I'm a chump

[Anonymous-0]

I'm a chump. Was hired by a corporate plant manager to sandblast a concrete batch tower. Spent three days and $500 sandblasting then billed them what was quoted. Latter I inquired about payment and the plant manager asked "Who are you?" With no paper work, am I $crewed?

 

[Allan in NE]

Naw,

Go ahead and tell him who you are and that you want your money.

Allan

 

[Lanse]

tell him who you are and what you did. He should honor the deal

 

[bill mart]

someone saw you do the work didnt they?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Hard not too. I'll have to find them. Only happened two weeks ago.

 

[Roy in georgia]

where are you? let us know how it works out. If you bill them and gave them a Quote that they agreed on they should pay you. If they don't tell us

 

[douglas carroll]

some states have strong labor laws, if you did the work (labor ) they must pay, I've been in your shoes my friend and won , go to the courthouse and file a small claims action, it's easy ($25-$40 ) you don't even need a lawyer . you can do it, remember, there is no shame in asking for what you earned.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I had that happen to me several times. They even teach students in business school ways to cheat others, and how to legally do it. Many companies are just out to take advantage of others. I finally learned to demand paperwork, purchase orders, etc, before doing anything.

 

[John S-B]

I would guess a Mechanics lein would work for you. It would be obvious that the work had been done, so take some pics and have a lawyer send a letter. It's not too expensive and usually gets attention.

 

[oliver power]

Here is how it works in New York. Should they award you the project , and you have completed the work , they must pay you. It is illegal to hold back money for ANY reason after the work has been completed. EXAMPLE: You are awarded the project. You did not have the proper , or any insurance. It was not discussed PRIOR to the start of work. You complete the work. Now you want your money. They say , we need a certificate of insurance before we will pay you. They CAN NOT HOLD BACK MONEY. It is illegal. The insurance should have been discussed prior to the start of work. This way , either party would have been able to walk away from the deal. A verbal agreement is considered a verbal contract , and will hold up in court. You will not be able to collect interest if verbal. No , I"m not a lawyer. This is personal experience.

 

[jose bagge]

Tell that jacka$$ that you want the name of his boss, pronto, because you are through fooling around with him...and tell him you want the correct spelling of his name so that the newspapers and his supervisor get it right. Let him know that the newspaper photographers will be out to take pictures later in the day, and to stay away from the wall in the meantime because until you are paid, you own it. Let him know that you don't appreciate being jacked around by an underling, and your going to have his job...if he doesn't shape up ASAP, call his boss and explain. CAll the paper...send a friend out with a camera to take pictures.
Big companies don't fool around with screwing some small businessmen out of a few grand- that's chump change to them, they pi$$ that much away every minute. It's usually just some mid-level jerk trying to make someone just as miserable as he is. In the corporate ladder, this guy is nobody- and he doesn't want the internal bad press any more than he wants newpaper bad press.
he's been a jerk- now it's your turn: HOWL.
Understand, you'll never do work for 'em again- unless it's with this bozo's replacement.

 

[Sparktrician]

B@stards, B@stards, B@stards!!!!! I have been through the same thing...TO MANY TIMES!!! It usually happens to me over "extras" work, Always seems job is in a hurry, and "oh, by the way this needs done also, just do it and bill us"....When I bill, "well, that is the owners esponsibility".....I like the newspaper idea, keep calling, be a pain in their @ss, you probobaly wont get more work from them, but if you are dealing w/ this, you dont want it anyhow.

Oh yeah, anyone near portland indiana, STAY AWAY from Fort Recovery Construction and Equipment....They build hog barns, grain storage, ect. They will screw your eyes out also....Been there, done that...GOOD LUCK!!!!

 

[Mike (WA)]

File a lien- in Washington, its called a "mechanics and materialmen's lien"- has to be filed within 90 days of finishing the work, and is a lien on the real estate, superior to everything except property taxes. Rules vary by state, and it can be tricky- so get an attorney- you can include attorney fees as part of the lien.

 

[TxFarmallFan]

I would've gotten some kind of contract in writing before I began. Best of luck to you, hopefully you'll get your money.

 

[burnetma]

They should have record of you being in the hole for the duration of work on their "lock out tag out" records for the equipment. That should also be good evidence.

 

[RandyB(MI)]

Also better have all YOUR ducks in a row too! Are you a State liscensed bussiness? You can't just walk in off the street and start doing services for hire for money compensation. If you charge for services rendered you must be registered/liscensed with your State and have a sales tax liscense. IF you don't , this "person" doesn't legally owe you a cent.IF you have your ducks in a row , then go the small claims route. He probably won't even show up which means he loses. You still won't get the money without a lengthy wait and more hassel. They just render the judgement , they don't enforce it , but at least then you have the judgement to use in your recourse. HE know exactly what he is doing and has gotten away with it before. IT'S CALLED INCONVENIENCING A PERSON INTO SUBMISSION!!!