No payment

I preformed a repair for a customer many months ago. It is a really old T&G roof with many pours to try and stop existing leaks. Not my pours. One week ago I get a phone call from the owner saying the roof is leaking again. Today after a few days on the job I submit another bill for current repairs. Owner says I'm not paying. This should be warranty. We have a conversation . I say if you don't pay I will walk. She says I'm not paying. I pick up my tools and leave. A day in a life. As is normal for me a handshake and a smile no contract , trust. I'm glad this doesn't happen often.

It doesn’t matter whether your ambition (contract or handshake) is “socially acceptable” or downright illegal and immoral; A lie will blind you equally well either way. The end result in either case is betrayal, disappointment, disillusionment, guilt, rage, depression, unhappiness, and frustration. Deceit can be used to make us set aside reality and encourage our pursuit of the forbidden. In the case of an unexpected demise. Nothing a contract or handshake will do to predict or prevent. The right question for me would be ," what was the character of the person?" We are fallible. B) :) :) B) Deep Down In Florida Where The Sun Shines Damn Near Every Day

CIAK Said: Im trying to defend a way of life. Taking seriously a moral position that can produce great men and women, solid loving people doing the just and right things. Not spiting in anyones face any chance I get. I havent wrote of this position till now.

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What does "taking a moral position" have to do with not writing contracts? I personally think it's immoral.

Without a written contract, what do the homeowners do in the case of your unexpected demise after they've agreed to a contract, or worse yet, maybe they have already paid some money and the work is half done?

In my more foolish years, I thought handshakes were the way to do business. My most foolish handshake was a 70k, labor only shake. I only got cheated out of about 5k in extras....because they "thought it was part of the agreement...".

I could use that 5k right now.

I'm trying to defend a way of life. Taking seriously a moral position that can produce great men and women, solid loving people doing the just and right things. Not spiting in anyone's face any chance I get. I haven't wrote of this position till now.

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Of course I charge to cover my costs and make a profit. If I think I'm not getting paid, I don't offer a proposal.

Some might say that I should raise my price significantly and ask for a large enough downstroke to cover my costs and profits but experience has shown that it's never worth the aggravation. There are many ways to be burned and the worst is to have to finish a job for someone that is hateful, spiteful and incessantly nitpicky.

Raising rates or lowering them won't change peoples behavior, I charge what I do for many other reasons. With that being said. What are some of the reasons you charge what you do? B) :) :) B) Deep Down In Florida Where The Sun Shines Damn Near Every Day

CIAK Said: I have received a couple of emails claiming we can help you collect this. I happen to be in a very unique market and position. I dont like not getting paid. Keeping in mind when pricing a job is the possibility of something like this happening. I charge top dollar for my repairs to cover this type of situation. Some Ill do for free. I give back when I can.

Maybe you could start writing contracts and then you can lower your rates for the honest clients?

I have received a couple of emails claiming we can help you collect this. I happen to be in a very unique market and position. I don't like not getting paid. Keeping in mind when pricing a job is the possibility of something like this happening. I charge top dollar for my repairs to cover this type of situation. Some I'll do for free. I give back when I can.

My handshake on a homeowner choosing to go with a more expensive siding system instead of the one I origionally quoted has turned into a legal mess. I ask for final payment when job is all done. She said to get bent, I told her that it's insurance fraud if she doesn't pay me when the insurance company has paid her for the repairs to the home. She sent me a letter telling me that I better take payments from her or she would name our company in her bankrupcy. I filed a lein the next day, NOW she is sueing our company for filing a lein. Lawyers are crooks and I learned that the extra I should be getting on the job will fizzle away! No change order was done after initial contract was signed. This lady is a Grandma and curses worse than a sailor but in front of laywers she is a sweet lady. Crooks! I have learned a very expensive and valuable lesson! Trust nobody, especially GRANDMA's..

Thats an answer.

I can, When it comes to doing repairs I prefer to deal with a handshake. I'll even do it on complete R/R, It has that old time feel that is reminiscent of the good old days. Where your word was your bond ,back in the day when time wasn't like it is today. I want to be in two places at once I could use a contract, I prefer not too, Call me old fashion. B) :) :) B) Deep Down In Florida Where The Sun Shines Damn Near Every Day

CIAK Said: John On this one it was iffy. During the process the H/O was informed many times there would be no guarantee because of the condition and age of the roof. Trust, is earned everyday . This particular H/O is building a McMansion next door. They wanted to mitigate their damages till house is finished and they move in. Now it is a character issue for both of us more than monetary. I think Im in the right place. Maintain character honestly . How will they deal with there conscious?? B) :) :) B) Deep Down In Florida Where The Sun Shines Damn Near Every Day

Can you explain why you didn't take the time to write a written agreement? If I'm writing a simple repair like that, it only takes one minute for the Bio and one minute for the scope, including the words: DUE TO THE OVERALL CONDITION AND AGE OF THE ROOF, THIS REPAIR IS NOT GUARANTEED.

John On this one it was iffy. During the process the H/O was informed many times there would be no guarantee because of the condition and age of the roof. Trust, is earned everyday . This particular H/O is building a McMansion next door. They wanted to mitigate their damages till house is finished and they move in. Now it is a character issue for both of us more than monetary. I think I'm in the right place. Maintain character honestly . How will they deal with there conscious?? B) :) :) B) Deep Down In Florida Where The Sun Shines Damn Near Every Day

I stopped by and spoke to the H/O. finished the repair. Still no monetary payment. I realized after the fact I wasn't in this to hurt anyone or cause damage, It didn't hurt me financially. I ate humble pie, It was a lesson in humility. Priceless B) :) :) B) Deep Down In Florida Where The Sun Shines Damn Near Every Day

I don't do repairs on flats. either it's a full replacement. Re/Re, or i'm not interested. These are the problems you can run into. ;)

What I meant by a pour is a liquid asphalt product poured on top of gravel. Then gravel thrown on top. A foul roof repair. This roof is 40 yrs old or so.

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