CUSTOMER STILL COMPLAINS $35.00 HOUR SUCKS.

[David Hartzog]

I JUST WANT MY MONEY!
THIS LADY IS IN REALSTATE AND IS A PAIN I TALKED WITH PEOPLE THAT NEVER GOT ANY MONEY. THIS TOWN IS IN ALABAMA POP 15,000 SHE IS THE TYPE THAT WOULD RATHER GO TO COURT IF SHE DOESN'T GET HER WAY.
i WAS SUSPOSE TO SEE HER TODAY PUT SHE WASN'T THERE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
SHOULD I SETTLE IF SO HOW MUCH.
LIST OF EQUIMENT USED FOR 4 HOURS IF IT HELPS
21" HONDA PUSH I PAID $100.00 USED TIME 20MINUTES
9 HP LITTLE WONDER BLOW $1225.35 NEW TIME 5 MINUTES
STICK EDGER ECHO 3100 $379.99 NEW TIME 10 MINUTES
TRIMMER ECHO 2601 $379.99 NEW TIME 5 MINUTES
BACK PACK ECHO PB601 $399.99 NEW TIME 5 MINUTES

ROUNDUP AND POST 4.5 GALLONS TOTAL.

THANKS DAVID IN ALABAMA

[KirbysLawn]

What are you talking about? Are you buying, selling, charging for a job? :confused:

[Runner]

Let me ask this. Did you quote her your price before the work was initiated? Either orally or written?

[powerreel]

Tell her you are the LAWN RANGER and TONTO is your truck or it is your hatchback car, and if she doesn't give you all her contracts you will take her out into the UTAH desert and let her listen to DAUGHTERS OF THE NILE or A PERFECT CIRCLE until she begs for PELTCO hearing protectors and wants to post on lawnsite.com, then you can mow your whole town and people will notice your big mower with am/fm as it burns oil as well as gas! OKAY! as SIRUS said, "CAN YOU DIG IT???!!!!!"

[David Hartzog]

This is a follow up from a post 1 week ago she said the $35.00 hour was just to high look in seach for whole story. thanks david in alabama

[MIDSOUTH]

BILL HER OUT AND IF SHE DOES NOT PAY SEND IT TO A COLLECTION AGENCY-SHE WOULD BE BETTER OFF PAYING-EVEN IF SHE DID TAKE YOU TO COURT-YOU WOULD PROBABLY WIN,TELL HER SHES LUCKY TO GET AWAY WITH 35.00 AN HOUR.THE OTHER DAY I QUOTED A JOB FOR 100.00 THAT TOOK ME 1HR AND 45MIN,THE GUY ACTED LIKE HE WAS MAD WHEN HE WAS PAYING AND WAS HE FIGURING UP WHAT I MADE BY THE HOUR AND MENTIONED IT-I THEN POINTED AT THE TRAILER AND TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS 20,000.00 SITTING ON THAT TRAILER AND I SET MY RATES AND WHAT I MAKE PER HOUR IS NOBODYS BUSINESS.HE GOT OVER IT AND HE WANTS TO GET REGULAR SERVICE FROM NOW ON.

[Keith]

Perhaps she is confused. I know after reading this, I'm confused.

{b]One more thing{/b]

CAPS LOCK IS VERY HARD TO READ.

[KirbysLawn]

David, I'm not going to search for an old article to figure out what the problem is. This is the second time in 2 months you have had a problem getting paid for a job. I'm not sure what the problem is but maybe you need to get things in writing from now on, get a deposit, and stop discussing hourly rates with customers.

When I aeravate lawns I often make $400+ and the work takes 45-60 minutes, my expenses run between $200-250 and the rest is profit. That can be around $200 per hour profit and I have never been questioned.

[b]Tell them what it will cost, agree on it, if it takes less time than expected fine you worked hard, if it takes longer are they going to pay you more? Nope. The agreed price is the price, period.

Ray

[Scag48]

David,
Like Kirby said, it's the second time you have not been paid. I don't know about you but it only takes one time to make me change something, like writing a contract instead of telling them you'll do the job for that much. I learned when someone mowed one of my accounts and I was jipped $20. Then it happened again. If she wants to go to court, I'd say you are done for. You have no evidence saying that you were gonna do it for that price. If she threatens to go to court, give it to her for what she wants. You'd loose a little money but it's better than having an lawyer.:) Hope everything turns out alright.

[jaclawn]

That is why you should avoid all persons in the real estate industry like the plague.

[Stinger]

Can you say, CASH IN ADVANCE?

[Charles]

David its your post. It should be clear and concise. We shouldn't have to search anything to figure out what in the H you are talking about. Anyway like the above people have said. get things in writing. make sure you have an agreed on price before doing any work. Whether it hourly or by the job.Make sure you HAVE the job before doing any work. Don't work for anyone who has a reputation for being troublesome.

[Skookum]

I agree with jaclawn. I have had a few experiences with some real estate people here in my area that have made me shy away from them. Seems the small one time jobs - EXAMPLE (Can you mow this 3 feet tall grass, never been edged, never been weed sprayed lawn cause we have a showing tomorrow) are not worth all the hassle in the long run. If you tell them $35.00 an hour and it will take you 3 hours minimum, they will say OK, because they need it done NOW! When they get the bill and the place did not sell, they start the whole too high priced game. Been there, done that!

As far as going to court without a contract goes; It should only cost a few bucks to file a small claims court case(include that amount in what you are trying to get paid). Without a written contract signed by the customer it of course is harder, but a verbal contract is still a contract. Only problem is if she is willing to lie to a judge about the amount agreed upon by you both. If you do not have a witness to the actual conversation of the contract, then it of course is your word against hers. Small claims Judges are usually good about figuring out simple things like these type problems.

Now, the bad news. From my own experiences, small claims courts can not force someone to actually pay. Most people usually do pay, and most actually pay in full after they are served with the papers. (Have the papers served by a uniformed officer, costs you nothing more, it is usually included in the filing fee and nothing could be more embarrasing to someone working in an office enviroment)

If you can not recover any of the money, you always have the bad debts section on your tax form. Also, in a town of only 15,000 it could not be too hard to get the word around that a certain realtor STILL owes you money. Word of mouth is still the best and the worst advertisment possible and for a realtor it is usually crusial.

Good Luck!

[KirbysLawn]

Just tell them you will place a lein on their house and get your money later. I did this once and the check was in the mail shortly after.

Ray

[David Hartzog]

i settled for 65.00 and forgot to tell her her husband broke my hand clippers

[KirbysLawn]

You took $65 for 4 hours work? That just paid for the round-up alone. David, I think you said this is your second try at this business, with deal like this I see why. Sorry for your loss, again. Look at the advice above or something. How could you agree for $65 with al.........

[Vandora Lawn & Landscape]

Get something in writing! I've made the same mistake and got burned for over $400. IN WRITING! IN WRITING!

[HOMER]

Learn from it................move on................leave the woman alone..............spread rumors about her...........buy yourself some new clippers...........take a pill..............whatever helps.

Homer

[BUSHMASTER]

david , i don't mean to bring up things from the past but,
when are you going to start making these people sign paper
taco bell should have been enough to get your attnetion,and you are still having the same problems, First time shame on you,Second time shame on me , third time...We'll lets just say somthing is wrong here. maybe hire you a salesman and pay a commish on new work i bet they get it in writing....good luck

[Scraper]

Also...hope you're licensed to be putting down that Roundup. At $65/job how can you even afford your business insurance premiums (especially with a pesticide endorsement)?