Lady skipped w’out paying full bill during job

[OxiFreshGuy]

Once you let a thief steal, they will continue to steal from others. Go after her deposit. If some one orders $300 of chemicals from tmf store and only paid for $160 would you let that slide. Its the principle of business

I'll give you kind of a personal view on this. Years ago I was in a very toxic relationship (my young 20's). After finding out she had been cheating on me and giving other men money I was infuriated. I confronted her and ended up pinning her on the ground in our apartment. Obviously the wrong thing to do and was the low point of my life as a younger man and helped teach me I had a lot of growing up to do.

Long story short, she went to the police. I was completely honest about what happened and what I did. She was not injured in any way physically but it still counted as assault. She also told them I threatened to kill her (which wasn't true). I ended up in jail. While in jail she begged them to keep me there for domestic violence charges. Ended up being 3 months in jail before I got before a judge who basically said, "First charge ever? Go home, stay away from her, 5 years probation"

I was...shocked, to say the least. I didn't expect the 3 months in jail to begin with and ended up losing my job, my car, everything. Then 5 years probation on top of it? Probation was not fun; I was looked upon by potential employers as a degenerate. I was constantly reminded that I was an "abusive offender" by the "system" and everyone who had access to my records I was just a low-life.

Me before all this? I worked in Quality of a major hospital of the midwest. I was the right hand guy for the upper corporate echelon and was on a fast track to a great career in the healthcare field. Nothing on my record except 1 speeding ticket from when I was 17. Didn't do drugs, drink alcohol etc.

But I made one bad decision in my first long-term relationship and it literally altered the course of my life.

So the knife cuts both ways; I made my choice, I suffered consequences. If someone had stepped in and showed compassion, would I have gone on to continue to "abuse" women? Lol no, I've never had a relationship like that before her or since. In fact if I ever start feeling angry I leave the house for the day/night.

At the same time, people who habitually repeat the offense, I full-hearted agree they need more severe punishments. But if we defined everyone by the mistakes they've made ,we would all be guilty and never be allowed to grow.

 

[J20770]

I violated my own rule yesterday handling an over run job. I always demand payment up front unless a preferred realtor or property manager with 30 days. This client was moving out and said her husband worked for the city and he is in the field with no phone. At lunch she said she would give me the credit card.

But then realtor showed up and did the walk through as I was part way through the job. They pointed out all the things wrong and said “it will come out deposit”. I saw her demeanor change. She opened her purse and gave me 160 cash (on a 300 Cleaning job) and said she was going to her husband and call me with credit card for balance. Never heard back and no reply to my texts or calls.

Now I am on good terms with this realtor and know he will back me up with deposit if I ask but seeing the microwave, fridge and dishwasher are all broke I’m probably at the bottom of the totem pole. She did sign off on the job and total. Should I go after her or her deposit? Or should I chalk it up as owner brain fart?

If she signed something stating that she will pay, you can take it to a collection agency. However new laws went into effect in 2017 making it more difficult for small businesses to collect on unpaid debt without a signed document.

Check with the agency to see who pays the collection fees. Typically the person at fault pays the collection fee but some agencies take the fee out of your cut so you could end up with 5-40% less than the amount originally submitted. I typically only use them to prove a point to the non paying individual and only after I have exhausted every other means.

 

[sbsscn]

I violated my own rule yesterday handling an over run job. I always demand payment up front unless a preferred realtor or property manager with 30 days. This client was moving out and said her husband worked for the city and he is in the field with no phone. At lunch she said she would give me the credit card.

But then realtor showed up and did the walk through as I was part way through the job. They pointed out all the things wrong and said “it will come out deposit”. I saw her demeanor change. She opened her purse and gave me 160 cash (on a 300 Cleaning job) and said she was going to her husband and call me with credit card for balance. Never heard back and no reply to my texts or calls.

Now I am on good terms with this realtor and know he will back me up with deposit if I ask but seeing the microwave, fridge and dishwasher are all broke I’m probably at the bottom of the totem pole. She did sign off on the job and total. Should I go after her or her deposit? Or should I chalk it up as owner brain fart?

No, Do NOT EAT IT!

I say this because although it may be the easiest thing to do and walk away with a lesson learned...

You can learn and recover which is what id rather do.

This goes to show that NO matter how many years of business we have we will never start learning...just not learning bad habits.

If you let it go you might begin to teach yourself to be careless and just let them slide. That is a no, no keep your standards.


id talk to the realtor and see if you can collect through the deposit. Patience and courage will help you.

 

[sbsscn]

Theft of services yes but for $140 it isn't worth the time or energy.

I think of Les Miserables where the priest catches Jean Valjean stealing his silver and instead helps him pack it up and tells him God must believe he needs it more than himself the priest.

This changes Valjeans heart as he realizes what True kindness and virtue is.

Maybe send her a letter stating you are owed the money but if she is unable to pay now you understand and hope she needed the money for something important and that she can pay you later as her fortunes improve.

I respectfully disagree.

I personally cannot afford to have people skip on their bill.

In business you CANNOT hope someone can pay you,
If you have that mentality then its best for you to be a charity and not charge, then youd really be helping people out.

But You are NOT a charity and despite they paying some of the bill the reality is that YOUR mortage, credit card, business loan cannot and will not have this mentality. Kinda cool if they would but then it wouldnt be right.

Honestly, think about it would YOU call and hire a service and then bail out on them?

if so then you had this coming, but if you are responsible and honorable then its only fair for them to pay.

They may not pay but at the very LEAST you will have at least gone down as a good soldier, not as a coward.

 

[sbsscn]

anything around 100$ you just have to chalk it up as operating a business....

some are going through a divorce and husband is supposed to pay 1/2......

at least 1-2 of these a year for me.......usually bad check....

But this is not my fault nor especially Robs fault, He knew nothing of any hardship or divorce or anything.

I admit I have had folks cry(women) and men be broken down emotionally about not affording the cost and I, on my own free will have expressed and felt compassion and have done the work for free, But I CHOSE THAT, no one scammed me.

I was hired a bout 2 years ago by a man who asked me to come on and give an estimate. As I walked around I told him, the carpet is gone, trashed replace it. He began to cry and was broken. He said that his wife had just took off and that he was trying to refinance to replace the roof but that she took everything, I mean everything! he came from work and she had split. He came home finding the front door wide open he thought it was a robbery and called his wife, she did not answer, he sent her a text and she said Bye. he checked the security footage and sure enough she had movers come in as soon as he went to work at 4 am. it was all on footage she had abandoned him.

He was honest and told me he only had a few bucks I said

dont worry about it ill help you out, NO CHARGE.

What touched me was his honesty and the fact that the house was almost empty.

I cleaned it and left took 2.75 hours (2 small bed rooms, 1 family room, 1 10x12 room)


well months later I check my mail and he figured where my office address was and he dropped a envelope in my mail box with $450.00 cash!

He then called me 6 months later and wanted me to clean again.
He thanked me and hired me ever since then, always tips me $200.00 over the bill


The point to my story is that its best when a customer is honest,

and yes once you begin the work its YOUR money, no longer theirs except the bill.

if she would have explained something to Rob before, I would then say he knew what he was getting into, but this is not the case.


NOW, DO NOT get me wrong dont go around and giving work away for free unless you feel it in your heart and in that case,
then DONT COMPLAIN

 

[sbsscn]

As business owners we get stolen from everyday...lol, funny government

BUT WE AGREE TO IT (yeah its called taxes) or for those that dont agree, You KNOW VERY WELL before hand.

unlike this Rob had no clue whatsoever, right Rob?

 

[sbsscn]

Old fart like you, chalk it up lol.

If you want to see Rob as an old fart/man then you must then respect him for his seniority and no im not making fun at ROb.

We will all be old, and I for one try my hardest to respect.

 

[sbsscn]

I read Luke 6:30 the other day and began to wonder how it relates to business..

I agree, if they ask. But you are not obligated to be scammed.

theres a saying that goes like this

"I dont give cause I have, I have because I give"

 

[sbsscn]

Give but don’t ask back.

In other words, If you are going to give, give it with a full giving heart, if not the dont ask for it back with a regretful heart.

Imagine someone full willing gives you a kidney and you accept it, then they come back asking for it. What in the hell does that say about the donor? in that case why even offer the kidney.

in other words for the person asking it back. tuff luck, see where asking for it back gets you

 

[OxiFreshGuy]

I don't see it as a cowardly thing nor do I think she should be left unaccountable.

I even said, send her a letter stating she owes it, but also show some compassion as we can't always judge what others are going through.

 

[CCWorks]

Give but don’t ask back.

The Pope was shot, some one asked for his life.
But the pope asked a doctor for his life back.
I guess heaven was not ready.

And then, the Church built a pope mobile with bullet proof glass.

I guess Luke 6:30 is not truth, only for the poor or the people that actually work for their things

31
Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Luke 6:30
Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.
Love Your Enemies
…29
If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well.

 

[OxiFreshGuy]

As humans we always have this go-to logic of, "Well God determines when it is my time to die" No God doesn't, where does it say this in the Bible? Therefore I never attribute when someone dies to being God's will or timing.

“If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.”

Satan tempted Jesus with this very notion, that God will miraculously save you.

Jesus simply replied, "It is written thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God"

So No, God doesn't simply extend his protection. I'm sure with his infinite intelligence and wisdom he can accomplish his plans despite the massive fudgeups we humans perform on a daily basis lol.

 

[keep it clean]

Tenant

you're probably right about being on the end of the list if there's damage to appliances. Usually aint enough money in deposit to cover everything and the landlords only resort is to sue for the remainder on repairs. I prefered doing the work for the landlord directly letting them deal with tenant. I dont trust Tennant's as far as i can throw them. Plus you have nothing to lean them with. Credit is about it. If they havnt already moved into another place you might be able hurt them.they would need to square up with you to clear that off their score so they cant rent another place.

 

[smart n kleen]

If you want to see Rob as an old fart/man then you must then respect him for his seniority and no im not making fun at ROb.

We will all be old, and I for one try my hardest to respect.

Relax I was joking. I’m old too, I’m 51

 

[AZHome&Carpet]

I’d love to comment on the pope but for the sake of peace I’ll let that topic blow past.

 

[Todd the Cleaner]

Did a job yesterday for a property manager who said she will be paying with a check from the property owner. When I arrived I asked about using different method. When it was still a check on behalf of owner I asked if we could contact the owner to get his DL # or picture of DL.

Long story short I called the owner and he texted me a picture of his license. Everything jived with their story and what I could find online about the people. The owner even arrived at the end of the job and I got to exchange a few words.

Like a dummy I left my toolbag there and the owner texted me that night letting me know. When I showed up at 9am this morning the property manager was there and remarked that the owner and her need to make sure they have my info to use me again.

I proceeded to go to the bank and deposit the check. Fingers crossed- over $400!!

You’ll be fine. I have realtors pay by homeowners check all the time and I’ve never once been burned.

 

[Luky]

I violated my own rule yesterday handling an over run job. I always demand payment up front unless a preferred realtor or property manager with 30 days. This client was moving out and said her husband worked for the city and he is in the field with no phone. At lunch she said she would give me the credit card.

But then realtor showed up and did the walk through as I was part way through the job. They pointed out all the things wrong and said “it will come out deposit”. I saw her demeanor change. She opened her purse and gave me 160 cash (on a 300 Cleaning job) and said she was going to her husband and call me with credit card for balance. Never heard back and no reply to my texts or calls.

Now I am on good terms with this realtor and know he will back me up with deposit if I ask but seeing the microwave, fridge and dishwasher are all broke I’m probably at the bottom of the totem pole. She did sign off on the job and total. Should I go after her or her deposit? Or should I chalk it up as owner brain fart?

No matter what steps will you take to recoup your losses, you're already winner in my eyes. By starting the thread, you instigated real life stories by @Anderson , @OxiFreshGuy and others. Somehow, our ego is first to get hurt, wallet plays secondary role. From any point of view, legal or personal, you're entitled to reimbursement. I'm sure that more pressing issues will arise at the end of the week ( what hat I'm gonna be wearing at the golf course tomorrow) and by next Tuesday lady with outstanding balance will become puny, faded memory .

 

[NickNZ]

I’d love to comment on the pope but for the sake of peace I’ll let that topic blow past.

I don’t mind .. the pope and all his pedo friends will burn in hell. They are not saved.
Matthew 7:21-23 King James Version (KJV)

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Beware of the Scribes
(Luke 20:45-47)

38And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, 39And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: 40Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation

 

[Johnny Bravo]

I'm a small time owner operator, but I couldn't be bothered to chase after a couple hundred bucks. I get burned once or twice a year, cancelled checks, bounced checks, no checks. They obviously need it more than me. Move on is what I do.

 

[The Cleaning Artist]

People what is wrong with you? If u show up to a job and the bill is higher than the customer can or expect to pay, THEY need to tell you this not ok the work and then run out without paying. An agreement can be worked out b4 work begins. If in business you allow customers to do this you are an idiot!! Just imagine this happening 4 or even more times a month. Do you still pay ur tech for the job? YES u hav to its the law.
That person just stole from you! Now in the future get paid upfront for all rentals with the customer moving out.
Sorry for the rant but life will not give you anything nor should you expect something for free.