What is it with some people?

[Chief Engineer]

I was talking to a buddy of mine who is in the landscaping business....he sent a customer a bill. It was returned with a check for less than the amount due...saying "I feel his is what the job was worth after talking to my neighbors."

I told him that I have had this happen to me on a couple of occasions.

Other than putting a lien on the property there isn't much you can do.

But people don't realize that in this business, we do talk to each other
especially marinas.

One deadbeat at my marina tried to skip on a slip fee....as he moved his boat to the new Marina...a phone call was made.....I'm not sure if he is still floating around out there like some kinda "ghost boat" with no place to call home.

Y'know these people would never get their car back from a shop if they treated the shop the same way.....

Amazing....sometimes

[delmarrey]

And that's why they invented Lawyers.

Doing business without a contract is always a risky business. Sometimes it's not worth chasing after the few extra bucks. The effort will cost more then the reward. One just has to be careful with whom they do business and be prepared to take a loss at times.

Some people are like parasites and suck what blood they can out of every hoist they incounter, even if they did agree to a fee before the service.

There use to be a word for that, which is politically incorrect now.

[Chief Engineer]

I can think of a lotta words that aren't politically incorrect.

BTW te least we have Federal Maritime Liens.....

[Chief Engineer]

If you haven't noticed, or maybe you have, there are what I call "Jungle Drums" in the Marine Business/Sailing Community.

Kinda like those old Tarzan Movies where they would send messages....beating on a hollow log.

I have seen/heard a rumour on one side of the Harbor and by the afternoon, when I get to my boat...the story has beaten me there (usually with "embellishment")

[Ex-Calif]

That totally sucks...

When I was wrenching (aircraft) all quotes were in writing signed by the customer. Anything uncovered during the work was written up for customer review.

There are bad guys on both sides of this but clearly this guy is one I would go after on principle.

[Chief Engineer]

Fortunately(for me) they are few and far between.

[Pelagic]

Chief…there is the other side of the coin where some sub-contactors try to take advantage of inexperienced clients and charge more for a substandard job.

Not saying that this is the case in your examples but it does happen.

Most clients just chalk it up to a learning experience but others will do what happened to your landscaping buddy, instead of discussing their apparent discontent.

In my opinion that is a cowardly way of dealing with it, but it also indicates that the subcontractor was not checking the pulse of the client to see if he was happy with the job and the price.

It is a 2-way street and I think the onus is on the subcontractor to assure himself the client is satisfied, before leaving the job site. Seems to me to be just good business sense!

If the Client says they are happy then pulls that stunt….they are just plain dirt!

[never monday]

<---bites his tongue


Luckily the sailing community is by and large honest, upstanding and responsible.

[Wotname]

I like to take the positive spin - he will never have to do work for this client again, it is one less doughhead he will have to do business with.

On the other hand, I like to pay my bills promptly and without complaint, I find it gets me better service in future.

[w42]

Originally Posted by delmarrey

And that's why they invented Lawyers.

And big dudes named "Mario"

[sandy daugherty]

Just exactly who invented Lawyers, and can we talk to him?

[imagine2frolic]

LAWYERS....it's a love hate relationship. They have cost me money, and made me money. No matter I use them as a last result, or to avoid a physical confrontation.

I have a tenant now that is not paying rent, but living in my house while I pay the mortgage. He has a mouth on him as big as the Golden Gate. I am using legal advice for fear I will want to shut it with my work boot...LOLOLOLOLOL

[mikereed100]

Originally Posted by sandy daugherty

Just exactly who invented Lawyers, and can we talk to him?

:cubalibre

[Stillraining]

Originally Posted by sandy daugherty

Just exactly who invented Lawyers, and can we talk to him?

No...its client confidentiality....

[Ex-Calif]

one of Danny DeVitio's movies had this line,

"Lawyers are like nuclear weapons. You know I got 'em. I know you got 'em. And if either one of us uses them we are all scr*wed."