Client not paying bill..

good luck getting your equipment or money back, I for one would get a lawyer and go from there

 

Great information! thank you! When we first met with the guy he claimed he was the owner. Later on it came out he was just a renter.

 

Unfortunately in California, more specifically "The Emerald Triangle" it could very much be a legal line of work. Working on someones property and seeing the plant, smelling it, or even seeing someone smoke it isn't illegal here as long as they have their doctors recommendation. I've never seen any of my clients who grow it, sell it, so as far as I know their "legal"

 

not out to bust your chops...

but I would want to know for sure if it's legal. And to be honest...I wouldn't do business with those folks even if it was.

but, like I posted...I hope you can get payment for your work.

 

When we drill we ask for a $5k up front deposit. Considering that is our minimum, then $50/ft after. This is a wake up call for me, never had this problem before. We've always had too much faith in people around here I guess. But things are changing now haha

 

Not feeling like you busted my chops lol. The way I look at it, is that I am putting water into a house. I can also guarrantee you if I DIDN'T do business with any of these people, I wouldn't have a job.. But oh well, hopefully it works out.

 

Then you don't do business in Humboldt county unless it's a gas station.

 

Correct. Any local up here will agree that when weed becomes legal, the economy up here is going to go down the shitter even more.

 

honestly that sounds like a pretty good idea. if he really is doing something illegal i cant imagine he will risk having the cops banging on the door

 

lol was just gunna post this

 

do you have receipts for purchasing the said items? he obviously doesnt have a receipt saying he purchased them from you.

 

Sorry I didn't go through all the responses before posting my questions. I have been through this before - did all the engineering work for a client which totaled around $8,000, was given a retainer for $2,000 and never was paid the rest when I finished.

Do you have a text message, voicemail, email, or anything saying that he gave you permission to do the work? You sent him an estimate to do the work and now you have a bill. Whether or not he signed anything, if you have anyway or showing he allowed you to proceed with the work, even through a text message, you will win. Small claims court will absolutely favor you in this case. I would agree that having a lawyer listen to your story will get you the quickest results though

 

Call the sheriff before he does. That way if you need to call them again they already know whats going on. If the guy has scammed other people before and they know about it, the police dept. might go the extra mile to help you out.

 

For future clients you should put something in your contracts that says by them signing it gives you the authority to go pull all your shit out if not paid after an x amount of days. Get a lawyer to look over it for loop holes so you don't run into any trouble.

 

That is illegal and will get you arrested.

There's nothing more I can't stand than a guy getting bent over like in the OP's case.

A lawyer is the safest and most effective option, but it will be a slow ordeal. Ask the lawyer about placing a mechanic's lien on the property (even though it's not his house).

I fucking hate thieves and con artists.

 

I feel the same way. I can't stand con artist. I have dealt with my fair share of them owning rental properties and have been burned a few times at first by people who know the system and don't pay rent and I can't kick them out right away. Ever since then I had a lawyer revise my contracts, and made sure there weren't any loop holes so I can get them out.

 

Come on OP quit stalling. Unless you're withholding some informations. If you know that the guy is just NOT giving you the 8k. You should go talk to the sherrifs, explain them you're situation, get them on your side and go collect either you're 8k preferably, or all your equipment.

Just my .02

 

So I called the sheriffs office yesterday morning. Told them about the situation and asked for a civil stand by. The person I talked to said to bring all documents that says we did the job and that we own the equipment. So Monday morning at 7:30am were meeting at the sheriffs office and then driving to the guys house to remove the equipment

 

Hope it all works out for you.