Jstucin5525
12-14-2009, 03:05 PM
Hello,
I am not sure this is the appropriate spot to post this thread- if it is not I can repost it somewhere else.
I am looking for advice and opinions regarding the situation I will describe. Any thoughts are appreciated thank you.
Situation:
My husband started working for a lawn care company in March 2009 until September 2009. He did not have lawn care/landscaping experience before, he took this job because he lost his job and at the time this was the only job he could find.
The lawn care company he worked for – the owners, a wife and husband team (the wife is the legal owner of the business and her husband helps her since he does not have a job) bought the company from someone else that started it. These owners did not have lawn care/landscaping experience at all. In addition, they never managed a business before either. The company has about 50 accounts and the wife and husband managed it, and my husband and one other worker.
In September, my husband was told to weed-eat a small courtyard with pea-gravel by the owners. My husband did it. The weed-eater kicked up some of the gravel and broke the house owner’s window. My husband apologized to the owners of the lawn care company and they said it was not a big deal.
About a week after this happened my husband found another job working for the city. He was not happy working for the lawn care company because he was working on 15% commission and there were a lot of times when my husband’s paycheck just did not add up. We both spoke to the lawn care company about this several times and they had every reason in the book or excuse for the pay difference – one of the excuses being, “well we cut gas money from your paycheck” or “our leave blower broke so we cut that money.” We bit our tongues because my husband needed the job until he found something better.
So, after the window accident my husband found another job, told them he was leaving and they went nuts. They told him it was his fault the window broke and their business insurance will not pay for it. In addition, they did not pay him his last paycheck – at that time we were not concerned about the last paycheck because we were glad he no longer had to work for these people.
We did not hear anything from them until this week. They sent a certified letter to my husband stating the window broke due to my husband’s negligence and their business insurance does not pay for it because the deductible is too high. So, they paid for it out of the operating expenses and now they want their 196 dollars back. Thye enclosed a copy of the receipt for the window.
In addition, in the letter they stated my husband borrowed 300 dollars from them, paid 250 dollars back, and that they want the 50 dollars to be repaid. Well, my husband for a fact did not borrow any money from them (I know with certainty) and he never signed a paper saying he does, and they do not mail any proof.
In the end of the letter, they say if my husband does not pay the 196 dollars plus the 50 dollars back they will take him to civil court.
We just mailed them a letter out today (certified) stating my husband never borrowed money from them and to explain the 300 dollars, and to provide proof of the borrow. We told them we would not pay for the window because my husband followed their instructions for that yard and the window breaking was an accident, and that this goes along with owning a business, and being responsible for it.
So, that’s the end….what does everybody think of this crazy situation? Comments, thoughts, advice….if these people take it to the civil court what do you think will happen?
My thoughts are a judge would throw it out because the owners told my husband to use the weed-eater and they were there on-site. I think this expense goes along with being a business owner.
Sorry the post is long.
I am not sure this is the appropriate spot to post this thread- if it is not I can repost it somewhere else.
I am looking for advice and opinions regarding the situation I will describe. Any thoughts are appreciated thank you.
Situation:
My husband started working for a lawn care company in March 2009 until September 2009. He did not have lawn care/landscaping experience before, he took this job because he lost his job and at the time this was the only job he could find.
The lawn care company he worked for – the owners, a wife and husband team (the wife is the legal owner of the business and her husband helps her since he does not have a job) bought the company from someone else that started it. These owners did not have lawn care/landscaping experience at all. In addition, they never managed a business before either. The company has about 50 accounts and the wife and husband managed it, and my husband and one other worker.
In September, my husband was told to weed-eat a small courtyard with pea-gravel by the owners. My husband did it. The weed-eater kicked up some of the gravel and broke the house owner’s window. My husband apologized to the owners of the lawn care company and they said it was not a big deal.
About a week after this happened my husband found another job working for the city. He was not happy working for the lawn care company because he was working on 15% commission and there were a lot of times when my husband’s paycheck just did not add up. We both spoke to the lawn care company about this several times and they had every reason in the book or excuse for the pay difference – one of the excuses being, “well we cut gas money from your paycheck” or “our leave blower broke so we cut that money.” We bit our tongues because my husband needed the job until he found something better.
So, after the window accident my husband found another job, told them he was leaving and they went nuts. They told him it was his fault the window broke and their business insurance will not pay for it. In addition, they did not pay him his last paycheck – at that time we were not concerned about the last paycheck because we were glad he no longer had to work for these people.
We did not hear anything from them until this week. They sent a certified letter to my husband stating the window broke due to my husband’s negligence and their business insurance does not pay for it because the deductible is too high. So, they paid for it out of the operating expenses and now they want their 196 dollars back. Thye enclosed a copy of the receipt for the window.
In addition, in the letter they stated my husband borrowed 300 dollars from them, paid 250 dollars back, and that they want the 50 dollars to be repaid. Well, my husband for a fact did not borrow any money from them (I know with certainty) and he never signed a paper saying he does, and they do not mail any proof.
In the end of the letter, they say if my husband does not pay the 196 dollars plus the 50 dollars back they will take him to civil court.
We just mailed them a letter out today (certified) stating my husband never borrowed money from them and to explain the 300 dollars, and to provide proof of the borrow. We told them we would not pay for the window because my husband followed their instructions for that yard and the window breaking was an accident, and that this goes along with owning a business, and being responsible for it.
So, that’s the end….what does everybody think of this crazy situation? Comments, thoughts, advice….if these people take it to the civil court what do you think will happen?
My thoughts are a judge would throw it out because the owners told my husband to use the weed-eater and they were there on-site. I think this expense goes along with being a business owner.
Sorry the post is long.