Friday, November 20, 2009

Sigh

I really dislike handling collections. I have a customer who had us do work but it was handled by his realtor. Now he refuses to pay. Our mistake was we didn't sign a contract or get a deposit because we have a working relationship with the realtor. But today his realtor call and he told her he didn't have to pay because he didn't sign a contract even though verbally and by email he told Brian and I both he would pay.

Now I have to call the sheriff's department to file theft of service charges. I'm fine with turning it over to the sheriff but I have to be careful not to do things with a hateful heart. We also have a $425 hot check to deal with.

Actually this seldom happens but it almost ALWAYS happens during Christmas when people want work and they don't want to pay. If people were struggling or had unforseen circumstances come up - that's one thing.

4 comments:

the undomesticated wife said...

I don't know how people like that can live with themselves, you know? Especially knowing you guys are a small, family owned business...it's harder on you than it would be a big corporate company.

Brian just had to deal with something similar. He has one student who's mother bounced a check. In all of the years he's been teaching, it was the first time. When he called her, she started giving him grief about it, complaining about his payment policies (which she agreed to when she signed him up for lessons and she signed the contract). So he worked with her, then she bounced two more checks on him! He got his money, also his fee (from the bank for having the check bounce), and then he dropped them from his roster.

Why is it when someone bounces a check on YOU, YOU have to pay a fee at your bank? It's not your fault the check bounced!

Sorry this is happening. I hope it gets straightened out, and soon.

Rebecca Irvine said...

That has to be so hard. I am sorry you have to deal with things like that. Hopefully it can be resolved quickly and with as little pain as possible.

Leah said...

It is ridiculous. Gari-Ann the bounced checks are easier for me cause they automatically go to instachek. It's this court thing that is driving me crazy. :(

Thanks Rebecca.

Whitney said...

I'm so sorry Leah! You always try to handle things with such grace though! :)