Other mechanic work -Non paying customer

[DK-Freestyle]

We get a few customers like that too, and it's always the ones with the crappy sea doos. Tell them they need to pay the total, and if they don't pick it up after a certain number of days, we put a lean on it, the DMV sends us the title, then we sell the ski.

 

[b1m3x8]

have him show you the cash prior... Then take him out to the middle of the lake... And tell him to pay up or get out and swim... Lol (this also works with chicks... Only using a little different currency!)

lol

 

[kraqus]

I have never had a problem with a friend. I would always do the work for free for a friend. This guy is a wack job. I only have like $400.00 into the job.

He is going to meet me at the ramp on saturday....

Bring back up....



Benny

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Bring back up....



Benny

If you have someone that can tag along with you bring them, female preferably, if anything goes down you will then have a witness to the event and guys act differently in front of chicks, most won't do poop that makes them look like a jackass in front of a girl.

 

[Andrew1289]

So I get a text from the guy, says he has a family matter in rhodes island he has to leave for today and wants to meet up on monday.

Man am I sick of this guy.

I don't even want to hear this guys voice anymore. So I texted him back, "I'm not happy, after tomorrow there will be a $30 a day storage fee.

 

[Matt_E]

Unfortunately you don't have the storage fee deal in writing with his signature.
But maybe it will get him off his ass.

I'm sorry to hear about all that trouble. I went through a similar mess last year. A guy wanted me to fix his 1100 Waveraider. I ended up replacing the crank and some electrics.
I wasn't charging nearly enough back then and he was getting a steal of a deal.
When it came time to pay, he told me he'd need a couple of weeks.
Then he called me and proposed he pay me half now, pick up the ski, and pay me the other half later. Absolutely not I told him.
Then a few weeks later he called me to bitch that I was overcharging him. At that point I lost my calm and asked him to do some research with the other shops in the area - what they would charge to replace a crank.
A while later he called back apologizing, explaining how he was going through foreclosure and a bunch of other chit I didn't care about. I told him I didn't care and he shouldn't have brought me a TOY to fix when he can't make his house payment.
I told him I'd keep the ski until he paid me. Turns out that he bought the ski from another good customer of mine and never finished paying for it. So my buddy/customer still had the title.
We agreed to sell it in the summer and split the profit.
I finally did get my parts money back out of it. That's all.

 

[Andrew1289]

Ok, so Saturday he was a no show. Then he said ok monday morning. I tried calling and texting him the night before to confirm, no response. Of course he didn't show for monday morning. I called him this morning, went to message I told him my friend has a towing company in town and if the boat was not picked up by tonight it would be towed and he will pay me and the towing company. I got a call back right away asking for next weekend because of "rain." I said it needs to be picked up tonight. After a long silence he says.... in a bitch voice "uh uh ... I just cant tonight, but tomorrow morning...." I said ok lets have a set time for tomorrow. No later than ten am or you can pick it up from the towing company.

This is for sure not worth my time.

 

[tor*p*do]

pack heat

 

[snowxr]

So the guy doesn't have the cash, lol. But are you really going the tow co. route? Looks bad to threaten if you can't follow through.

 

[Andrew1289]

My friend does have a towing co. but I don't really see that accomplishing anything. I looked into a mechanics lien, it looks involved. If I was not such an honest guy myself, I'd call him yelling saying why did you "pick the boat up." Then it would be in another location or on its way to Florida.

 

[Waternut]

Well everyone keeps saying "it wasn't in writing", "need to be in writing", etc but everyone is making it sound like you're powerless in this. The way I see it, you can benefit from this BS too. Who's to say the engine or pump was in the boat in the first place? Perhaps, the verbal agreement (that wasn't in writing) just as easily could've been to replace the steering cable, drain the fuel tank, and clean the lines. The engine was siezed and maybe he just wanted it gone so he could install a new one himself....or maybe since he couldn't afford to pay for the work done, he agreed to give you the engine as a trade for the work you did. The title only covers the hull... The components aren't required.

As a more honest option... A mechanics lien may be involved but what's filling out a few forms after all you've been through all this? We're all guilty of being lazy at times but for $2000+, I think it'd be worth the effort.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

The answer here is really simple, its called a storage fee. The storage fee goes into effect a certain number of day after the repairs are completed. here it is five days, after five day leave it as long as you want but it will incur a $10.00 per day storage fee,most people when informed of this fee will get off their sorry a$$es and come pick up their skis.

If they chose to not pick up their ski after the storage fee exceeds the amount of the bill, the ski is yours and you may sell it for not more than the amount of the bill. The work around for this is simple, sell it to a third party for the bill, have them register it and buy it back, at that point you may sell it for whatever amount you wish to.

 

[Idok]

put a lien on it!!!!

 

[baxt3r]

He did another no-show? He doesn't have the money. Get the lien.

 

[Tmart]

Well everyone keeps saying "it wasn't in writing", "need to be in writing", etc but everyone is making it sound like you're powerless in this. The way I see it, you can benefit from this BS too. Who's to say the engine or pump was in the boat in the first place? Perhaps, the verbal agreement (that wasn't in writing) just as easily could've been to replace the steering cable, drain the fuel tank, and clean the lines. The engine was siezed and maybe he just wanted it gone so he could install a new one himself....or maybe since he couldn't afford to pay for the work done, he agreed to give you the engine as a trade for the work you did. The title only covers the hull... The components aren't required.

As a more honest option... A mechanics lien may be involved but what's filling out a few forms after all you've been through all this? We're all guilty of being lazy at times but for $2000+, I think it'd be worth the effort.

I agree, sell everything but the hull!

 

[feartheride]

Well it's pretty obvious now,don't let him near it without money

Part it out and be done with him

 

[Andrew1289]

"I gots my money"

He texted me saying he would be late be there at 11 am. At 11:30 I call him he says he is on his way. At 12 he shows up. I start it up for him, go over everything. Then he goes into a rant on how he is unsure about what to do because there is no warranty. I tell him, look the boats not leaving here unless I'm paid in full. He pulls the cash out and its only 2000. I take it but say look I need another 100, that was the deal. He says well look 2000 is all I got. I drove him down the the atm to get me the rest. He leaves, with the boat.....finally!

 

[WaveDemon]

great news!

 

[snowxr]

LOL, Warranty?!? What does he expect?? He took it to someone who isn't a dealer, had the motor partially rebuilt ( That's still his old used crank in there ) and installed a used steering cable. And he wants a warranty???? That guy needs a major dose of reality administered through a punch in the face.

 

[baxt3r]

At least you're done with the clown. Maybe you should draft up a simple agreement for future use. Doesn't have to be too wild, just enough to get the point across that you're not going to be a pushover.