How to deal this this non-pay

[DA Quality Lawn & YS]

Got a local customer in the town where I live that owes me for one fert and weed control app + a month's worth of mowing (May). Way, way overdue.
My terms are bill at end of month, due by the 15th of the following month, if more than 10 days late cease work and late fee applies.

First contact to her: phone call. Her response "oh my gosh can't believe I forgot I will put it in the mailbox for you" and she hung up. (I know, this isn't legal but not my problem). Went to the mailbox next day, not in there.

Second contact: another phone call, stating hey the dang payment wasn't there. She said "oh can't believe I forgot again it will be in there tomorrow". Went to her home payment not there.

Third and subsequent contact: statement sent with late charges threatening to send to collections. Still nothing.

Can't believe a local lady is stiffing me. What is my next step? What collections agencies do you use?

[Lawnut101]

Last time i had a problem, i called my local sheriffs department. Needless to say, the deputy made one phone call (not sure what was said, but i can guess) and i was paid in full in less than a week.

[GreenI.A.]

I send a letter stating that we will be filing a lien in xx days and that we will be adding the lien and filing fees to the total. I have sent these letters to people who have owed as little as 40 dollars. Just about every time it results in an urgent phone call with the customer trying to arrange an immediate payment.

Originally Posted by Lawnut101

Last time i had a problem, i called my local sheriffs department. Needless to say, the deputy made one phone call (not sure what was said, but i can guess) and i was paid in full in less than a week.

I use this tactic on large NSF checks

[herler]

Before you act THINK how you are going to feel IF you get paid BUT their house goes up for foreclosure
in the coming weeks or months, please think about that before getting all hot and bothered.

Oh, because it DOES happen!
It happened to me, we got paid late on a job after we went after our money and weeks later their house was up for sale and they were gone.
I didn't feel good about having got paid anymore.

We don't like getting stiffed either, nobody does, but in this economy and after words were exchanged
to let them know we were not too happy we did let more than a few slide (and probably will some more).

So I wanted to mention that and I'm not telling anyone what to do nor am I saying that it is nice or that we should
accept getting stiffed but I want folks to realize the consequences to certain actions can be very real.

[GreenI.A.]

Originally Posted by herler

Before you act THINK how you are going to feel IF you get paid BUT their house goes up for foreclosure
in the coming weeks or months, please think about that before getting all hot and bothered.

Oh, because it DOES happen!
It happened to me, we got paid late on a job after we went after our money and weeks later their house was up for sale and they were gone.
I didn't feel good about having got paid anymore.

We don't like getting stiffed either, nobody does, but in this economy and after words were exchanged
to let them know we were not too happy we did let more than a few slide (and probably will some more).

So I wanted to mention that and I'm not telling anyone what to do nor am I saying that it is nice or that we should
accept getting stiffed but I want folks to realize the consequences to certain actions can be very real.

I highly disagree with this. It the house is foreclosed on then the property owner obviously owed a lot of people money, and you should be happy you got your money before the bank, credit card companies, gas, electric, etc. In your example the property owner knew they were in financial trouble and should have canceled service when they realized they could not afford your service any longer.

[cpllawncare]

What he said ^^^^^^

[ricky86]

Originally Posted by herler

Before you act THINK how you are going to feel IF you get paid BUT their house goes up for foreclosure
in the coming weeks or months, please think about that before getting all hot and bothered.

Oh, because it DOES happen!
It happened to me, we got paid late on a job after we went after our money and weeks later their house was up for sale and they were gone.
I didn't feel good about having got paid anymore.

We don't like getting stiffed either, nobody does, but in this economy and after words were exchanged
to let them know we were not too happy we did let more than a few slide (and probably will some more).

So I wanted to mention that and I'm not telling anyone what to do nor am I saying that it is nice or that we should
accept getting stiffed but I want folks to realize the consequences to certain actions can be very real.

Yes, I agree. Your last sentence sums it up perfectly. Don't pay your bills and the will be REAL consequences.

[DA Quality Lawn & YS]

No sale sign on this lady's house, so not sure of her financial condition but really, I do not care. I am not heartless, but certain folks put the lawn guy on the last back burner to be paid because they think we are like duncecaps or something like that. This lady owes around $260 and I will collect. Just trying to gauge the right tactic to do so.

[Patriot Services]

Sorry, but her personal finances are not my problem. She agreed to the work, work was performed, she owes. The game playing makes it worse. I would be on her doorstep and waiting parked in her driveway first thing in the morning if I knew she had to got to work.

[cpllawncare]

Originally Posted by Patriot Services

Sorry, but her personal finances are not my problem. She agreed to the work, work was performed, she owes. The game playing makes it worse. I would be on her doorstep and waiting parked in her driveway first thing in the morning if I knew she had to got to work.

Honestly, that's how you have to look at it! you can't get caught up in people's personal life's, this is business bottom line.