DeadBeat Customer

[Bobothemonk]

Okay, so heres the story.

I do a cut for this realtor, selling house need cut blah blah blah, so I do it. Now the fun part, getting paid for it, so lets fast forward past the endless messages and promises to clear account..... So I call her, get her on the phone, "Hi my name is sdgf I did a cut for you on dsfh .....can I get payed.. Okay so she finnally says that I didnt do the cut (which I did, infront of the homeowners sister) and she payed someone else for it and that they did three days after I was SUPPOSE to do it, (which is three days after I actualy did it) So I try to insist with her that I did it to no avail. Okay now we get to the *#^# you part. I told her off, straight goods, I told her what she did is theft of services, im a small business, I have tryed to contact her for months to clear issue and now its "you didnt do it". Very angry

So she (profesional realtor) She gives my number to some "dude" who calls me up claiming to be cop and he got a report that I threatened her (didnt do). Okay sure, then he says "and guess what shes a family member of mine". Well then I told the cop (who started conv with sgt so so) to go %^#$ himself and he can &$#^ right off, family member...ppff, can you say conflict of interest. So I tell him off, he goes off blah blah blah. It becomes obvious hes not a cop, just an idiot.

So Im not gonna get my 25 bucks for cutting her lawn, not worth sueing over.

So this is what I wanna do, I wanna send her real estate company a letter detailing her..unprofesionallism in 1 hiring me thru the maxwell name (maxwell realors by the way) then not paying and 2 giving out my number to other people to call and harrass me. I dont even care if it does anything, I just want someone at her office to recieve a profesional and well worded document saying what a $*$( b%*%( she was.

SOOOO, How do I word it.........thats the issue.

[picframer]

Dealing with customers can be a real challange and test your temper at times, it is critical we never loose our cool in front of them, take it out on a tree or something when no one is around, there is a saying that Kindness Kills, I believe this to be true and have seen it work many times.

Consider writing a good will letter, I haven't had to write one in this business but have written many over the years and they cut to the bone and most of the time yield results, kill them with kindness.

Based on what you have written, I would get the business card of the realator, then make a call to their regional office and find out who the regional manager is and get his card, both should have an email address.

Write an email and title it Thank you for the opportunity to be of service.

Dear Ms. Realator

On behalf of my small comany XXXX Lawn Care I would like to extend my appreciation for your request to mow and trim the lawn at xxxx address.

While mowing the lawn I had an oportunity to say hello to the sellers ??sister??, a very nice lady.

Being a one personan operation attempting to make ends meet in a very difficult economic environment, I would appreciate being paid the $xx.xx owed as per our verbal agreement.

I'm glad the house in question sold and would appreciate the opportunity to assist you in any yard care services required. It is however important to my being able to continue to receive payment, I have left several messages and we have spoken about this numerous times.

Wishing you continued success


Your Name

Anyhow, ad, take away etc.

If you do not receive some type of response, I can explain how to take this to the next level, basically by passing this lady and going directly to the regional manager, it is critical we stay cool and stick to the facts, don't bring up the police conversation etc. if worded properly you will see results, if not then drop it and move on, never however forget.

What goes around comes around, I was told this by a boss back in 1981, man it is so true, you will have your day in court just hang in there.

[picframer]

PS:

I am not suggesting you are a small company nor does it make any difference, key words play a big part, the regional guy who knows nothing would read this and hopefully if he has any business sense would think "another entrepreneur trying to make a go of it”...”probably has a lot of contacts being in the yard care business” etc..... "wonder why he copied me"

[CHEESE2009]

Yeah customers can suck.

I have this one customer, I just dropped him today.

He's always late on payment...

I told him that payment is due. He said, "the month is not over yet"

I said, "Payment is due the first week of every month, you just happen to always take your time"

he said to contact him Monday to remind him....

No answer on Monday... So I text him, "This is a reminder for you to pay me, etc"

No answer.. he's gone... If he calls me back when I don't show up next week, I'll tell him "I'm not interested in helping you, sorry"

Actually, $45.00 is a lot... I should get the money, finish the month... Then just ditch him...


What do you guys think about ditching customers without warning?

[Steve]

I can explain how to take this to the next level, basically by passing this lady and going directly to the regional manager

Andy,

This is very interesting! What would you suggest doing after this if it yields no results?

[picframer]

Andy,

This is very interesting! What would you suggest doing after this if it yields no results?

I don't think any company can afford an employee that is tarnishing their image, some more than others, real estate companies have to have employees that are top drawer.

A regional manager would "assume" people in our business have a massive amount of contacts, and because we are on the clients property so often, probably a close relationship, he/she also knows the coffee shop talk, much like going to the barber to find out what is really going on in town......he/she will not allow an employee to tarnish their image, he/she would be down this ladies throat in a heartbeat and he wouldn't give a rat's a## whether she thought the lawn was mowed or not, she would be told to pay up immediately....I had a fairly close relationship with the real estate market when in banking, image is everything to them.....well the comission cheque to:)

[Steve]

Thank you Andy, that was really helpful.

Bobothemonk keep us updated on how this turns out and what you do.