Putting a mechanic's lien on the house while she is trying to sell it is a very smart move. She may not be aware that no sale can go through on the house until the lien is paid so is probably just ignoring you. Good luck with everything.
He'll get paid at closing more than likely by the escrow company to meet requirements of the title insurance.Notifiying the listing agent is a wise move too just so they know of the issue and might be able to convince owner to pay it off early.
Just found your channel. My late husband did lawn maintenance. When he died unexpectedly, clients that he had for many years, decided that they no longer owed their bills. Unfortunately, I was not in a good state of mind and didn't pursue their debts. The money could have helped but the pain I was going through stopped me. People can be horrible. Lesson learned.
I had to put a lien on a property that I painted (exterior) same situation, paid half upfront and never paid the rest. When he tried to sell his property he discovered the lien and tried to run me off the road. I had to get a restraining order against him and it was a mess. I finally got my money plus I sued him for harassment. He thought because I’m a female that he could screw me over and intimidate me. Nope. Good for you for standing up for what’s yours. You work hard and deserve to be compensated for that.
Glad you got your money! Sounds like he would try to screw over anyone in any situation. Not simply because your a woman. I have an auto shop and when things go bad about money my wife puts them in their place real quick.
@@1ROB82 I like your wife, she sounds like a badass! I think you’re probably right about him not paying anyone, but it seemed a little scary when he tried to run me off the road. I’m probably overthinking it, and he’s probably threatened others the same way.
3 residents that I mow for have died and the families never bothered to pay, always amazed by their lack of concern for the guy out mowing in 100 degree heat, you did the right thing here.
Interesting. When my mom passed away, I made sure I paid any bills that came. I knew she would want me to and I didn’t want her memory sullied in any way. I’m sorry you got stiffed!
I would have asked her for a partial payment of $100. She probably could have that. Her life is in disarray and she isn't getting things done. If she paid the $100 ask her when she gets paid again. Try to collect the balance. Do not talk loud or harsh at any time. Be polite and firm.
I was once hired to do a DJ/singing performance at a sports club.The place was full. They even gad to ad seating outside.Many customers stated they'd never seen the place so full. After five hours of work, the owner refused to pay me because"business had been low that night. He tried to hire me again month later. I declined. Later that year his business closed down. I wasn't saddened.
100% you did the right thing. She requested a service and you provided it. She didn’t hold up her part of the deal. You have every right to get ALL of your money.
Early in my marriage, my husband did a home remodeling job that he gave an estimate on that was accepted by the couple. Later the wife added on a small "extra" that really enhanced the stairwell so he added about $200 to the total. The husband, a lawyer, refused to pay for the extra work because HE didn't approve it. We put a lien on the house and it took us 7 years, but we got the money because the lawyer wanted to sell. My husband was just a high-school graduate but oh so talented. Guess the lawyer didn't think we knew of such things, being young and uneducated but he found out differently. That money was a big deal for us and we had no regrets or second thoughts. Good for you.
@@trilbynhiss You got that right. I really think he thought he was getting away with something. No formal education after high school but very street smart. We were so young and I really felt taken advantage of.......but it all worked out in the end. Have a great evening.
Your mechanics lien will cloud the title and the title company/attorney will insist you get paid off before they will issue title insurance. So, it's a nice stick to have. Do call the listing agent and inform them of the lien so they are aware of it early. They might be able to convince owner to pay you off early. Good luck.
The other thing that can happen depending on the financial institution that issued the mortgage, a mechanics lien can force the primary mortgage into default. A nasty little clause in some mortages
@@BilCook That depends on the state. A mechanic's lien would be secondary to whatever was applied before it so the bank's first mortgage wouldn't be affected, at least in Michigan. The owner can't sell with a clean title without the debt being paid, though. There is a good chance that a buyer wouldn't be able to get a mortgage without this being paid at closing. $250 isn't going to stop someone from buying, the buyer will simply pay the $250 plus fees and interest at closing.
I agree with your actions 100%! If she did not want to pay you the $500 for the job she should have negotiated a price that she wanted/could afford. I have a powerful disdain for cheaters, scammers, and the like.
Absolutely! Do what is necessary! When someone accepts a quote and wants it done on a time schedule and doesn’t pay!! Totally a good call on doing the lien!
You have a much bigger set up than I do. I’m retired and do some lawn care part time just to keep busy and get out of the house. I don’t have $500 dollar jobs. I’ve been at it for a few years and have only encountered 1 customer who refused to pay. I got stiffed for 2 mows, kept getting the run around when trying to collect payment. I had enough and sent a message saying “Merry early Christmas. The grass cutting is on me and I wish you luck in finding someone else”. I think my attitude shocked him. He finally paid and tried to convince me to continue mowing his lawn, we met in person. I shook his hand and said “Merry Christmas, but I think it’s best you find someone else”. If a customer is being an asshole it’s really gets under their skin if you are polite in return while refusing their business.
@@karlwithak. I wasn’t trying to “work” the customer. I was getting rid of the customer in a calm manner with no expectation of collecting my money. It just happened to work out in my favour
”people don’t realize this is how you make your living” Rather ridiculous statement. And WHAT do ‘people’ think this man is doing? Getting a tan? Excercising? Hanging out?
Not ridiculous at all. Many 'high end' folks with money ... actually don't think about the people who work 'for' them as being actual human beings with families and obligations. ime ... the 'more' someone has ... the less time they spend thinking about those who don't. ymmv your mileage may vary.
Call the appropriate courthouse office. They can't give legal advice but if you ask how long the lien is valid for they should be able to tell you. In Michigan (IIRC) they are good for ten years but be sure to ask.
As a home daycare owner who just had to make the decision to leave the business, I can say I had customers I would go the extra mile for who always treated me with respect and I loved them and their children. Other parents, on the other hand would take advantage of the fact that I love children and would stiff me, drag their feet about paying, expect me to buy their children coats/shoes/clothes, expect me to open my doors two hours early, stay open two hours late, work weekends, etc. and then leave me without notice owing money because they found a sitter a little closer to home or one of the bigger centers had an opening (usually at a higher price). Almost always they would come back to me after the new daycare kicked them out (always for parent behavior, not the child). I was always conveniently full. Stand your ground. She owes you. She knows she owes you. And the only way she will do right by you is if she cannot get her money.
Good job, I would charge them an accelerating late fee as well. You might contact the realtor too to make sure they are aware of growing late fee as well.
With all the work you did plus on a weekend, you absolutely are doing the right thing. People like her think once they move off they can't be made to pay for services rendered.
Stet, the way your crew manicures those yards is amazing! It IS expensive, but that's the price you have to pay in order to have a beautiful, well-manicured outdoor space. It's not only the time involved, it's the equipment maintenance as well.
You do a fabulous job. The customer knew exactly what she intended to do. She didn't anticipate you would know there was a way for her to pay her balance. Good business decision. A hassle? Yes but as you mentioned you don't want her to continue doing the same to other contractors. Let us know how it goes. Best wishes from California♡
What you did was right on man. You guys work hard for your money and to make a deal she agreed with up front. I used to mow all over SE Ohio big 5-10 acre lawns the one of the most fun jobs I ever had put on headphones and get lost in thought while mowing. It’s was hot sweaty dirty work but enjoyable. To step back after your done and look at how straight your lines are and clean the lawn looks was rewarding.
Getting a deposit on the large tickets is never a wrong thing to do. And, I suspect, once the sales agent finds out about the lien, you'll get paid. You've done well, for yourself and those that deal with her in the future.
She agreed to the price! Yes, I would of our a lean on the house. It's a job and people that do a job, GET PAID!! The jobs you guys did was PERFECTLY DONE! NICE A CRISP! 💯👍😎
You wanting to take her to court even if you’ll loose money just to protect future contractors says a lot about you bro. Not only does it say a lot about you but about your parents as well. They raised a stand up guy. Have a blessed weekend bro.
That’s what mechanics liens are for ! You don’t get paid, don’t get mad that never helps. Use resources that are available to you as business owner. Communication is key.
Hi Stetson!, call her realtor and tell them what happened, and see if they can pay you and then the realtor can add that to the lady's cost of selling her house, then you can stop the mechanics lien, good luck 👍
Even if you do not "you have a crew to pay, maintenance on equipment, etc" and you are a billionaire because it IS your money and you want it - you are NOT a charity and you hate being robbed by anyone.
Every little bit helps and yes, you did the right thing! It cost you time and money to get it done and it sounds like she made it difficult by demanding a certain day/time too.
You self anointed and decided to show the world your true angelic nature. I'm convinced, Small Claims is too normal... have fun fixing my world, Thanks
A veteran in the green industry here in Augusta GA once told me that if you start letting folks get over on you, it will cause you to carry that reputation of being a push over. Do whatever it takes to get your money. Even if you lose money doing so.
You did the right thing. Anyone who doesn’t pay you likely doesn’t pay anyone else. She’s a small business bully and everyone should make her pay up front. I lend money for a living and 99.5% of people pay me back ahead of time and the rest often have dire hardships that prevent them from being able to meet the obligation. About 1 out of 100 is a true pirate, horrible living lump of dog crap that are entitled know it alls with no good qualities except they lie very well to convince my team to lend them money in the first place. I take all of them bad actors to court, they never - ever show up and you get a “default judgment” which is a further pain in the neck to collect but your lien will be paid when the house sells. Good luck! Really enjoy your work product videos.
Take her to small claims court!I don't care what the amount is,you worked for it.Give an inch, and people take a foot.People always have a story if you can't afford the service then don't hire someone to do the job.Always have a contract with the customer,I learned the hard way when I was young.Good luck Stet!
Small claims court judgements do not always get collected.often they are ignored with little consequence. A lien against the property will get paid, but it may take a long time to get paid.
@@PAHighlander24 If you don't get paid, go back to court and they will be cited with "Contempt of Court" which is a criminal charge. When they are served with an arrest warrant and forced to appear before the same judge who gave you the award they think twice about having to spend time in jail/hours of community service plus pay the award and court costs. And talk about screwing up someone's credit!
Stetson, great to see you back. I can't imagine the heat you and the crew are enduring. Hope you got relief from it this week. On the nonpayment, you did exactly the right thing. It is unexcusable for a person to pull that.
StetSON! Absolutely! Could be why she waited until last minute, thought she could stiff you and close before you filed a lean. Wonder if there's other workmen she did that to. Had a friend with a tree service that wouldn't even bid for lawyers anymore. Had 2 different ones that sign the contracts and when it came time to pay they said let's negotiate. It was a major hassle. Wish I knew then what I know now, he should filed a complaint with the state barr association, one guy even said "I'm a lawyer, I can tie you up in court forever". That's pretty much not tolerated by most state barrs. Thanks for the video Brother, take care.
It’s the principal of the thing, to me! That is so cool that you did what you did! I love your videos! My Mom parked on the street because they didn’t have drive ways. So one day we were gone and my Uncle was just relaxing sitting in there yard. This man came by in his car and ran right into my Moms car and totaled it! Just kept going. My Uncle write down his license plate nu. My Mom garnashed. His work check to make sure she got her Money back! I think I spelled the word wrong here but I think you did the right thing and I’m sure you will get paid or she won’t sell her home! Nobody is going to take up for you if you don’t take up for yourself!❤️
just watched the full vid! loved it great decision getting half first and putting a lean on the house asap because thats the right thing to do especially when shes already planning on selling
glad to see you haven't given up, been here for many years been watching you motivates me to do great on my lawns we should game some more sometime haven't gamed in years together since streaming mw keep up the amazing work!
it maybe not that much money to most people. but it’s the principle of the thing. you let one person do it others will try the same thing cause they think your a easy touch. well done.
Dang dude, I've missed your videos, but been dealing with family tragedy lately. It's life so, it makes you a stronger person. Made me feel good seeing that morning sunshine like that, and you playing that song, it was so good to see and hear. Your job can be pretty rough at times, but I will say though, with all the hard work you do, you have some beautiful surroundings to work in most of the time.
Sorry to hear about the tragedy in your family brother. My thoughts and prayers are with y’all right now. I’m glad my video was able to lift you up a little! 🙏🏻
I used to be in the retail furniture and appliances business, and had to do liens occasional to collect debts owed to me. It invariably angered the other party when they tried to sell, but I got my money. What you did was totally justifiable. No worries.
I wouldn’t have put a lien on the property because I wouldn’t have known to do that! Good for you, you are so young and doing your business right! You are doing good work and you know your worth. That’s fantastic!
No doubt in my mind that you did the right thing? Some people just think of themselves and could care less about the work they request of you? Good job and hope you get the rest sir.
Yeah, you did the right thing and it’s not the money as much as the principal. You guys work hard for your money and I can appreciate that because I do my own lawn work. Good luck with her and your haircut!
I'm retired now but as a contractor I had to put in 45 years of owning a business I had to put 3 wings on people houses cause they wouldn't pay me So I totally understand what you gotta do Eventually you'll get paid cause they can't sell the house
LOL I love that you did the mechanic lean. Honestly to me (an old man) you look young and I would never have suspected you to be "old" enuf to be smart enuf to do this. Hope that makes sense and is not insulting.
Hi You’re right to take her for payment, no matter how little the amount may be it’s yours and every business owners responsibility to make sure people pay or they will continue to do this to others meaning the good customers eventually will have to pay more to compensate for the bad customers, you should tell people it’s an extra $50 per day after the account due date . Good luck
I've been burned by several people that moved. People you never think would do it. Very leery now about people that are moving, regardless of who they are and how good of a customer they've been. I got into it yesterday with somebody that had been blowing grass on my customers lawn and sidewalk every week for over a year. Ended up cussing her out, You might have seen her around. Blond chick in a red truck with some skinny young dude with her.
I've only been running my own business 3 or 4 years and luckily have not had a client refuse to pay me yet.. Hopefully I'm prepared when it inevitably happens to me also.. great work guys
GOOD JOB filing a legal lean on that woman's property so she has to PAY you in the end. And, you can charge her for whatever it costs you in your time and actual filing fees, court costs, lawyer's fees, etc. as long as what you are asking for from the court (small claims is pretty simple and you can do everything yourself) are reasonable amounts plus your actual costs paid out of pocket. I've done it, if you can show convincing paperwork, witness statements, your time and costs to the judge and they can see the other party owes you, you win if they can't show convincing legal reason why they shouldn't have to pay you. ;)
You did the right thing with this lady. I have added your video to my list. You do wonderful work and you have great videos. Best of luck my friend. 🤠🌹❤️
You did the right thing and hopefully you can charge her interest as well for all the time that she doesn't pay the balance. People like this deserve to learn a lesson...and you probably did her a big favor, and this is how she repays you. 🙄
An agreement is just that! Where have the gentlemen/gentle women gone in this world. Respect the expertise of those willing to give you their best. senior from Canada
Not getting paid sucks. Carrying about 4k of invoices for the past 13 years of mowing. I personally after due diligence just stop chasing that money. It is part of being in business. Have developed a good since of who will pay and who will not. It's hard to get on my schedule. Usually they must be the home owner before I accept a new customer. Property managers, commercial accounts, renters and scary neighborhoods are not a good fit for me. Add to that dogs and children, tight parking spaces and outside of my 10 mile radius are things I look for. Oh yea, probably the #1 rule for me is the current condition of the yard. I have found that it is the condition you will be called next to service. You already know these but I just felt like typing. Peace out and go go go. Card on file don't always work - many charges back to me when they don't go through!
My husband used to work for Six Flags St. Louis. He cut the grass there. He used on of those huge zero turns that you sit on. He loved it and did it for years. Wen he ccuts our grass even though he dont have all the pricey equipmet he always made our grass look like theirs. Awesome work and I dont blame you a bit for making sure she pays you.
If they are not a regular customer I need cash up front. If they are a reg. and start to go slow pay I notify them that they owe me x amount and stop service until they pay up.
You did the work in good faith. You've been very reasonable with someone who's not doing right by you, and they must pay. Consequences. This is your livelihood. Btw, I live in PA and it's been 90-95 all Summer. Grrrrrr. Good luck! HYDRATE!
you are a small businessman and yes you have all the rights to be paid. its you're living so chasing the money any way you can is the right thing to do.
I love the fact that you go over the yard 3 times, the gardeners that I had only mowed the grass once sometimes it looked great and other times it did and I bet you I would call them and let them know how horrible of a job they did and they would come back and mow it again. I’m very particular about my yard it has to be perfect. Good for you for putting a lien on her property.
Here's how you handle this, and I've had to do it twice already. The intent to file a lien (or a lien) is nice, but what you need to do is CALL THE REALTOR. The realtor may not know about this, and believe me they'll wake her up fast. Now, there may be no money to pay you and the realtor will become aware of that and make sure you are compensated at the closing. Always, always call the realtor. Works every time!
It’s your money and you earned it. She owes it to you. Good for you for standing up to her. As someone else said, let the listing agent know. She/he may be able to expedite you getting paid.
I have a friend that does evaporative cooling installations on homes. He has had a few customers try to stiff him for payment so he has on several occasions got back on the roof and taken the motherboard out of the unit. The first hot day arrives and he gets calls saying the Aircon’ won’t work, he takes great joy in advising them that it will never work until he is paid. It’s amazing how quickly the balance (in cash - no cheques accepted) is paid! 😂😂😂
Self employed carpenter/cabinetmaker here. I have only ever had issues with one customer, wound up taking her to small claims court, and the magistrate did rule in my favor. But because she had been threatening me with an attorney and also played games with paying her bills because of different banks and times to transfer funds, I filed a lien against her as soon as the ruling came back. Going to court is one thing, and winning is great (have your paperwork in order to prove your claim), but the hard part is collecting the award. Because I had notified her local bank about the personal lien, it froze her account. Of course she was not real happy about that, but she did pay the award, and I did promptly release the lien. The lien was a bitch move, but I was convinced (because of her previous actions) that she would have resisted ever paying the damages if I did not do that. And by the time that the job went south and I had to walk off and file notice, she had been making my life hell every way that she could for nearly 5 weeks. So really I didn’t feel that bad for doing the lien.
I would not go as far as taking anyone to court, but that's my faith. She'll never get a referral from you as a reliable customer and will end up hurting herself in the long run. I hope the lien does the job.
Yes. I have been in the painting and maintenance business for 48 years. Never ceases to amaze me what people do and try to justify it by saying you did it to quick, so I think I have paid you all you deserve 😮. I would have done exactly what you did. I can't wait to hear what she says when she discovers she can't sell her house😂
I take them to small claims court and charged an extra $400 on the bill for my time ,and the $200 it cost to put in the claim . So out of a $200 bill they will actually be paying $800 that gets their attention .They offer to settle out of court to avoid paying the extra 400. And of course always get paid Upfront for new customers and customers that are selling houses
Customers not paying sucks! Whatever you can do to get the money works for me! I had a client, a senior director with a national bank who refused to pay $150 for a job. When I happened to mention that my friend, a journalist, would write a nice story about him, the money appeared without 30 minutes 🙂
Putting a mechanic's lien on the house while she is trying to sell it is a very smart move. She may not be aware that no sale can go through on the house until the lien is paid so is probably just ignoring you. Good luck with everything.
He'll get paid at closing more than likely by the escrow company to meet requirements of the title insurance.Notifiying the listing agent is a wise move too just so they know of the issue and might be able to convince owner to pay it off early.
I would rather give the money away, than let her get away not paying!
Haha stick it to the Karen's of the world
@@NCCountryBoy she's trying to stick it to the lawn & shrub guy. Love to see the look on her face when she learns what a 'Mechanic's Lien' is.
Yes in the U.K. it’s called “a charge” and a house conveyance can’t finalise before it’s settled.
Just found your channel. My late husband did lawn maintenance. When he died unexpectedly, clients that he had for many years, decided that they no longer owed their bills. Unfortunately, I was not in a good state of mind and didn't pursue their debts. The money could have helped but the pain I was going through stopped me. People can be horrible. Lesson learned.
I'm so sorry, people can be horrible.
Sorry to hear … ppl are jerks 😢
Greed will be the death of this country. We must not allow it to exist. Sorry for your problems.
@@lindatomei8565 Will be? Pretty much there Linda. 😞
generally people suck...
I had to put a lien on a property that I painted (exterior) same situation, paid half upfront and never paid the rest. When he tried to sell his property he discovered the lien and tried to run me off the road. I had to get a restraining order against him and it was a mess. I finally got my money plus I sued him for harassment. He thought because I’m a female that he could screw me over and intimidate me. Nope. Good for you for standing up for what’s yours. You work hard and deserve to be compensated for that.
Good on you. You deserve to be paid for your labor.
Glad you got your money! Sounds like he would try to screw over anyone in any situation. Not simply because your a woman. I have an auto shop and when things go bad about money my wife puts them in their place real quick.
@@1ROB82
I like your wife, she sounds like a badass! I think you’re probably right about him not paying anyone, but it seemed a little scary when he tried to run me off the road. I’m probably overthinking it, and he’s probably threatened others the same way.
And good for you for standing up.
How did the harassment suit turn out?
3 residents that I mow for have died and the families never bothered to pay, always amazed by their lack of concern for the guy out mowing in 100 degree heat, you did the right thing here.
Interesting. When my mom passed away, I made sure I paid any bills that came. I knew she would want me to and I didn’t want her memory sullied in any way. I’m sorry you got stiffed!
Thank you, I certainly don't hold a grudge against the people that died, they were all good people, sorry that you lost your mother.@@valentinat3250
Did you ever get paid
No, I just let it go and moved on.@@nomusicrc
Homedwellers are all the same.
Never be ashamed to ask for your money, especially when you held up your end of the deal.
I would have asked her for a partial payment of $100. She probably could have that.
Her life is in disarray and she isn't getting things done.
If she paid the $100 ask her when she gets paid again. Try to collect the balance. Do not talk loud or harsh at any time. Be polite and firm.
I was once hired to do a DJ/singing performance at a sports club.The place was full. They even gad to ad seating outside.Many customers stated they'd never seen the place so full. After five hours of work, the owner refused to pay me because"business had been low that night. He tried to hire me again month later. I declined. Later that year his business closed down. I wasn't saddened.
100% you did the right thing. She requested a service and you provided it. She didn’t hold up her part of the deal. You have every right to get ALL of your money.
should be ashamed to charge that rate
Early in my marriage, my husband did a home remodeling job that he gave an estimate on that was accepted by the couple. Later the wife added on a small "extra" that really enhanced the stairwell so he added about $200 to the total. The husband, a lawyer, refused to pay for the extra work because HE didn't approve it. We put a lien on the house and it took us 7 years, but we got the money because the lawyer wanted to sell. My husband was just a high-school graduate but oh so talented. Guess the lawyer didn't think we knew of such things, being young and uneducated but he found out differently. That money was a big deal for us and we had no regrets or second thoughts. Good for you.
Might have been uneducated but very smart.
@@trilbynhiss You got that right. I really think he thought he was getting away with something. No formal education after high school but very street smart. We were so young and I really felt taken advantage of.......but it all worked out in the end. Have a great evening.
Just a high school graduate. What's wrong he's not a stuck up intellect
Snob
@BrokenSociety966 I think he knew. He just wanted something for nothing 😏
Your mechanics lien will cloud the title and the title company/attorney will insist you get paid off before they will issue title insurance. So, it's a nice stick to have. Do call the listing agent and inform them of the lien so they are aware of it early. They might be able to convince owner to pay you off early. Good luck.
Again...yep!
The other thing that can happen depending on the financial institution that issued the mortgage, a mechanics lien can force the primary mortgage into default. A nasty little clause in some mortages
Hope you get what your owed,plus anytime you had to file…
@@BilCook That depends on the state. A mechanic's lien would be secondary to whatever was applied before it so the bank's first mortgage wouldn't be affected, at least in Michigan. The owner can't sell with a clean title without the debt being paid, though. There is a good chance that a buyer wouldn't be able to get a mortgage without this being paid at closing. $250 isn't going to stop someone from buying, the buyer will simply pay the $250 plus fees and interest at closing.
Good advice to communicate this to listing agent who might even be willing to cover it himself / herself.
I agree with your actions 100%! If she did not want to pay you the $500 for the job she should have negotiated a price that she wanted/could afford. I have a powerful disdain for cheaters, scammers, and the like.
You were absolutely right to put the mechanic's lien on the property.
Yes, the proper action! Good job of making that thief stand accountable! That's thievery!
🙏 Prayers of energy, love, and peace to you!
Hell no don’t let it go! Make her pay! That’s your business! She agreed to a service! She needs to pay! Y’all do good work!
how much do you want to be that the lawn will be needing mowing before she sells it? let's hope she doesn't try the same trick on someone else
Absolutely! Do what is necessary! When someone accepts a quote and wants it done on a time schedule and doesn’t pay!! Totally a good call on doing the lien!
Absolutely agree with what you did she did something wrong and needs to be accountable. She agreed!!
You have a much bigger set up than I do. I’m retired and do some lawn care part time just to keep busy and get out of the house. I don’t have $500 dollar jobs.
I’ve been at it for a few years and have only encountered 1 customer who refused to pay. I got stiffed for 2 mows, kept getting the run around when trying to collect payment. I had enough and sent a message saying “Merry early Christmas. The grass cutting is on me and I wish you luck in finding someone else”.
I think my attitude shocked him. He finally paid and tried to convince me to continue mowing his lawn, we met in person. I shook his hand and said “Merry Christmas, but I think it’s best you find someone else”.
If a customer is being an asshole it’s really gets under their skin if you are polite in return while refusing their business.
Yeah who wants that customer that they have to spend more time chasing and leaving you wondering if they will pay next time.
@@karlwithak. I wasn’t trying to “work” the customer. I was getting rid of the customer in a calm manner with no expectation of collecting my money. It just happened to work out in my favour
You provided a service and deserved to get paid. People don’t realize that this is how you make your living. Did your best.
& she's selling a sizable ($$$$$$) asset. C'mon, man. er. lady. : l
”people don’t realize this is how you make your living”
Rather ridiculous statement.
And WHAT do ‘people’ think this man is doing?
Getting a tan?
Excercising?
Hanging out?
Not ridiculous at all.
Many 'high end' folks with money ...
actually don't think about the people who work 'for' them as
being actual human beings with families and obligations.
ime ... the 'more' someone has ...
the less time they spend thinking about those who don't.
ymmv
your mileage may vary.
@@ernestgalvan9037some think it is a hobby! No, my own yard is a hobby!!
You should get paid for the work you did!
Keep in mind, you will need to refile periodically. Around these parts a lien is only valid for 6 months. I’m sure it differs from here to there
Call the appropriate courthouse office. They can't give legal advice but if you ask how long the lien is valid for they should be able to tell you. In Michigan (IIRC) they are good for ten years but be sure to ask.
Dude you done exactly the right thing and if you have to take her to court add your court cost on to your fees plus you're lost time
As a home daycare owner who just had to make the decision to leave the business, I can say I had customers I would go the extra mile for who always treated me with respect and I loved them and their children. Other parents, on the other hand would take advantage of the fact that I love children and would stiff me, drag their feet about paying, expect me to buy their children coats/shoes/clothes, expect me to open my doors two hours early, stay open two hours late, work weekends, etc. and then leave me without notice owing money because they found a sitter a little closer to home or one of the bigger centers had an opening (usually at a higher price). Almost always they would come back to me after the new daycare kicked them out (always for parent behavior, not the child). I was always conveniently full. Stand your ground. She owes you. She knows she owes you. And the only way she will do right by you is if she cannot get her money.
Well said
Some folks should not be allowed to breed.
You absolutely need to put a mechanics lien on unpaid property jobs.
You 100% did the right thing. Our tradesmen shouldn't be stiffed for their work.
Impressive standard of work. You did the right thing. Put that client on your "bad" list.
Yep! Fool me once, shame on you! Fool me twice, shame on ME!!!
And tell all your buddies….these people p me right off, you provided a service and you should get paid. They’re thieves, plain a simply.
Good job, I would charge them an accelerating late fee as well. You might contact the realtor too to make sure they are aware of growing late fee as well.
With all the work you did plus on a weekend, you absolutely are doing the right thing. People like her think once they move off they can't be made to pay for services rendered.
Stet, the way your crew manicures those yards is amazing! It IS expensive, but that's the price you have to pay in order to have a beautiful, well-manicured outdoor space.
It's not only the time involved, it's the equipment maintenance as well.
You did the work, you deserve the money, Amount doesnt matter.
You do a fabulous job. The customer knew exactly what she intended to do. She didn't anticipate you would know there was a way for her to pay her balance. Good business decision. A hassle? Yes but as you mentioned you don't want her to continue doing the same to other contractors. Let us know how it goes. Best wishes from California♡
You did the correct option. You provided a service and she should have paid you accordingly. Way to handle your business. 👍
What you did was right on man. You guys work hard for your money and to make a deal she agreed with up front. I used to mow all over SE Ohio big 5-10 acre lawns the one of the most fun jobs I ever had put on headphones and get lost in thought while mowing. It’s was hot sweaty dirty work but enjoyable. To step back after your done and look at how straight your lines are and clean the lawn looks was rewarding.
You did the job, and you deserve to be paid.
The lien was a great idea. If there is a real estate agents name on the sign, let the agent know so there wont be any surprises for her at closing.
Getting a deposit on the large tickets is never a wrong thing to do. And, I suspect, once the sales agent finds out about the lien, you'll get paid. You've done well, for yourself and those that deal with her in the future.
You earned every bit of what you’ve quoted! Respect for putting a lien on the property. Thanks for sharing. Most of us didn’t know you could do that.
She agreed to the price! Yes, I would of our a lean on the house. It's a job and people that do a job, GET PAID!!
The jobs you guys did was PERFECTLY DONE! NICE A CRISP! 💯👍😎
Fantastic idea and a great lesson for people like her to learn! 👍👍👍
You wanting to take her to court even if you’ll loose money just to protect future contractors says a lot about you bro. Not only does it say a lot about you but about your parents as well. They raised a stand up guy. Have a blessed weekend bro.
Appreciate that brother. You have a blessed weekend as well
That’s what mechanics liens are for ! You don’t get paid, don’t get mad that never helps. Use resources that are available to you as business owner. Communication is key.
Good for you for not letting her get away with that! I would never do that!
She is a major KAREN and you did the right thing!
Hi Stetson!, call her realtor and tell them what happened, and see if they can pay you and then the realtor can add that to the lady's cost of selling her house, then you can stop the mechanics lien, good luck 👍
You did the right thing. Considering the money she stands to make is more than enough to pay you for your hard work. Some people are just scammers.
You need to do that because you have a crew to pay, maintenance on equipment, etc. These scammers need to face the music and pay up.
Even if you do not "you have a crew to pay, maintenance on equipment, etc" and you are a billionaire because it IS your money and you want it - you are NOT a charity and you hate being robbed by anyone.
You did the right thing, you deserve the money you worked for no matter the amount.
Every little bit helps and yes, you did the right thing! It cost you time and money to get it done and it sounds like she made it difficult by demanding a certain day/time too.
You self anointed and decided to show the world your true angelic nature.
I'm convinced,
Small Claims is too normal... have fun fixing my world,
Thanks
A veteran in the green industry here in Augusta GA once told me that if you start letting folks get over on you, it will cause you to carry that reputation of being a push over. Do whatever it takes to get your money. Even if you lose money doing so.
You did the right thing. Anyone who doesn’t pay you likely doesn’t pay anyone else. She’s a small business bully and everyone should make her pay up front. I lend money for a living and 99.5% of people pay me back ahead of time and the rest often have dire hardships that prevent them from being able to meet the obligation. About 1 out of 100 is a true pirate, horrible living lump of dog crap that are entitled know it alls with no good qualities except they lie very well to convince my team to lend them money in the first place. I take all of them bad actors to court, they never - ever show up and you get a “default judgment” which is a further pain in the neck to collect but your lien will be paid when the house sells.
Good luck! Really enjoy your work product videos.
Excellent solution to a presumably no-win situation! You work very hard and deserve every cent you charge.
Take her to small claims court!I don't care what the amount is,you worked for it.Give an inch, and people take a foot.People always have a story if you can't afford the service then don't hire someone to do the job.Always have a contract with the customer,I learned the hard way when I was young.Good luck Stet!
Small claims court judgements do not always get collected.often they are ignored with little consequence. A lien against the property will get paid, but it may take a long time to get paid.
@@PAHighlander24 If you don't get paid, go back to court and they will be cited with "Contempt of Court" which is a criminal charge. When they are served with an arrest warrant and forced to appear before the same judge who gave you the award they think twice about having to spend time in jail/hours of community service plus pay the award and court costs. And talk about screwing up someone's credit!
We have had this happen a lot! When people stop paying, we stop mowing their lawn (Obviously). Haven't had to go to court yet. Keep up the good work!
Stetson, great to see you back. I can't imagine the heat you and the crew are enduring. Hope you got relief from it this week. On the nonpayment, you did exactly the right thing. It is unexcusable for a person to pull that.
You deserve 2 thumbs 👍 👌 👏 up for the way you handled this situation. Very professional!
StetSON! Absolutely! Could be why she waited until last minute, thought she could stiff you and close before you filed a lean. Wonder if there's other workmen she did that to. Had a friend with a tree service that wouldn't even bid for lawyers anymore. Had 2 different ones that sign the contracts and when it came time to pay they said let's negotiate. It was a major hassle. Wish I knew then what I know now, he should filed a complaint with the state barr association, one guy even said "I'm a lawyer, I can tie you up in court forever". That's pretty much not tolerated by most state barrs. Thanks for the video Brother, take care.
It’s the principal of the thing, to me! That is so cool that you did what you did! I love your videos! My Mom parked on the street because they didn’t have drive ways. So one day we were gone and my Uncle was just relaxing sitting in there yard. This man came by in his car and ran right into my Moms car and totaled it! Just kept going. My Uncle write down his license plate nu. My Mom garnashed. His work check to make sure she got her Money back! I think I spelled the word wrong here but I think you did the right thing and I’m sure you will get paid or she won’t sell her home! Nobody is going to take up for you if you don’t take up for yourself!❤️
just watched the full vid! loved it great decision getting half first and putting a lean on the house asap because thats the right thing to do especially when shes already planning on selling
No, you did the right thing, she owes you‼️ You do you excellent work.
I appreciate that
glad to see you haven't given up, been here for many years been watching you motivates me to do great on my lawns we should game some more sometime haven't gamed in years together since streaming mw keep up the amazing work!
Man those were some good times!
it maybe not that much money to most people. but it’s the principle of the thing. you let one person do it others will try the same thing cause they think your a easy touch. well done.
Absolutely, she needs to grow up and just pay her bills .
You and your team do a beautiful job on these lawns!
Dang dude, I've missed your videos, but been dealing with family tragedy lately. It's life so, it makes you a stronger person.
Made me feel good seeing that morning sunshine like that, and you playing that song, it was so good to see and hear.
Your job can be pretty rough at times, but I will say though, with all the hard work you do, you have some beautiful surroundings to work in most of the time.
Sorry to hear about the tragedy in your family brother. My thoughts and prayers are with y’all right now. I’m glad my video was able to lift you up a little! 🙏🏻
I used to be in the retail furniture and appliances business, and had to do liens occasional to collect debts owed to me.
It invariably angered the other party when they tried to sell, but I got my money.
What you did was totally justifiable. No worries.
I wouldn’t have put a lien on the property because I wouldn’t have known to do that! Good for you, you are so young and doing your business right! You are doing good work and you know your worth. That’s fantastic!
No doubt in my mind that you did the right thing? Some people just think of themselves and could care less about the work they request of you? Good job and hope you get the rest sir.
Yeah, you did the right thing and it’s not the money as much as the principal. You guys work hard for your money and I can appreciate that because I do my own lawn work. Good luck with her and your haircut!
I'm retired now but as a contractor I had to put in 45 years of owning a business I had to put 3 wings on people houses cause they wouldn't pay me So I totally understand what you gotta do Eventually you'll get paid cause they can't sell the house
LOL I love that you did the mechanic lean. Honestly to me (an old man) you look young and I would never have suspected you to be "old" enuf to be smart enuf to do this. Hope that makes sense and is not insulting.
Hi
You’re right to take her for payment, no matter how little the amount may be it’s yours and every business owners responsibility to make sure people pay or they will continue to do this to others meaning the good customers eventually will have to pay more to compensate for the bad customers, you should tell people it’s an extra $50 per day after the account due date . Good luck
I love how you guys just blow the clippings around for the neighbors to clean up. Thats a great way to 'develop' more customers
I've been burned by several people that moved. People you never think would do it. Very leery now about people that are moving, regardless of who they are and how good of a customer they've been. I got into it yesterday with somebody that had been blowing grass on my customers lawn and sidewalk every week for over a year. Ended up cussing her out, You might have seen her around. Blond chick in a red truck with some skinny young dude with her.
Point your blower at her mouth.
I've only been running my own business 3 or 4 years and luckily have not had a client refuse to pay me yet.. Hopefully I'm prepared when it inevitably happens to me also.. great work guys
GOOD JOB filing a legal lean on that woman's property so she has to PAY you in the end. And, you can charge her for whatever it costs you in your time and actual filing fees, court costs, lawyer's fees, etc. as long as what you are asking for from the court (small claims is pretty simple and you can do everything yourself) are reasonable amounts plus your actual costs paid out of pocket. I've done it, if you can show convincing paperwork, witness statements, your time and costs to the judge and they can see the other party owes you, you win if they can't show convincing legal reason why they shouldn't have to pay you. ;)
You did the right thing with this lady. I have added your video to my list. You do wonderful work and you have great videos. Best of luck my friend. 🤠🌹❤️
Good you placed a mechanics lien, you'll get your money back when the house sales.
Smart move ! you did the work she needs to pay !! good Luck !!
You did the right thing and hopefully you can charge her interest as well for all the time that she doesn't pay the balance.
People like this deserve to learn a lesson...and you probably did her a big favor, and this is how she repays you. 🙄
I give you a lot of credit for letting her know. You did the right thing.
You did the work, you deserve your pay.
An agreement is just that! Where have the gentlemen/gentle women gone in this world. Respect the expertise of those willing to give you their best. senior from Canada
Not getting paid sucks. Carrying about 4k of invoices for the past 13 years of mowing. I personally after due diligence just stop chasing that money. It is part of being in business. Have developed a good since of who will pay and who will not. It's hard to get on my schedule. Usually they must be the home owner before I accept a new customer. Property managers, commercial accounts, renters and scary neighborhoods are not a good fit for me. Add to that dogs and children, tight parking spaces and outside of my 10 mile radius are things I look for. Oh yea, probably the #1 rule for me is the current condition of the yard. I have found that it is the condition you will be called next to service. You already know these but I just felt like typing. Peace out and go go go.
Card on file don't always work - many charges back to me when they don't go through!
Are you able to write it off on taxes?
@@jhou34 I don't
My husband used to work for Six Flags St. Louis. He cut the grass there. He used on of those huge zero turns that you sit on. He loved it and did it for years. Wen he ccuts our grass even though he dont have all the pricey equipmet he always made our grass look like theirs. Awesome work and I dont blame you a bit for making sure she pays you.
If they are not a regular customer I need cash up front. If they are a reg. and start to go slow pay I notify them that they owe me x amount and stop service until they pay up.
You did the work in good faith. You've been very reasonable with someone who's not doing right by you, and they must pay. Consequences. This is your livelihood. Btw, I live in PA and it's been 90-95 all Summer. Grrrrrr. Good luck! HYDRATE!
She got what she deserved. Some people don't understand that what you do are a main source of income.
you are a small businessman and yes you have all the rights to be paid. its you're living so chasing the money any way you can is the right thing to do.
No dough means no more mow 💸💸
I love the fact that you go over the yard 3 times, the gardeners that I had only mowed the grass once sometimes it looked great and other times it did and I bet you I would call them and let them know how horrible of a job they did and they would come back and mow it again. I’m very particular about my yard it has to be perfect. Good for you for putting a lien on her property.
Here's how you handle this, and I've had to do it twice already. The intent to file a lien (or a lien) is nice, but what you need to do is CALL THE REALTOR. The realtor may not know about this, and believe me they'll wake her up fast. Now, there may be no money to pay you and the realtor will become aware of that and make sure you are compensated at the closing. Always, always call the realtor. Works every time!
It’s your money and you earned it. She owes it to you. Good for you for standing up to her. As someone else said, let the listing agent know. She/he may be able to expedite you getting paid.
Take her to small claims court you worked for it. 👍
Good on you for standing up to her, unacceptable behaviour!
Absolutely you should’ve filed the lien and charge the maximum interest the state will allow.
I have a friend that does evaporative cooling installations on homes.
He has had a few customers try to stiff him for payment so he has on several occasions got back on the roof and taken the motherboard out of the unit.
The first hot day arrives and he gets calls saying the Aircon’ won’t work, he takes great joy in advising them that it will never work until he is paid.
It’s amazing how quickly the balance (in cash - no cheques accepted) is paid! 😂😂😂
I would not let anything go. Inflation is real and the sun is real! She need to pay no matter what!
Smart move… a video short on this would likely blow-up 👍👍👍👍 Include why, what & how done (& where as process may differ by jurisdiction)?
She most likely thought you were bluffing on the lean. You did the right thing. She agreed to the price and should pay.
Self employed carpenter/cabinetmaker here. I have only ever had issues with one customer, wound up taking her to small claims court, and the magistrate did rule in my favor. But because she had been threatening me with an attorney and also played games with paying her bills because of different banks and times to transfer funds, I filed a lien against her as soon as the ruling came back. Going to court is one thing, and winning is great (have your paperwork in order to prove your claim), but the hard part is collecting the award. Because I had notified her local bank about the personal lien, it froze her account. Of course she was not real happy about that, but she did pay the award, and I did promptly release the lien. The lien was a bitch move, but I was convinced (because of her previous actions) that she would have resisted ever paying the damages if I did not do that. And by the time that the job went south and I had to walk off and file notice, she had been making my life hell every way that she could for nearly 5 weeks. So really I didn’t feel that bad for doing the lien.
I would not go as far as taking anyone to court, but that's my faith. She'll never get a referral from you as a reliable customer and will end up hurting herself in the long run. I hope the lien does the job.
Yes. I have been in the painting and maintenance business for 48 years. Never ceases to amaze me what people do and try to justify it by saying you did it to quick, so I think I have paid you all you deserve 😮. I would have done exactly what you did. I can't wait to hear what she says when she discovers she can't sell her house😂
I take them to small claims court and charged an extra $400 on the bill for my time ,and the $200 it cost to put in the claim . So out of a $200 bill they will actually be paying $800 that gets their attention .They offer to settle out of court to avoid paying the extra 400. And of course always get paid Upfront for new customers and customers that are selling houses
Customers not paying sucks! Whatever you can do to get the money works for me! I had a client, a senior director with a national bank who refused to pay $150 for a job. When I happened to mention that my friend, a journalist, would write a nice story about him, the money appeared without 30 minutes 🙂
Money is money