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gutterdog · Apr 19, 2011

A job we did, cant collect?

Roof Cleaning Bradenton FL 941-822-2454 · Guest

Pay a visit during an odd hour, maybe even park some what away from the house, not to let the cat out of the bag.

If they do not respond give them a 10 day notice to pay or a suit will be filed.
Be careful of taking checks at this point.

Good Luck Mike
Kim R

Guest

file a smallclaim and get a lien put on thier house

Ugly Shingles LLC · Apr 19, 2011

Mike,

Try sending them a notice of Intent to lean this first then send Vinny...

Good luck!

Chowell77 · Guest

All that advice is only good if
A.) they are the owners of the house cleaned
B.) you have a contract signed by ALL owners of the property and that contract specifically states your "terms and conditions"

You can certainly use small claims court as an avenue though provided the amount owed is under the maximum limit for small claims in your court system. Additionally you can often have an attorney write and send a certified letter to them demanding payment or threat of suit. Those usually work pretty well in my experience.

aaron61 · Guest

I would stop by first.If he or she is there explain to them (nicely) that you have been unable to reach them by phone so you needed to come by to collect final payment. I really wouldn't have a problem taking a check because once they do if it bounces you can file check fraud & collect. Allthough it is a PIA,been there done it!! If you can't catch them at home drop an intent to lien on them and be sure to follow up on your threat. The only thing with this is most people are upside down on their homes and really don't give a crap.
I'm sorry to hear about your situation.
I usually run into a couple of problems every year but I do a pretty high volume.Our issues are almost always with GC's

This is another reason why I will not do ANY work without a signature

-- Edited by aaron61 on Tuesday 19th of April 2011 04:20:22 PM

gutterdog · Apr 19, 2011

I went by there today, there was a car outfront, nobody answered the door? I left her a second invoice, told her both her phones arent working. I wrote that I hope she is doing ok n all, Gave he another stamped envelope if she wanted to write a check, or we can do another card payment over the phone. See what happens?

Apr 19, 2011

Mike how much is it for? Do what I have done in the past. I just sit infront of the house in my truck. Someone has to come home or go out sooner or later. Hahaha!

aaron61 · Guest

You are being the better man and you havr been more than patient.I would give her 1 day then I'd start playin hard ball!

Roof Cleaning New Jersey · Apr 19, 2011

We ran into this a few times when I was plumbing. we would call the cops to their house n try to charge them with theft of services. the cops were never willing to charge them but all of the commotion with the police would shame them into paying.

Roof Cleaning Little Rock Arkansas · Guest

I'd say that the majority of our customers take about 2 weeks to pay. Sure, I'll accept payment if they are home and I am there when the job is finished but don't worry about it.

If I haven't gotten paid after 3 weeks I'll email or call to check in with them.

People have been slower paying this year. Ive had 3 take longer than a month and have probably got a few more approaching that.

Apr 19, 2011

We have all been there,tough spot....best of luck.

gutterdog · Apr 19, 2011

I been doing this 6 years now, this a first time? I'm going to wait another week. phew, then we try the hardball chit.

gutterdog · Apr 19, 2011

Roof Cleaning Little Rock Arkansas wrote:
I'd say that the majority of our customers take about 2 weeks to pay. Sure, I'll accept payment if they are home and I am there when the job is finished but don't worry about it.

If I haven't gotten paid after 3 weeks I'll email or call to check in with them.

People have been slower paying this year. Ive had 3 take longer than a month and have probably got a few more approaching that.

I seen that mentioned somewhere else too. HO taking longer to pay.

aaron61 · Guest

Cleaning is not an emergency service. So why would you schedule an elective service if you cannot pay for it unless you are up to no good? It's not like the amounts we are talking about here are thousands.More like a few hundred.

Roof Cleaning Little Rock Arkansas · Guest

My favorites are the homeowners who are there while we are working to make sure we clean everything they ask for plus a few extras...

Then they haul ass right before we get finished! lol

Roof Cleaning Raleigh NC · Apr 20, 2011

If they aren't going to be home I tell them to leave me a check under the mat or taped to the back door. I don't do the check is in the mail game.

Art O · Guest

Write in the estimate. Payment on completion of work. Plain and simple. I always get paid!

Roof Cleaning Virginia 540-949-6277 · Roof Cleaning Institute of America Premium Member/MODERATOR

All of the things mentioned here are good but everything is different state by state. Many similarities between states but always something just a little different. In VA you can still use the "handshake" as a binding contract. Does it hold as much as a signed contract? No it doesn't. I always have waited 30 days with no less than 2 WRITTEN requests for payment. In the final request is the amount of days before I start legal action. Most of the time that gets the payment. The posting on the door by a deputy usually gets the payment. If it goes to court, they usually don't show, you win, now the hard part, collecting. Paying a lawyer 250.00 plus to write a letter is just not worth it most of the time, unless it's a large sum.

I hope they didn't get this done only to sell the house. In that case you need to go after the judgement and get the lien.

Brett

Ugly Shingles LLC · Apr 21, 2011

Roof Cleaning Raleigh NC wrote:
If they aren't going to be home I tell them to leave me a check under the mat or taped to the back door. I don't do the check is in the mail game.
I agree Dave... or give me your credit card, we swipe it on our phone.
Just be polite and persistent and hopefully they will they will get tired of you and pay.

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum "Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"