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Forever Green Landscaping

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Just wanted to let everyone know to be aware of the management company Mirror Lawn Turf Doctor.
I was contracted to do the maintenance for Targets in the area with a signed contract and everything.
June comes along and they cancel because I am way over budget. (They owe me more for 3 months then their budget for the year) "Can you do it for less? "
No, thanks just send me the money you owe me and we can part ways. I asked why the contract passed through and was signed if it was over budget. "We are looking into that. Good question"
Won't return emails, I call and there is a new excuse of why I haven't got paid yet. (Check is on owners desk and is on vacation, Owner has question about contract but is out of the office, Owner wont return calls)
Just wanted to give any other companies a heads up so you don't end up in my situation.
If it wasn't for good budgeting my business would be close to going under or selling a different piece of equipment every other week to survive.
Any suggestions or advice on getting my money?
 
#3 ·
Did they sign your contract or did you sign theirs?

I got the rfp for targets from another management company and they were paying per year what I would have charged per month.
 
#4 ·
Forever Green Landscaping said:
Just wanted to let everyone know to be aware of the management company Mirror Lawn Turf Doctor.
I was contracted to do the maintenance for Targets in the area with a signed contract and everything.
June comes along and they cancel because I am way over budget. (They owe me more for 3 months then their budget for the year) "Can you do it for less? "
No, thanks just send me the money you owe me and we can part ways. I asked why the contract passed through and was signed if it was over budget. "We are looking into that. Good question"
Won't return emails, I call and there is a new excuse of why I haven't got paid yet. (Check is on owners desk and is on vacation, Owner has question about contract but is out of the office, Owner wont return calls)
Just wanted to give any other companies a heads up so you don't end up in my situation.
If it wasn't for good budgeting my business would be close to going under or selling a different piece of equipment every other week to survive.
Any suggestions or advice on getting my money?
Click to expand...
any time you have a day off park your truck and trailer in front of the doors and tell the manager you'll move when you get a check??
 
#5 ·
RIGHT NOW Go To A Lawyer!

Put a Lien on their properties, or see what your legal options are.
This is time sensitive
so do it NOW.

Up here where I am...a builders lien has to be filed within 45 days of the invoice date...generally 30 days are given to the client to send the cheque and then if it looks like we won't get paid we have another two weeks to have the lawyer draw up the lien papers (we can't do the paperwork ourselves here)

Small claims court is $125 here.

In either case, we can't collect on the lien or small claims fee we had to pay
from the client and we can't claim interest on the invoiced amount owing.

Big companies using us as subcontractors can chew us up and spit us out. Alot of times
we don't have the money to fight with them and some service providers do go bankrupt.

Good Luck. Every-one, look into your options and don't procrastinate
 
#6 ·
Forever Green Landscaping said:
Just wanted to let everyone know to be aware of the management company Mirror Lawn Turf Doctor.
I was contracted to do the maintenance for Targets in the area with a signed contract and everything.
June comes along and they cancel because I am way over budget. (They owe me more for 3 months then their budget for the year) "Can you do it for less? "
No, thanks just send me the money you owe me and we can part ways. I asked why the contract passed through and was signed if it was over budget. "We are looking into that. Good question"
Won't return emails, I call and there is a new excuse of why I haven't got paid yet. (Check is on owners desk and is on vacation, Owner has question about contract but is out of the office, Owner wont return calls)
Just wanted to give any other companies a heads up so you don't end up in my situation.
If it wasn't for good budgeting my business would be close to going under or selling a different piece of equipment every other week to survive.
Any suggestions or advice on getting my money?
Click to expand...
Get a lawyer and make sure every bit of correspondance is documented. Try to do it via email if you can get a response, that way you have the records.

Good luck and thanks for the heads up!
 
#7 · (Edited)
Agape said:
any time you have a day off park your truck and trailer in front of the doors and tell the manager you'll move when you get a check??
Click to expand...
Ooo I like this one, can't guarantee it will work for you but I'm all for that lol
although it is against the fair debt collection act (meaning it breaks the law)
but then some people they don't give a ****
 
#9 ·
If their contract is like any other I've seen. He already waived his rights to do anything other than sit and wish he got paid. Don't take this as a knock. I've done it myself. These middlemen know how to write a contract so there is zero risk on their part. All they do is keep the majority share of the money by preying on inexperienced business owners
In this case you seem that you know your pricing and that didn't allow them to keep 80% of the money. Likely it was more money than they were getting paid. So they're just not going to pay. They don't have to according to the contract. You're not going to spend tens if thousands on a lawyer to fight it. Next year they get someone new who is dreaming of the day they can be a big time pro and mow the local big box store. They wont care what little it pays. They figure they're getting their foot in the door and its their big break to becoming the next brickman.
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Discussion starter · #10 ·
I've started to contact the Target headquarters to notify them of the situation. I may end up putting a lein on the stores and the management company. I actually have customers who found out about what happened and want to get together on the weekends and picket with signs that Target doesn't pay their contractors.
 
#11 ·
Dentco used to have targets. Subbing out from a company who subs out from Dentco or another national company usually will be in violation of the national company's contract. The next step down won't get paid, therefore you won't.

I got into that one time. I worked for a company who worked for dentco. I didn't know at the time Dentco didn't allow it. The company I did work for was forging documents (not my sites, thank goodness) to send back to Dentco. Needless to say, Dentco found out and the other company lost all of their dentco contracts. I started working for Dentco then. Still do. AS long as I submit what they ask and do the work I am contracted to do, I get paid.

Do your homework on ANY company you subcontract for.
 
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#12 ·
you may want to rethink picketing.

do you know that Target is not paying the contractors?

remember you are the subcontractor. Target may be paying Mirror and Mirror may be pocketing all the money.

It probably wouldn't hurt to talk to the store managers, but would be a poor idea to picket in their front yard.

It would be a good idea to get a lawyer too, before contacting anyone.

Both parties are required to sign contracts. Did Mirror send you a signed copy? Or did you only send back your signature? They may have never completed the signature on their end.
 
#13 ·
Many states require (if they intend to retain their lien rights) subcontractors (of all tiers) to file a "Notice of Contract" within (____) days from signing the original agreement. If you didn't do this, it's not the property management nor anyone else's fault. This will sound harsh. But, you should know the contract laws of the state you're doing business in.

It could also be true that you DO know the laws AND a notice of contract ISN'T required in your state. Conceded. In that case, fiile the lien. The lien goes on the property (not against the second tier subcontractor, i.e. the property management company).

What "I" would do is this.....Have someone in the legal field help you (I'm not saying you don't know how to do this, trust me. I'd do the same thing) draft a letter to the owner (Target Corp.) informing them of your intention to file a lien, if the matter is not resolved, satisfactorily. Let them lean on your property manager. NO OWNER wants a lien to be filed, ever! If they think you're getting shafted, they'll go to bat for you.

Just because you may not (again, no idea) have lien rights, that doesn't mean you're not due your day in court. Courts hate contractors (in general). I'd say your chances were good, there. But, it's gonna cost you some money to get what's yours. Weigh your response.

I AM a property management company. I'm small enough that I RARELY subcontract work. When I do, it's someone I know. Never been or done any burning. Sorry this happened to you.
 
#14 · (Edited)
Yeah it does look like one of those places that prey on the inexperienced and new business owner and while I'm
not entirely against that because it thins out the competition plus ...

I mean I am sorry but you put in 10 years into this business and you come here every day...
And you get these kids who think they know everything talk back in your face because you didn't hand them
the keys to your car on a silver platter and see if you don't entirely see things a little bit my way too.

But that still doesn't mean I like it when any of us get stiffed because it's only a matter of time before
they trip up the next hard working individual and I don't like nobody preying on "fools" with finely written contracts.
Unfortunately I can see it too, the writing is on the wall, still it doesn't make what they did right.

Forever Green Landscaping said:
I've started to contact the Target headquarters to notify them of the situation. I may end up putting a lein on the stores and the management company. I actually have customers who found out about what happened and want to get together on the weekends and picket with signs that Target doesn't pay their contractors.
Click to expand...
Now you're talking.
Might not be worth much but that is probably your best course of action.
In my humble opinion, for what it's worth.
Good luck.

One other thing...
Chalk one up to experience, lesson learned: Business owners don't sign someone else's contract.
 
#15 · (Edited)
Don't do the picketing. Trust me, Target is paying their bills.

Now...as for the 1st part of your plan (contacting Target), see my 1st response.

Imagine someone picketing your house with signs that you're a pedophile. Never mind the fact that you're not. Someone told some folks you were. And, now they're picketing.
Target Corp. are not pedophiles ( in this correlative). You want them as your ally....not your enemy. And, trust me, they ARE on your side.
 
#16 ·
You live and you learn. I've had my share of difficulties dealing with contractors as their sub. The "local big box stores" are never going to pay enough for a middleman and you to both get paid fairly anymore. I learned the hard way once and luckily it worked out ok in the end, a lesson for sure. I do very little work as a sub and will always have a lawyer look at any new contracts BEFORE I sign them. I feel for you man, it's a super sh*tty feeling.
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#18 · (Edited)
MOturkey said:
This thread makes me so happy I don't do any work for a management company, or a corporation. :)
Click to expand...
Oh, it's sick, reminds me of the time I tried my hand at being a "Mystery Shopper" :laugh:

It's sad to see that this is what it boils down to with corporations.

Blazerfb said:
The "local big box stores" are never going to pay enough for a middleman and you to both get paid fairly anymore.
Click to expand...
Yup, you are so right, I can see that now and that's also where the management companies come into play
and like it or not they're here to stay and nothing will ever change.

:laugh:
^ You gotta laugh, I'm telling you.
 
#19 ·
Doesn't it make you want to ask the question........"Why don't these corporations contract directly with LCO's"?

If you're tired of management companies, you really have two choices:

1. Try to end-around them.
2. Discover the answer to the aforementioned question - and act, accordingly.
 
#20 ·
vencops said:
Doesn't it make you want to ask the question........"Why don't these corporations contract directly with LCO's"?

If you're tired of management companies, you really have two choices:

1. Try to end-around them.
2. Discover the answer to the aforementioned question - and act, accordingly.
Click to expand...
I have asked this question SO many times. My only answer is that they must find it cheaper and easier. They will never get quality that way. They think it is a simple quick fix solution. Unrealistic.
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