[GreenBlade]

I have a customer who has been a real pain this season. It is a lady, rough, tattoos, piercings, bandanas... She contacted me in May needing someone just to mow & make her property look clean. Arrived to an overgrown jungle with trash and debris all throughout. It is a rather large lot with a fence that is also out of our service area, but we decided to take it to maybe expand to that region, and because we have a lawn that is close to this one while still in our region. The price I gave her was $71/cut. This was with a military discount because she is a disabled vet. Being nice I made it an even $70. She signed into a contract with me and we got started.

First cut I had to charge the high-grass fee of a mere $5, which probably should have been $10, but hey I'm a nice guy. Now we come to the end of the month, time for bills to go out. She had already mentioned that she would like to pay me the first week of each month, and I said that would be no problem as bills go out the last service day of each month and are due in 14 days.

First month she receives the bill, and I had the check the next day. Only problem was she had made the check out to my company (Green Blade Lawn Care) and I am only 16 so I am not old enough to open a business account yet. So I had to get another check explaining her the situation and pointing out to her that on the bill it says "Make checks payable to Logan Sizemore". I go to the bank and deposit the new check.

Couple weeks later I see I have $(however much the check was written for) taken out of my account AND a $12 returned check fee. It was a bounced check. I contact her about it and she says she doesn't know why it happened and will try to get to the bottom of it. She contacts me later saying it was some sort of auto-pay thing with the cable company that she "didnt authorize".

Being I thought the previous month was payed, we continued service for the next month. So now it was time for the next month's bill to go out, AND I had to send her another bill for the previous month with a $12 inconvenience fee added in.

So that brings us to now. We have stopped service, she is 2 months behind, and nothing. It's something different each time I need to receive money from her (air conditioner went out, $500 electricity payment, etc.). The lawn has been mowed either by her or another company, which voids the contract.

What should I do? As I mentioned she did sign a contract saying she would pay and all, so do I take her to small-claims court? I plan on giving her a few more weeks at least to pay. I'm not concerned about late fees, I just want my money. All $371 of it.

 

[C & T Landscaping]

You stopped service which is good. Is her property out of your way? If not, visit it everyday, knock on the door, demand the money...Id do that for five or so days...then I would come up with a letter saying 'pay me this, plus this late fee by this date or meet me at small claims' and be sure to mail it via Certified Mail that way she has to sign that she received it. Be sure to take the mailing receipt with you to court, along with any and all documentation of her (contract, receipts, invoices, letters, etc.) Just my two cents.

 

[alldayrj]

I think the contract is worthless since you're 16

 

[KrayzKajun]

I think the contract is worthless since you're 16

This may be true.

 

[GreenBlade]

This may be true.

That's what I was afraid of.

 

[alldayrj]

You need to be 18. So stay out of court, go old school or chalk it up as a cheap lesson to learn in the grand scheme of things.

 

[larryinalabama]

If I were 16 Id just cut for cash.

 

[Will P.C.]

Writing bad checks is a serious crime. Write her a certified letter that you plan on contacting the DA and state about her check writing habits. Use that as leverage to get your money.

 

[Charles]

This is why I don't extend credit to people I don't know. She could have a poor credit history and therefore you risk cutting her grass a month for free.
I agree with Will . Hang onto that check and take it to Law Enforcement. They will prosecute bad check writers in many States/cities/towns. This is where you learn a very important part of business--being a good collection agent

 

[DoubleClutch]

Yes a certified letter is the next thing you need to do. I have a customer that agreed to pay me each mow which is every 2 weeks at $80 and haven't seen the check yet. I have called and left messages and reminder notes on her door. Its been going on 6 weeks now and the certified letter was sent out last Friday with late fee's. Got to keep on them!! Calls, Notes, Letter's just like the big company's do when they want there payment!!

 

[Charles]

The first thing he needs to do is call the sheriff or Chief of Police and find out what the laws are concerning writing bad checks are in his city or town. Let them advise him on what to do next. This is just not getting paid. He has a bad check. I imagine a officer showing up at this woman's door with the teen would do much more good than a certified letter. I bet she has a bunch of certified letters in the landfill. Her mistake was writing that check:usflag:

 

[Colaguy]

Writing bad checks is a serious crime. Write her a certified letter that you plan on contacting the DA and state about her check writing habits. Use that as leverage to get your money.

Yes it is. It is a criminal offense. Here we can charge $25 extra if check bounces. We have a local county office that deals with bounced checks w/the State atty Office. Surely you have something like that where you live. Go after her. Befriend a local lawyer & have him write up a demand letter for payment. If not, then sue her in small claims court. Never ever forgive debts owed from lazy sorry inexcusable deadbeat people like this lady. They especially need to be held accountable.

Glad your doing so well as a young businessman. You have a great work ethic that will take you far in life! Please ignore those here who are critical because they're just jealous of a prosperous 16 yr old :waving:

 

[Stars & Stripes Landsca]

I work at a law enforcement agency, here's what I greatly suggest... it is a strong suggestion.

Take a drive to your local police department, ask to speak to an officer. Bring your contract, the bad check information and have a sit down honest discussion with an officer. You might need to have your parents come with you since you're not 18 however you may not, local laws would be the deciding factor. The police officer would be able to give you the best information as far as if you can take it anywhere.

 

[GreenBlade]

I greatly appreciate everyone's replies. Means a lot! I plan on sending a certified letter out tomorrow, but what should it say exactly? I'm not exactly sure how to word the letter. My next step will be the trip to the police office. This lady lives in a different city, so should I visit that police office or mine? Or does it matter?

 

[32vld]

I think the contract is worthless since you're 16

An adult can not hold a minor to a contract. So he can break it.

However as an adult I believe the adult customer can be held by this 16 yo.

Best place is for him to ask a lawyer.

 

[Colaguy]

I greatly appreciate everyone's replies. Means a lot! I plan on sending a certified letter out tomorrow, but what should it say exactly? I'm not exactly sure how to word the letter. My next step will be the trip to the police office. This lady lives in a different city, so should I visit that police office or mine? Or does it matter?

City where the check bounced.

 

[Charles]

I greatly appreciate everyone's replies. Means a lot! I plan on sending a certified letter out tomorrow, but what should it say exactly? I'm not exactly sure how to word the letter. My next step will be the trip to the police office. This lady lives in a different city, so should I visit that police office or mine? Or does it matter?

You go to the Police first. Then you will know what to say in the letter. We don't know the laws are in your city or the one where she resides.