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Joined: Mar 2001
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OK. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. A "friend" GC has, on several occasions, not paid me my final payment because he "hasn't gotten paid yet". After a year or so, and "writing off" the money he owed me, I decide to do a job for him again, with the understanding that I get paid BY HIM when I finish. Needless to say, he noe tells me that when he "settles up" with the customer, I'll get my final payment. All lectures aside ...
I have about 4 hours worth of work left, which includes extras which the homeowner has been promptly paying me for. Along with their final "options" bill, I am considering giving them a final bill for the basic wiring and telling them to deduct it from their final payment to the GC.
Any thoughts?
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,064
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Get out of residential, Dnk... (wings and beers late tommorow?)
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,233
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Redsy,
I use to work for a lot of different GC's and you had to watch out for them. One of my GC's was starting to "turn bad" by always being ahead of me in the money payments. I got wise to him on the last job I was going to do for him, and I upped all my prices for the job and made him pay in advance. This way when he "stiffed" me for the last payment, I didn't care. I already got my money from him and then some. Another GC we had to go to court with ( Small claims here in NJ) The bill for extras was about $7,000 But I had to drop the bill to $5,000 to go to small claims at the time. By the time the GC and my lawyer settled out of court the final payment was $4400. I didn't mind that but the lawyer took a $1,400 cut from the bill and then to add salt to the wound, he gave me back that $1400 and told me it was a "down payment" on a job I was going to do for him. SO, I had to work for that $1400 TWICE! Ya Gotta Luv It!!!
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 507
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don't get out of residential....get out of sub-contracting to GC's.
Doesn't matter if they are residential or commercial.
I'd submit the bill the the homeowners, be prepared to lose any friendship with the GC and get the money.
Good luck
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,429
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I don't see the problem, don't all GC's fail to make the final payment? but on a serious side, yes i would go to the owner.
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Joined: Aug 2002
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 324
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I had this happen about six years ago. I just played nice guy and asked the homeowner when he was closing on his nice new house. He replied wednesday of next week. So I replied "well I havent been paid for my final draw, so they'll be a lien waiting for you at the lawyers office instead if closing papers". The customers jaw hit the floor and within a hour the elusive GC was tracking me down to settle up.
[This message has been edited by arseegee (edited 03-02-2006).]
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,381 Likes: 7
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REdsy: Been there, done that. Harold's method works once or twice, unless it's areal dumb GC (doubt it)
Arseege's tactic works very well....as long as you can talk to the HO.
IMHO, unless you have a great relationship with a good GC, deal with the HO. Paperwork (contract; change order, etc) up to date, and you should be good.
John
John
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Joined: Feb 2002
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John,
Here in NJ you use to have to put a lien on a house before you started the work. It was suppose to change but I got out of the business. Did it ever change? and can you still put a lien on the house after you started the job?
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Joined: Apr 2002
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Harold: Stupid as it may sound, I think you're right.
Guess you have to assume everyone is NG before ya start?? Hmmmmmm......
John
John
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Posts: 28
Joined: March 2011
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