non-paying customer

[landonkade]

i have a customer that hasn't paid me in over a month for his service, we call and call him leaving messages, and he wont return our phone calls, and i was wondering is there any letters pertaining to that, and if he don't pay i turn him into collections, and maybe that might make him pay letters stating, i will have to turn him into collections if we do not receive payment for service

[FourSeasons]

Lawn care business tips

Another one? Didn't you have a problem with a non paying customer a not that long ago? Its to bad you still have to be nice to non payers to get your money. Especially when they intentionally ignore you. I have one right now. Bout 2 months overdue now.

__________________
Rob
Green Image Lawn & Landscape

\"If you don't feel the same way about Friday nights as you do Sunday nights, then you are not doing the right thing.\"

[Little's]

Have you thought about offering to let him pay you in small increments and try to avoid any kind of legal mess. It would keep you in good standing and less of a chance of getting a bad name.
Chances are, if you turn it over to credit, you'll never get paid anyway. If he wont answer the phone, let him know on the answering machine that you are understanding and would like to work it out. If you need to you can leave a letter (a thank you for your business card might do the trick) on his door and see what happens.
Good luck.

[landonkade]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (FourSeasons @ Dec. 13 2007,11:37)]Another one?
Didn't you have a problem with a non paying customer a not that long ago?

Its to bad you still have to be nice to non payers to get your money. Especially when they intentionally ignore you.

I have one right now. Bout 2 months overdue now.

yeah he finally paid not to long ago, i don't service him anymore either,lol. But now i need to find collection letters to send out to get my money. The service fee is $45

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (landonkade @ Dec. 13 2007,11:50)]

yeah he finally paid not to long ago, i don't service him anymore either,lol. But now i need to find collection letters to send out to get my money. The service fee is $45

Sorry your going thought this, If it were I. I would walk away from it. I might send one certified attempt to collect a debit letter, and if no responce I would forget it and move on. spend your time in a profitable way. If it was $450 then I would pursue it more.


Good Luck

[b]Well here's my thoughts on this subject. I preety much know my customers, most have been looong term. I know the ones to worry about and the ones not to. Most my people pay on time. Some I know they'll pay as soon as they can. Occasionally some one will fall on hard times and the lawn guy is the least of their worries. But I never give up on getting paid. I of course will suspend their service and try to make some sort of payment plan with them. Most people are agreeable to that AND when times are better for them will resume services. This year I had 1 customer that owed me 460 dollars. He made a couple of 100 dollar payments during the latter part of the summer but then payments stopped. A few weeks ago I stopped by his house and made him a offer in compromise. I told him that if he could write me a check for 175 dollars we'd be square. He was grateful and went and wrote the check. He also said to start up services again n the spring and we agreed that he would pay monthly in advance.
1 or 2 services I might would blow off after a few attempts if it was a new customer ... an established customer who has always paid in the past, I'd work with, maybe try and figure out why I'm not getting paid. Bad service? Hard times?
I always try and treat people the way I'd like to be treated. I've had my share of hard times.

Yeah, I agree for such a little amount it might not be worth the trouble, but if it were me, I would just simply visit the home when I know they will be home, and just see what might be causing the whole situation, might be an easy resolution. For all you know, they left the state to take care of an ailing parent or something, you never know.

[All Aspects Landscaping]

after exhausting all other options, you can go to your local municipal building and issue a summons for theft of good and services. It sucks that you have to go that far, but usually this kind of action will get an immediate response... We go after every dime... chances are if they get this far you dont want them back anyways... as long as it doesnt cost you an arm and a leg... its only time... Our collection company charges 30% across the board... he goes after as low as 30.00!?! Like I said,,, hes doing the work and at least I get something... lol

[Steve]

James,

Do you want to give your collection company a plug here?

[FourSeasons]

How do you turn a account over to a collection agency?
What is the process?
I have a customer that wont pay me and moved. All I have is her phone number and the neighbor told me what city they moved to. I call her and she doesn't call back.

If I don't have her address then I can't serve her papers for court.