client who don't pay.
 

In my 25 years of running my construction, remodel business, I have had only one contractor who stiff me when I was really young. This was in my college years just starting out. I was a sub contractor.

A really good friend's younger sister got us to remodel her bath. She was in a hurry and had to get done in one month because she needed to get out of her old condo into the new. I got all my people lined up, drew up the plans and got the building permit before I left on vacation. My dumb mistake and trusted her. Nothing was sign and collected no money because I was rushing to get out of town with my family the very next day. I never work without a sign contract. While we were on vacation, the rough electrical, plumbing, and framing inspection passed without any issue and she was informed and seem happy. 4 days after I got back into town, I got a phone call and she wanted us to pack our crap and get out of her house because we do ***** work. I was shock.

I found out she had someone or a friend of a friend who knock our work. She totally trusted him, or them. They talked her into re-piping both the water line and the sewer (she already had copper lines, and the drain was uncessary), plus rewiring the whole house. I have close to $7500 rapped up in her place so far. Now, she doesn't return calls.

I did meet up with her when my workmen picked up their stuff. She refuse to talk to me, and mention that our placement of the fixtures like tubs and sink were in the wrong place. All that crap was in the drawing when we got the permit. The other dumb part of me was to have her get the permit under her name as owner builder. I was trying to save her money because I didn't want to get a business lic ($350 later) to operate in the city of Burbank. That will eventually come out of her. This was a job to help out a friend's sister so she doesn't get cheated by dishonest contractors. My plan was to make a total of $300 bucks to put in my gas tank to help her move into her new house.

We do so much more for our client and each and everyone appreciate us for doing so, now this good deed bits me in my fat azz. I am more pissed then anything else. I would not be surprise she went to the contractor's board or consumer affairs to report me. I will come un-glue because I have a perfect record.

My wife warned me about charge extra for b1tch fee with her. she know her better then I.

What do I do?

what would you do?

Jeff

Sorry Jeff but based on your OP there's not much you can do.

The biggest problem is that she doesn't want to cooperate with you. (based on your OP)

Talk to a lawyer it it makes you feel better but if you tried to force her to pay using your lawyer you would chew through another $7500 before you knew it. Even then it's a crap shoot.
There are other options. Maybe a mediation service might help. But again she has to cooperate and why would she do that?

Maybe put it down to a lesson learned. A very expensive one I know.

I feel for you. I get so pi$$ed when hard working people are taken advantage of.

Small claims court?

When your people went back to get their equipment, they should have taken all the materials they installed too. I mean, piping, fasteners, screws bolts, fixtures,...the works. And then STILL bill her for the hours you worked.

What a beotch.


Next time, get a signed paper. (but you already knew that)

You think? Isn't the max $5000? I am happy if I can recoup $3000.


I just didn't see it coming, because she was my very, very good friend's sister.

No good deed goes unpunished.

My wife and I had been talking, I don't think we will tell my friend. If his mom find out, she will rip her a new one. My buddy and I wired his parent's back house over two weekends. I didn't charge them any money. We are great friends. I do not want this crap to get in between our friendship.

Isn't that the true?

Can you put a lien on the property for the amount you are owed?

There are friends, friends of friends and business associates. A person can only fall into one category.

Sorry to hear but I'd think you're SOL without a signed contract. Also be very careful that you didn't "render services" (doesn't sound like it, but re-check the APA carefully) to make sure you don't get whacked for doing so without a contract.

Did you exchange emails? They can show agreement.

Did she approve the drawing by initialing them?

You worked without a business license (in tht city) and without a written contract?

Definately check with others in your state, but I think you're completely screwed. Enlist virulent emotional appeal through friends/relatives. I do not even believe you can legally lien the house without a contract.

angela

So what does this very very good friend say about the deal with his sister?

You need to talk to the friend.

yup, tell the friend what time it is, time for his sister to pull her head out of her as....

No lien without a contract is for sure. You are right about that, I am screw out of a few thousand bucks. I was trying to do her a favor. I got all my sub contractors in there to do their thing. so she can move in and don't have to pay someone full pop for the remodel.

My friend still doesn't know. sister contracted me on her own. I have known the family for over 20 years. Those are the ones that bit you in the azz.

Wow, I have heard that contractor took the portion of fund and ran, all the time. Never heard client don't pay.
J, seriously you need to talk to your friend, since you have nothing to hold her responsibility. Not to complain with him but to ask him for help to get her to meet with you to see what is going on. What is it that she is not happy about and is not on the plan? Anything you can do some quick fix and get pay? You truted her because she is your friend's sister right? Why not getting him involve when there is a problem with her. If he is a good good friend, he would understand and there shouldn't be any of these "craps" come between.
BTW, how do you know if she didn't tell him her side of this problem?

She has this plumber friend that works for a large plumbing outfit (I think, I saws him there cutting pipe, when I went to pick up my stuff.) He's young guy with a company truck. I assume he's not too busy and needed work. i have seem their trucks around the city. My only guest is that he works for the plumbing outfit. He's seem a bit young to own a plumbing co. that size. I was told by her that our pipes were done incorrectly. Plastic should be use as electrical boxes because installation time would be cut down. So I was charging too much money for unnecessary work. I know she doesn't know anything about construction. this false info was fed by someone else. So he (I assume) brought someone in to rewire the whole house. We did rewire the bath from the panel. All of our wires were ripped out. That was the only reason I got from her. To top it off, all our work was passed and signed off by the city inspection. She just refuse to hear from me because she just drank the cool-aid. I am just asking for advice on how to deal with her. I know the money is gone and I am not getting a dime back. I should go back and cut open the ceiling and get my lights back.