lawnman_scott
LawnSite Fanatic
- Location
- st pete, FL
How did it turn out for you. I went today for a pretrial conference (didnt even know there was such a thing for small claims), and got most of what I was trying for. I got the amount I was owed + court costs. I did have to lower the amout on the court costs to what it actually costed me, and didnt get anything for late fees. I was happy with it. I could have tried to get all I was looking for and took it to court, but im satisfied.
We had to go into a private room and talk to an arbitrator. I was getting mad, the client was telling outright lies about what i didnt do on his lawn, and how he and I agreed to reduce the price. That made me mad, he would never even call me back to talk about paying. He looked at me and i told him, "look at the arbitrator, im done talking to you because we both know YOU ARE LYING!!!!" I dont envy the arbitrator, he calmed me down though.
Then he claimed he paid 2 months that I said he didnt, but the bank couldnt get him copies of the checks, they were looking through the archievs. I dont know what he was thinking, because 5 minutes later he agrees to pay for the same two months of service. I guess he was just trying every lie he could.
The funny thing is I had no contract, i never do with residential. But I let this one fall behind because we did a businesss of theirs so I thought I was safe since they pay in advance (when they pay). But he sent me a signed letter telling me how he was going to pay this much, this date...... to get caught up, then doesnt do it. Without the letter I had no chance. Stupid. And on the subject of stupid, someone was getting sued and the person suing didnt show. The judge asked if she thought she owed the money. If she said no it was going to be thrown out. So she says........."I....I...I guess so..." moron, or brutally honest.
We had to go into a private room and talk to an arbitrator. I was getting mad, the client was telling outright lies about what i didnt do on his lawn, and how he and I agreed to reduce the price. That made me mad, he would never even call me back to talk about paying. He looked at me and i told him, "look at the arbitrator, im done talking to you because we both know YOU ARE LYING!!!!" I dont envy the arbitrator, he calmed me down though.
Then he claimed he paid 2 months that I said he didnt, but the bank couldnt get him copies of the checks, they were looking through the archievs. I dont know what he was thinking, because 5 minutes later he agrees to pay for the same two months of service. I guess he was just trying every lie he could.
The funny thing is I had no contract, i never do with residential. But I let this one fall behind because we did a businesss of theirs so I thought I was safe since they pay in advance (when they pay). But he sent me a signed letter telling me how he was going to pay this much, this date...... to get caught up, then doesnt do it. Without the letter I had no chance. Stupid. And on the subject of stupid, someone was getting sued and the person suing didnt show. The judge asked if she thought she owed the money. If she said no it was going to be thrown out. So she says........."I....I...I guess so..." moron, or brutally honest.
