Being dropped by a customer for a vauge reason...

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

I had a new account drop me when after cutting the grass. I removed 4 out of 6 bushes. The last 2 I needed a chainsaw and it started raining. I cleaned up and told him next week Ill bring the saw and finish off the bushes. A day before his cut he dropped me complaining that I didnt finish the job. Never got paid from this deadbeat and I have seen at least 3 different people doing his lawn. One of the times I showed up with the past due invoice while a guy was cutting and told him the deal. He said hes been waiting for a check for 2 weeks from the guy.

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South Eastern Connecticut Landscaping /Lawn Care /Pressure Washing /Snow Removal /Gutter Cleaning
52" Brutus/52" Super Surfer/44" Pro Line/60" ZMaster
EB630/EB802/EBZ7150/EBZ8000/BR400/Billy Goat 8Hp
FS55&90/FC95/km110/L322&326/TR2350S
HC150/HC155/CHTZ2460
CS440/MS290
Case 1816 Skid

[stevef1201]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by SECTLANDSCAPING I had a new account drop me when after cutting the grass. I removed 4 out of 6 bushes. The last 2 I needed a chainsaw and it started raining. I cleaned up and told him next week Ill bring the saw and finish off the bushes. A day before his cut he dropped me complaining that I didnt finish the job. Never got paid from this deadbeat and I have seen at least 3 different people doing his lawn. One of the times I showed up with the past due invoice while a guy was cutting and told him the deal. He said hes been waiting for a check for 2 weeks from the guy. These deadbeats do this all the time. I would try and keep an eye on the property and let anybody who is working there what happened to you.

[LawnBoy0311]

Those posts remind me of another customer I had....well....2 customers. I'll keep this as short as possible. Customer #1 calls and wants a quote. I give it to him, he says go ahead. I cut it, and leave a card at Customer #2's house. That night, customer #1 emails me and says he'd like to pay and stop service. His reason: "You cut my lawn too short". I cut it at 3.5".

4 days later, Customer #2 calls. She wants a quote. I give it to her, she says go ahead. The first month she pays, the 2nd month she doesn't. Half way into the 3rd month of having her, I stop cutting. By that time I had already left messages for her to call me, sent invoices again, etc. I got so fed up with trying to collect for another month or 2 that I sent a nasty letter. 4 days later I got a check and a hand written note: "I was out of town, please stop my service". She didn't realize I already did that?????? Her fiance and brother where there the whole time, and her brother paid me the first time! After those 2 deadbeats I refuse to advertise in that neighborhood.

[Chilehead]

Don't sweat it. I've had a handful of clients like this over the years, and find they can be more trouble than what they are worth. It's better to pull a profit from those who value your services than break even/take a loss from anyone.

[ringahding1]

Learn from this & attempt to stick with a weekly plan for all customers. Believe I know it is hard to pass up jobs when a customer is requesting bi-weekly services, but it will serve you & the customer best.

[jjester1040]

Thats exactly why I pass on bi weekly accounts! I dont like people driving by and seeing it the second week looking shabby wondering who mows that yard?! I had this once mowing a lumber yard that insisted that it only needed it every 2 weeks or more and then I was needing every bid I could get so I did it and I was inside one day and someone was talking about how nice the yard looked today just being mowed and asked who the old mowing guy was because they didnt want to make the mistake in getting him.. People never seem to think maybe thats what you are getting paid to do! Now I just let the people go that want to haggle about my price and schedule.