payment and 8 days later I had my money order. This $35 yard cost her with late fee ,bank charges, over $100 . Go figure

[Runner]

So who's doing his yard now? I'd be going over there everyday if I had to. He'd get sick of it ater a while. Also, someone had mentioned on here once, and ZI thought it was a GREAT idea, that if you happen to see that he has company(the more the better), that's a perfect time to stop as he doesn't want to be embarrased to his company.

[Craig Turf Management]

I had a lady who was 2 months behind when I finally discontinued her service. She dodged me for about 3 months, and I finally called her on her job. She is a bank teller. She was at lunch, so I left a message with the person answering the phone, her supervisor. She returned the call that night, and I had my check 2 days later.

If all else fails, embarrass them.

Good luck, Bill Craig:D

[hobbes]

Had a customer that wouldn't pay once, decided all the stress and time involved in trying to collect wasn't worth it. Let it drop.
If you can't do that, hound them, phone calls, daily visits. They'll probably break if you don't first.

[awm]

keith gave you good advice. as far as scraping him.
sounds like more trouble than its worth. let him know the problem.
then if he gets out of line, in a public place. hes the bad guy.
then go to work. but take it easy, no need getting arrested. still sounds like too much trouble to me. later

[KirbysLawn]

Send a letter via certified mail with the balance and the interest you plan on charging. Advise if payment is not made within 10 days a lein will be placed on his home. Sooner or later you will get your money, later will be with little or no more effort on your part. Charge the highest interest your state allows, let his late payment work for you! Try 25% if possible, that compounded over a year on two will be real good for you upon the sell of his home! ;)

Ray

[CSRA Landscaping]

That's funny, Ray. I have a gal that still owes me $80 for last year but I really haven't bothered going after it, it's not worth my headache. I think we just wrote it off.

Upon reflection, I thougt it was a good idea to add that my grampa told me (he's an MD) that private practice docs can expect to write off upwards of about $10k per year in non-payment!

[awm]

hats off to you kirby,good advice

[LAWNGODFATHER]

I like those ideas

sorry kirby but i think you need a contract to place a lien on the property or to apply interest

what you should have done is get a contract or perposal with him that he had to sign it should state all chages and fees on it then the law would be more on your side

but as it stands kiss that money goodby and move on and learn from your mistakes and others

[eggy]

Dont sweat such a small amount, if you get others turn them all over to a collection agency...if it makes you feel any better we have two accounts who are behind each one owing between $1500.00 and 2100.00 ( for last month)but they tend to pay..it seems when they feel like it....ohhh well its buisness....and cash flow is king.

[Eric ELM]

If anyone is wondering why posts with this same topic are hard to find in the search feature, it is because just about all of these end up in an argument and they are closed or deleted.

Lets set a record on this one and keep this one here.

[Mitchell]

How about signs around the area w his name address and how much he owes my company. I saw a guy yesterday that had a sign on his trailer saying the bussiness and how much the owed .

[Keith]

Originally posted by Mitchell
How about signs around the area w his name address and how much he owes my company. I saw a guy yesterday that had a sign on his trailer saying the bussiness and how much the owed .

Probably not a good idea. I know a guy that tried this many years ago. Somehow he wound up getting in trouble for it.

[ChadsLawn]

try to show up around bed time..9pm or so...or show up around 7 or 8 pm to cut his yard..im sure youll get paid...

[Charles]

It doesnt matter how much they owe me. I go after it like a bulldog and never let up. Just like patching a leaky dam. Too many leaks the dam will blow. The best thing I have found to do as some above have is go to their workplace if they are self employed. Or Go to their home and catch them off guard and talk to them in person. Make sure they understand that you will come back until they pay you. In 10 years no one has not paid me. I dont work for free and I dont think they would either. I have never had to threaten anyone. Some people are just dead beats and dont deserve your respect

[LoneStarLawn]

You won't here me say that to often.

I had an idea the other day...I was thinking that if we had a database of past deadbeat customers in your area that it would help avoid getting them. We are good freinds with a local competitor that had a customer that they dropped because of her paying habits (late, never paying). Well we ended up with her and had the same problem with her near the end. Well we dropped her and told her she could call them (gave her the number and everything). The funny thing is she obviously lost her memory and called them and they told her that they had here black listed and could not provided services for her. Would be nice to come to the computer and type their name and see the report they may have on them from past LCO's or other contractors. (I guess like a credit report)

[parkwest]

I keep thinking a lot of these non payment problems go away if every contractor started using a simple work order that the customer signs before you start work.

[bobbygedd]

last week i told a customer i needed to cancel service, he said he would not pay the $80 he owed me, due to "the inconvenience" of having to find someone else to cut the lawn. well, i said pay now or i file a theft charge, he said no, i filed a theft charge, when he caught wind of it, he said he would pay the bill if i dropped the charges. got my money, its not the amount its the principle.

[Chip]

Don't be afraid to stop and collect your money, it's owed to you. I would go early in the morning around 7:00 before he leaves for work. If that doesn't work stop right before dark. The other thing to do would be show up when he has company that way you know he will answer the door instead of dodging you.

[Fallguy]

i wouldnt post a sign on my truck or trailer - its called deflamation of character and i believe you could be sued - id go back again for a final mow and i bet he wouldnt like the end result