Non Paying Customers

[J & J's Lawn]

What do I do about customers that won't pay? I have one guy who gave me the runaround and he owes me $100. I was just starting and not exactly sure how to do everything. I cut his yard the 1st time and told him I would pick up the money next time. The next time he told me to send him a bill. Well, I sent him a bill and between that time I cut it again. Next thing I know this fool owes me $100. I attempted numerous times to send him a bill, even sent it certified! Called him numerous times and even threatened to go to court. I really don't want to go to court, but it seems that I may have to. I have a few customers like that, fortunately they don't owe me as much. I know this may seem like little money to many, but it is alot to me. And just the freakin Principal that I did the damn work. Any suggestions?

[Bulldog26]

Nothing much you can do. Chalk it up to experiance, and if $100 is a lot to you then make each cust. pay before you mow. Sorry, it happends to all of us from time to time. Good Luck.

[MortNuke]

The solution is to limit the "extended credit" to an amount you can afford to give away, such as $500. Stop all services at this limit and make a phone call or mailing that the balance needs to be paid in full to resume services.

Resist the sure-to-be-requested-from-customer urge to continue services after a "partial payment"...I've fallen for this, and ended up losing more in the long run.

Finally, I do send folks to a Collection Agency after it is clear that no attempt is being made to pay or to justify the non-payment. I do it on-line with a company called A-R Help. Then I wash my hands of it and turn my focus back to the rest of our customers.

Mort

[MASTERMOWER]

Visit a collection agency....hand the account over to them. They will be more successful in collecting the money than you will alone. However, they will take a percentage of what they collect. It also will go on your customers credit history. You just havta play tough.

[Shoal]

you get more with sugars than vinegar be civil and never yell. give him good service and once you get the money drop them. if you don't get the money you take the loss. it is hardly worth court. and you keep your composure. you win either way. That's good business shoal

[kiddinla]

well, i've never had that happen to me. I just can't relate to that guy not paying. He's either the ultimate asshole, and wants to walk on you, or he's real busy, and just forgets. It's hard to say how i'd handle it, but it gets me worked up just thinking about it. I'm sure that he doesn't work for free. Try and send him a self-addressed, stamped envelope, and let us know what happens. no more credit for him.

[GeorgiaLandscaper]

I have a customer that owes about $755, it is a large residential job, and just like you I let things add up like a dummy. He owed me the 755 as of the end of june. I did the whole telling him I was going to take him to court thing, and it did not work. He is a local buissness owner that thinks he runs the town (very wealthy). I have terminated services since, but I recently found out through a insider (his neighbor) that he was putting the property on the market to sale. So I ran down to the local court house and placed a lein on his property for the $755. This does not keep him from selling but, leagaly the peron who buys it will be liable for the money, so no one in their right mind will buy a house from him until he pays me. If they do buy it then I have the option to sue the new homeowner for the money. My suggestion to you is to do this because it is free and for the amount of money you are seeking to collect is not enough to justify going to court over. Good luck, and do everything you can to get your money!

[GeorgiaLandscaper]

J & J

I just realized you are also in Atlanta, and if im not mistaken I have seen your truck(s) around. Let me know where you mainly work around.

[kiddinla]

wow, 755! I'm just shocked about how these people can justify this. I mean, this is black and white, cut and dry - amount due = $755. In their mind do they think that they deserve free service, and you enjoy doing it for them. sick! Good Luck to both of you, and good job with controlling the anger. I think i'd want to slap them down real bad.

[PremierLawnscapes]

Ive been running down my deadbeats all month, collected on all accounts. Heard everything from "lost the bill" to "i thought i sent that check" I started enforcing $30.00 late fees, of course i am lenient with those that are customers in good standing, etc. the ones i can tell are true deadbeats i offer them service for payment in advance. I tell them they have lost their billing account status due to neglagence. Nothing makes me more mad then having to run down these idiots for my money after performing the work, and doing the billing.

[J & J's Lawn]

I did that. This guy is just a ghetto superstar! Found out he is a bouncer and his wife runs the house. I tried everything with him. If you think that you got worked up, think about how worked up I got knowing he was dodging me. I offered to work with him numerous times and he just kept saying okay and blew me off... What a scrub!

[J & J's Lawn]

I like the declining billing status due to neglagence....Thanks!

[J & J's Lawn]

Thanks for the advice. I like this idea 2... I am gathering ammo to handle these cheapskates. Oh, and I mainly service the southside of Atlanta... Union City, Fairburn, Cascade area and some off of MLK. I first decided to just do the southside, but I am finding that alot of them are cheap as hell. I have been trying to figure out how to bid on some commercial contracts and how to get into the bigger neighborhoods. I do realize that this is my first year, but I think big! I believe I have seen you around 2.

[PremierLawnscapes]

My best advice, know your demographic! I find the older folks more appreciative, and the 1st check i get every month. In 5 years i have yet to run down an older folk who was late in paying. Know who NEEDS your services and blitzcreek them.

[Bulldog26]

I have thought about giving a bid of say $45.00 but you recieve a $5.00 discount if I recieve payment by the 10th of the mounth. It's what I did when I had rental proprties. Worked well for those but I haven't had any real problems to have to use it yet. Good luck and get your money. What's up with this guys lawn? Did he find someone else to take care of it or what. If so i would let that person know what he did to you.
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