Have not gotten paid

W

whiz

Location
Springfield MO
I hate to come here with this but it's really bothering me. I worked a 10 hour day, climbing and sharing, with a well equipped company. It was the 3rd time I'd worked there and it became clear to both parties that we weren't a good pairing any more. I was staying with the owner and while he was out running a bid at the end of the day I packed all of my gear into my car. When he returned we said our good-byes with little discomfort. Wanting to keep it brief, I had already written my address clearly on a large notepad on his desk and he agreed to send a check. I thanked him for everything, we shook hands <he stayed seated> and I split. That was on March 5th. I've called him and left him a polite message and I've texted him once to check for a pulse. My guidance is that he's not going to pay me and I don't really know what to do next. It's not much money but it's still a bag of groceries and we're talking priciple. Anyone here that knows me, knows I do my work so I know he doesn't genuinely feel short changed like that. I know it's probably small potatoes but I trust many of you here and some of you with my life. Suggestions?
 
Registered letter with copy sent via regular mail, requesting payment in full to be received within the next 10 business days. Include a statement that if the matter is not satisfactorily resolved within 10 days it can be referred out for collection and that any collection costs will be added to the amount due.

Small claims court if they don't pay after that. You'll miss a day of work (which you'll add into your recovery) He'll miss a day of bidding work.

Since you were contract climbing, did you have them sign a contract?
 
You've probably still got a case in small claims by subpoenaing the owners crew as witnesses that you worked that day. Nice part is that he'll still have to pay his crew, but will lose a day of production. Keep track of your time and expenses, so that you can give an up to date figure for him to pay.

It's PITA stuff, but he'll feel the pain more.
 
I know, I just wish I could appeal to his sense of 'hey man, a workman is worthy of his hire'. We were both unhappy at the end of the day. Maybe in equal ammounts since we were on such opposite ends of the spectrum on so many levels but I didn't think it would prompt nonpayment. I think we're both pretty straight up cats...
 
I don't know about you but I work to make a living. You said yourself it is about the principle so with that said I would do everything in my power to collect. You did the work, you deserve to be paid for it.
 
Whiz not telling ya what to do but if it were me I would walk away. The dude will meet his match eventually and it won't be nice. Just be careful in future and fcuk the handshake get something in writing. Move on, chalk it up as experience. I still mostly work on handshakes but I live in a small island, and believe me I have done my fair share of walking away. Nowadays I collect a deposit before I start with any job consisting of multiple days. As my business grows I make less mistakes. You burn more time and effort trying to recoup when you could be dealing with more positive stuff, blessings will come as you honored your part ( a nice profitable job around the corner ). Hold your head up dude and move on.
 
Your probably not the first or last he will do this to. The friction could of been part of the ploy building to stealing your money. Tell the world. There's another shady operator in the tree business.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Whiz not telling ya what to do but if it were me I would walk away.

[/ QUOTE ]

To some people principle is very important... I think the time you spend trying to resolve this will be very frustrating and may still result in nothing. If it were me I would move on... No sense wasting anymore of your time!

I have worked with Whiz a bunch... Dude, you are a beast and worth every penny... One of the coolest cats to work with too...

I hope dude comes to his senses and pays up!
 
Next time you call ask to have a discussion, meeting, whatever regarding the issues. You mention he wasn't happy so does that play into his stance on paying you? If you approach it with an open attitude instead of a you owe me, he may be willing to talk. At least you'll know where he stands and have a chance to come to a resolution.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I hate to come here with this but it's really bothering me. I worked a 10 hour day, climbing and sharing, with a well equipped company. It was the 3rd time I'd worked there and it became clear to both parties that we weren't a good pairing any more. I was staying with the owner and while he was out running a bid at the end of the day I packed all of my gear into my car. When he returned we said our good-byes with little discomfort. Wanting to keep it brief, I had already written my address clearly on a large notepad on his desk and he agreed to send a check. I thanked him for everything, we shook hands <he stayed seated> and I split. That was on March 5th. I've called him and left him a polite message and I've texted him once to check for a pulse. My guidance is that he's not going to pay me and I don't really know what to do next. It's not much money but it's still a bag of groceries and we're talking priciple. Anyone here that knows me, knows I do my work so I know he doesn't genuinely feel short changed like that. I know it's probably small potatoes but I trust many of you here and some of you with my life. Suggestions?

[/ QUOTE ]

This sounds unfortunate. My gut reaction is walk away, but maybe only after really letting this guy know how you feel the situation should have went down. Maybe a quick letter to him detailing out your position on the matter.

If nothing comes of it, at least you wrote your piece down, and its for his conscience to deal with.

Move on, move up, move out.

SZ
 
wow this can be tough especially when you are a principle centered person!! I would definatly reach out with acertified letter or a phone call to try an ascertain what his beef is? as a person of self evaluation ( which i know you are) even if he doesnt wind up paying you....what would you pay to learn such a valuable lesson? probably more than he owes you....about him , yourself,situations,the list is legion....holding on the the emotional crap will drag down your spirit bro.....tai chi it dude,,,,deflect the negative and let it go , transcend... he,it is probably not worth it!!
 
Whiz some dudes on here are letting you know you are worth your weight in gold that the work you do is top notch and that you have a good work ethic. That alone dude should tell ya, don't worry a piss about that dishonest cat, move on you will never be without work with your attitude. As I said before just learn from this that not everyone has your moral code and just beware of who you deal with get something in writing so your pay is covered.
 
Hey there Whiz! Let the man think he received the easy out. You and I have known each other for a long time. When you work with us, you give it your all; up in the tree or down on the ground, you are well worth it! Most of us, and I say most of us - 'cause apparently that guy is not most of us - are good for our word or handshake. Most of us appreciate a good contract climber and recognize when we get to to work with one. You know I am speaking from experience on this one. Let it go - the negative attitude that changes your outlook on life is not worth it. Just chalk it up to a lesson learned and be thankful it was only a day. We love ya here in Michigan and you are welcome here to bunk at our house anytime!! (as long as you bring cheese cake!! LOL) You are not going to win with this man. Principles - you have, obviously, he does not!
 
Whiz, pm me the info on this guy and his company. Even though I am on double secret probation, I might be able to conjure up some besmudgery that could help this situation out.

It's the fact that I have so much needless ugliness - I need an outlet for it all.

SZ
 
I'm still floored by all the heavy hitters responding and all the great advice I'm getting. I'd already thought of walking away and that's in keeping with my path but so is that bag o groceries that I feed my family with. Thanks to all of you. It really has been much less of a struggle because of some of the advice. It's validating.
 
FWIW I'm not really adding much to the prior discussion, but I'll reiterate, if it is "just money" then simply call walking away from it "making a tuition payment" for a lesson learned.

I understand feeding the family, or making the payroll or whatever else the need may be.

But sometimes the cost of pursuing the deadbeat is not worth it.

Next time you will be wiser and better able to structure things so that it won't happen again. I consider that graduate level education for the price of a day's labor. pretty cheap tuition indeed!

Either way though, make sure you have given a reasonable effort to the recovery of your fees, give an even more reasonable effort to find out why "we weren't a good pairing any more." And find out why he has witheld.

After that, no sense beating your head against the brick wall, move on and make use of the education.

I've collected some and not collected others. Those I've collected were just whiners that wanted a better deal after the fact, those I haven't were theives and wouldn't have paid anyway.

Like I said, lessons learned, tuition paid.
 
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