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#16857 11/17/02 01:02 AM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 267
W
Member
Has anyone had to go to court to fight for their hard earned non payment?
Anyone care to share?
Here's one case:
Did a verbal contract with a home owner, she called 2 months later and changed some installation (All old work). I told her to re-wire existing wiring could take time, turned out most of the wiring was fed to the lights and switch legs. She had me wire several thing, plus add several things, the bill was for $750. She felt she owed me $100. Finally I brought her to small claims. We had a preliminary with a mediator, she insisted all my work still was only worth $100. So we proceeded in front of open court.
She showed the court a gross electricians bill, claiming he had come in and finished my wiring, no name, no lic# nothing, just chicken scratches on the back of the carpenters proposal. Turned out the courts granted me 1/2 the bill, due by aug., feb came along, still no pay. Finally a check came in, I went directly to her bank to cash the check that day. When I got home there was a message from a mortgage co. wondering if I received pay from her. I knew that she must be selling her home, and had a lean on it through the court. Out of spite, I did not respond to this call and made her wait till the check came back. Might sound spitefull, because it was. How does it feel when someone holds money from YOU!

[This message has been edited by Wirenuttt (edited 11-17-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Wirenuttt (edited 11-17-2002).]

#16858 11/17/02 10:44 AM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,457
E
Member
Been there! Got a check for $750.00 which then bounced. Tried to get it paid in cash. Went to court, won, never got paid. Went back a couple more times to and filed different motions. Still haven't been paid. It's been five years and the time I was wasting did not seem worth it. Wrote it of as bad debt.

#16859 11/17/02 11:15 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,392
S
Member
Quote
How does it feel when someone holds money from YOU!

Let's put it this way, if you kick my A**,you only hurt me, not my kids...

Courts are a joke.... get a pet pit bull with some smarts here , kick back and watch the fur fly.....

#16860 11/17/02 08:30 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 914
E
Member
I've only had a problem with one contractor, never with a homeowner. The contractor got put in jail by his wife, after the homeowner paid him, but before he paid me. I got paid by the homeowner after explaining that legally they had to pay me even if they already paid the contractor. I felt bad for the homeowner having to pay twice, but I can't work for free. I'm now more carefull when accepting work from contractors, even checking them out with other subs.

[This message has been edited by Electric Eagle (edited 11-17-2002).]

#16861 11/18/02 12:04 AM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 186
M
mj Offline
Member
been there, i take no more verbal, everything in writing,no matter how small the job is.

#16862 11/18/02 12:54 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 642
N
Member
DITTO to mj
Had one GC go bankrupt after 8 months the court awarded 15 cents on the dollar. Did not cover attourney's fees.
Now if they are new to me I get 20% down. If the bill goes past 45 days all work stops.


ed

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