What do you think of this idea?

[lawn]

I've a customer that owes me money, he refuses to pay making excuses and non answering the phone, emails etc. Since he is playing hard to get I was thinking of the following ideas:

1) Place a street banner with their first name and or lastname/house number saying: " xxx & xxxx please pay your bills! "

2) is to show up on Thanksgiving when thw whole family is there and ask for the money, so they will be embarrased and force to pay me, also I was thinking about asking a police escort in case they want to call the police to me!

Do you think this is legal to do? any other ideas besides colection company?

[Big C]

That's a pretty STUPID idea....JMO

[pclawncare]

Not for sure on this but i am thinking the first one is very possibly illegal. I know discussing someones account that is past due with anyone else besides the person on the account is. Be careful with that idea. Why not just take them to small claims court

[group501]

Small claims court or collection agencies are your best bet. I have not used small claims court but was speaking with someone last week that told me he has a very high percentage of satisfied payments after they get the notice. We have been using collection agencies and experience about 60% payments received after the notice of collections is sent.

[Kickin Your Grass]

Originally Posted by lawn

I've a customer that owes me money, he refuses to pay making excuses and non answering the phone, emails etc. Since he is playing hard to get I was thinking of the following ideas:

1) Place a street banner with their first name and or lastname/house number saying: " xxx & xxxx please pay your bills! "

2) is to show up on Thanksgiving when thw whole family is there and ask for the money, so they will be embarrased and force to pay me, also I was thinking about asking a police escort in case they want to call the police to me!

Do you think this is legal to do? any other ideas besides colection company?

I understand your frustration of not getting paid and wanting to do this to humiltate the deadbeat customer, but I think this would be very unprofessional and would put you on the same level as him.

Here is what I would do if I was you:

Call your local court and find out how you can go about taking him to small claims court. Get all the details as to how much it cost to file against him. After getting that info, type up a professional letter saying that you intend on taking him to small claims court. In the letter include the total amount he owes you plus late fees, and what the court cost will be. Let him know if payment is not received with in 30 days that you will be filing against him in (whatever your courts name is) and with Judge (Whatever name the judge is)..

Send this letter to him certified from the post office so he knows you mean business. If you don't receive a payment with in the 30 days, go down to the court and file it in small claims court. It's $102 to file here, but that gets tacked on to the balance that he already owes you, if the judge awards in your favor.

[nlminc]

I drove by a convenience store a few months ago and they put a sign out by the street that said.

Mrs. Johnson, please come by to pick up your bounced check.

LOL

[HBLandscaping]

Anyone have to send a certified letter though the mail to a mailman? LOL. I have a client who is late on payment, I've sent him 2 letters asking/reminding him he still owes, called and left messages at his house, stopped by his work (local post office) and the funny thing is he my mailman, I see him 6 days a week when he brings my mail.....Its always" I'll bring it by tomorrow when I drop off your mail".

So today I think I'll send him a certified letter....It'll be pretty funny cus not only does he bring my mail but he also delivers mail to his own house... NO WAY HE CAN SAY I DIDN'T GET THIS ONE LOL.

I'd love to put someones name out there on a sign that say's " .....doesn't pay there bills" but I don't think its legal or a smart business move...Be carefull how you go about it, But small claims is the best way to go...


Good luck

[Doug1966]

I'm guessing this whole thread is a joke. If so, you had me, and it's pretty funny.

[lawn]

Clients have the opportunity to badmouth our companies in websites,consumer agencies, etc why can we have the same option to report the ones that don't pay for services provided to them? it's not fair

[Caterkillar]

Originally Posted by lawn

Clients have the opportunity to badmouth our companies in websites,consumer agencies, etc why can we have the same option to report the ones that don't pay for services provided to them? it's not fair

Thanksgiving would have been interesting!