Client not paying bill..

I may be shit out of luck but just seeing if anyone else has experienced this and how you handled it. Basically long story short, we were called up by a guy who wanted a whole new water system(2 storage tanks, 2 ozone systems, jet pump/pressure tank, and misc. parts). Guy agrees on the $14,000 total, asked if he could pay in cash. Guy pays $6k cash up front for the tanks. Jobs done everything is installed, go up to the house and no ones home. Call the guy multiple times, says hes down south and is getting the money(turns out he was growing weed at the house and was selling it to get the money for us, which isn't uncommon for the area I live in) A week goes by and i've called so many times and left messages that his answering machine is full. Finally I send him a text since i have no other way of getting ahold of him. I said I need to get the payment from him or i'm going to go back and pull all my stuff out but the 2 tanks he paid for. He finally texts back and tells me how the tanks have settled and that the pvc is on the ground and that the integrity of my crew wasn't up to his standards.(the crew was me and one of my employees, he never once was at the house when we completed this job). He says his mother is sending us a $4,600 check and that will complete his payment. Also if we step foot on his property(which turns out to not be his property he's renting it) he will call the sheriff on us for trespassing. So basically its been 2 weeks since that text and I have yet to recieve a check. and im $8k in the hole on this job. My problem is, and fortunately I've never had this problem before, is that we never set up a contract. I have the estimate that I wrote up (made copies for him and i) and the bill. I also have the serial numbers for all of the equipment. Basically I'm asking am is there anything I can do to get my payment. As far as I know for the "law" is that you can't take away water from the people, but I can easily remove all the equipment that I installed and install the old equipment. I've tried to find out who owns the property and contact the owner but haven't had luck yet. Anyone have any advice or anyone gone through this issue? We've never done contracts but I'm definately writing one up for every job now.

 

My friend, I believe you need the advice of a lawyer here. Sorry about your troubles. You probably can get a free consultation with a decent lawyer, maybe get some "official" letters sent out. Good luck, it kind of sounds like you are dealing with someone who has scammed before and knows what he is up to.

 

Well if you cant get any legal help, I am sure you can find some one to "collect" for less then what he owes you.

 

I only recieved the 6k that he gave me the day we met, he still owes $8k. Said his mom was sending us $4,600 which still has never showed up. I have the texts saved.

 

Yeah probably going to have to deal with a lawyer. I've done a little research on the guy he's some kind of "doctor" something about talks to the bodies organs to make them work together, i dont know. I found a website that has his business and a picture of him. I drove by where the site said the address was but it looks like an empty building, i'm assuming a front for his other job.

 

You said he asked to pay cash , does that mean he was not charged appropriate taxes ?

 

Funny thing is this method was mentioned when we were talking about how we are going to get the payment. As much as I would like to do it, I don't want my company to look bad.

 

lol we definately charge the appropriate taxes, and claim all cash payments.

 

go take all your shit back. fuck that db.

 

that's how I see it. When I read the text to the employee that worked the job with me, he laughed and said he calls his bluff that he'll call the sheriff. Especially with the grows that he has going on up there.

 

Step 1. Open file with these nice people.

Step 2. Wait for fireworks.

 

One up him and show up with a sheriff with you haha.

 

Yea I would go back and take what is yours. That guy is gone my friend.

 

^^^thats what I'm saying! If he's never there how's he going to know you took your equipment back?

 

you love the AG huh? i doubt they'd GAF. OP, honestly, go take your stuff back and put old stuff back in.

 

Just call the sheriff yourself and let them know you will be reclaiming your property. That way if he does call they already know about it. Take your shit and put it in the past.

 

So I can legally go back on the property and get my equipment back? I have serial numbers for the equipment(take them for warranty purposes). I just dont want to show up, take my shit back. Then have the cops at my shop for trespassing and theft. In my eyes, the stuff he didnt pay for is still mine. But not sure how the legality works.... and there is no contract.

 

Call the sheriff and ask them.

 

I'd confirm that with local law enforcement and not just go on the word of people on TW saying just to take it lol.

 

call the sherriff's dept, tell them youre doing a reposession of equipment at said address, drive you and your buddy's asses over there, plug old shit back in, and take un-paidfor shit back.