The nerve!

[polecat63]

Just received a call from a customer that lives out of town. I maintain a residential rental property of his in a high end area. Been mowing it for about 4 years now. Anyway, the old tenants were a royal pain. Guy would do donuts in the yard with his golf cart and all sorts of great stuff. They were kicked out and new peeps move in. Seem decent enough. Actually pulled the weeds afte I sprayed them. Turns out the younger brother has a small lawn business on the side. Don't think mush of iit until today. Arrive to mow this and 4 others on the same street and these people have already mowed. Figure I'll just call the owner when I get home and ask what's up. I get a call from the owner and he tells me that the tenants called to say I had been slacking and that I have not mowed in weeks. Also said I was leaving large patches of grass uncut. I ask if their had been any previous complaints and he said no. I asked if that didn't seem a little odd and he agreed. I told him one of his tenants had his own company and was prolly trying to get the contract for himself. He said not to worry, just keep mowing. The nerve of these newbies. I have half the neighborhood locked up and not one complaint among the bunch and he gonna try and shaft me. Not much I can do except smile and wave as I cut the lawn. Sorry, just wanted to vent!:(

[goodbeus]

Just remember, what goes around, comes around...I've seen guys like that before and they're usually out of business before to long...just out to make a quick buck....keep doing what you've always done, you're work speaks volume:blob3:

[Black Water]

Not much you can do! Bull s*#t ! Your not working for that low down wast of skin, your working for the owner. This just pizzes me off reading about it! I am a firm beliver in confrontation, and i would ask this guy to his face, did he say that about me, and watch him squirm.:angry: By the way, how bigga boy is he?:p

[awm]

in this situation ,i would have to agree blackwater. that is if hes natured that way

[Jusmowin]

Good for you Polecat, I think it is very important to stand up for yourself and yes I would say something to that guy as nicely as possible. Good luck with the storm and I hope your saws are ready!

[mike9497]

well i know what i would do. its close to what Black Water said,but i think 1 or 2 levels higher...:D

[mtdman]

That is pretty low.

[Willis]

Aren't those remarks he made called character defamation, and scents it affected your business wouldn't he be liable for damaging your business and reputation?
If so, you could always scare him with the mention of a law suet.

[tiedeman]

I actually dropped a customer because of a similar situation. He wrote a letter to me, couldn't even call me, to tell me that he wasn't happy because the tenants were complaining about the work. The guy lives in Colorado and doesn't even see the place. So basically I let the customer go without even putting up a fight

[Rustic Goat]

I've got to agree with the posts advising you take some kind of verbal action. Not legal, this is very small time (not meaning you or your business), VERY hard to prove in court, and so far you haven't lost $.
With a trusted witness by your side, I'd have to make a house call. Calmly and clearly express what you've been told by property owner, and let it be known that you don't appreciate it. You MUST stay calm, even if renter gets loud, but you've got to let it be understood that HE is in YOUR territory, and he would be wise to act that way.

Competition is one thing, but lying and trying to steal accounts is theft as far as I'm concerned.

[SUGAR_CUT_MARK]

YEAH polecat, smile and wave with a certain finger extended, how dare they do some s%$@ like that!!

[Runner]

The only thing is, is that next, they'll be at your accounts down the street, as well.

[Tonyr]

Yep, nip this clown in the bud before he goes on, I 've had germs like this follow me out of town to the acreage sites and same day they slither in and meet the owner and say stuff like "whatever he charges I'll charge only half" and crap like this, considering I only usae a ride on, these morons, 1 in particular comes to mind then get the next mow, money is money....then as I think I lost the job the client calls all appologetic, the idiot wanna be comes up to me on a commercial job and goes on about how little he made pushing a domestic mower over 3 acres and that he didn't make much money because his quote was half of mine, so I'm to blame as my quote was too low....er, I have X

[Tonyr]

Whoops, bumped enter:)

As I have a Z rider like most of you obviously I'll make money mowing with big sites, a push mower simply can't.

To make my point, I agree that he has defamed your business, I would see a solicitor.

Then the personal up close and personal visit, catch him on neutral ground though, not his home.

My story was to let you know though that these morons are everywhere, they even drive around behind set up contractors and hope they can steal gear when the contractor is not in sight of his rig, so, oh yeah, there is no depth to these "things"

Tony,

Australia

[polecat63]

Thanks for all the opinions guys. As for confronting him, they are almost never home, but I may say something when I see them next. I'm not worried about the other accounts since I work directlt with the home owners on those. Oh, and I'm much bigger then he is. 6' 235lbs. I honestly think he'll avoid me.