About 50% of my business is contracts. The other is verbal and handshake agreement.
Just had a couple who lives in million dollar home and drives a Denali for mice control not wanting to pay. We made a handshake agreement. It looks like I will eating this one.
Lesson learned.

Sarge

If you're like me, you'll need to learn that lesson a couple more times. I try to get a signature every time, and it's the few times I don't that I get screwed. If you're a trusting person, you expect your customers to be honest. Scumbag conmen take advantage of that. I've had a couple lawyers and engineers that were like that.

Some cases a hand shake can seal a deal. However, there are those who just don't care and have no honor. Or you may not have made yourself very clear in the beginning of the agreement and terms when explaining the situation clearly and firmly.

Bob, I assure that I was.perfectly clear. Their excuse is the cost doesn't equal the number of mice caught. But, they haven't had an issue since. I allow my customers to extend the agreement if they choose instead of pulling in a structured time frame. I charge by the trip. So I have them choose.
Lesson learned. Written agreements for all now on. If they don't want to. Then I'll say thanks and walk away.
If I really wanted to pursue it. I have enough evidence thru text messages that would hold up in small claims court.
We'll see. We are at least trying to reach a compromise.

Sarge

I've had no pay idiots for jobs. Park behind their car in the am and don't move till payment in hand. One guy said that is a heck of a way to do business and I said wouldn't have to, if you paid your bills!

I like it.

wws

Mike, I like that idea. The guy is a commercial real estate agent. I'm sure he wouldn't want to be late and or explain to law enforcement why doesn't want to settle up.
Just hope it doesn't come to that.
Also, I thought about contacting his boss and letting the boss know that I will post on Facebook if necessary. His boss doesn't have nothing to do with this. But he may want to know about his employee and surely doesn't want the negative publicity.
I want my money and that is enough for me to cause him as much grief as possible.

Sarge

Lol .........

An old colleague who shall remain nameless , dealt with a deadbeat customer in a unique way.

After the normal attempts failed to get paid , told the deadbeat he would get 2X-3X times the animals back he had trapped. The deadbeats house was now designated a problem animal drop off zone.

He had 3 guys already working for him doing ADC work in pickups clearly marked with his business name.

He told his guys to lurk a bit near the guys house until spotted and then zoom off like they got caught getting ready to drop off an animal.



He got paid quick after that.

A good friend of mine got burned on a boat sale after driving three hours to meet up with the buyer only to have the guy not show up. For revenge he posted an ad for sex toys on CL using the guy's cell# for a contact.

Do you have the customers business #?

50fps- that would work well. We are supposed to meet today. See how that goes. I hope well. I'm game for just about anything. Just don't have extra time to mess with a butt hole. But I will make time and the old Sarge with resurface once again.

Sarge

I use written agreements for every single customer, whether it's just an inspection or a whole job. Out of state property owners like landlords, send them the agreements online (docusign or similar program) and don't do any work or inspections until you get that agreement back signed. If thery're out of state, you likely won't be able to do any legal action, but like Brian said its the principal of having the signature to avoid alot of problems.