Looked like the rube I think I am...

[billdeserthills]

]

One other policy I have. If someone else is trying to open the vehicle I walk away from the job. I know I lose money when this happens, but usually the customer will tell their friend, bystander to stop and let me get on with it.

I should have simply left when they started up. I was using a BTR reader, and prior to his buddy showing up, he was on the other side of the vehicle, literally pounding on it in frustration. Twice I had to stop, and look up at him. I should have told him to stand back from the vehicle.

Those things pick so easy why make more work for yourself.

Inexperience would seem to be the most honest answer.


I used to file a lien on people who refused to pay me for services rendered, but now I just walk away and I try to shake my head a little, from side to side, as I go. I got tired of all the stress required of me when I care too much. I think You did good, just leaving them alone mrchristopher

You don't do what most lock smiths do? Lock the lock back up and walk away?

[/quote]


For What? Do twice the work and make nothing? The hell with that!!

[billdeserthills]

I never actually find out until the check bounces, then I let Maricopa County Bad Check Enforcement in on it & then my money is usually quickly returned. I filed about 5-6 liens at first. Nobody ever sold their property before the lien ran out & I never stayed mad for enough years to collect. I got to freak-out a realtor once and forestall the sale of a property once, but they eventually discovered the lien had expired a couple months prior.

[1mrchristopher]

I'm covered on the bouncing check business. I tell people up front: cash or card. I use the paypal card reader attached to my phone, easy and no worry about checks. It means that I lose a little less than 3% to processing, but for the most part that's an acceptable cost for the convenience. I do accept check payments from local businesses that I am well acquainted with, but everyone else it's cash or card.

[billdeserthills]

I had an indian woman (mebbe) once refuse to pay me. She didn't speak much (if any) english but she pantomined needing a key to fit her schlage D series knob. I picked it & made a key & brought her the bill for $90. She said "Home Depot Man say forty-five" I carefully tried to explain that I didn't work for Home Depot Man and that I charged $90. She continued to repeat her "Home depot man say forty-five" & we went around like that, very short & sweet and I finally asked her if she wanted a lien put on her house and that I would charge her 1 1/2% interest compounded monthly? Same answer, so I gave her the key & went off to draw up a lien. I guess I'm just weird, but if I didn't give her the key I didn't see how I could legitimately put a lien on it. Now when a client calls if I can't understand them 100% over the phone, I just let Home Depot Man do that job & I quote my price before I do Anything

[hjlocks]

I never actually find out until the check bounces, then I let Maricopa County Bad Check Enforcement in on it & then my money is usually quickly returned. I filed about 5-6 liens at first. Nobody ever sold their property before the lien ran out & I never stayed mad for enough years to collect. I got to freak-out a realtor once and forestall the sale of a property once, but they eventually discovered the lien had expired a couple months prior.

We make everyone we do work for fill out, sign, and date either an owner verification form, if we're unlocking something, or a general information form, both if which have a statement that if payment isn't arranged within 30 days it will be sent to collections and additional fees may apply. Then if they refuse to pay we send it to a collections agency who adds %25 to the bill.

[billdeserthills]

I never actually find out until the check bounces, then I let Maricopa County Bad Check Enforcement in on it & then my money is usually quickly returned. I filed about 5-6 liens at first. Nobody ever sold their property before the lien ran out & I never stayed mad for enough years to collect. I got to freak-out a realtor once and forestall the sale of a property once, but they eventually discovered the lien had expired a couple months prior.

We make everyone we do work for fill out, sign, and date either an owner verification form, if we're unlocking something, or a general information form, both if which have a statement that if payment isn't arranged within 30 days it will be sent to collections and additional fees may apply. Then if they refuse to pay we send it to a collections agency who adds %25 to the bill.

One of the few nice things about Arizona is the Bad Check Enforcement program. At zero charge they will do a very good job of returning bad check money. Unfortunately the pro's at bad checks will simply place a "stop payment" upon their check, and those are not covered.

[MSL]

Do non-commercial customers write a lot of checks still? I haven't written a check for anything other than a mortgage or car payment (or something like that )in a long time. I would have imagined it would mostly be credit cards nowadays.

[1mrchristopher]

There are many people who pay anything resembling a bill with a check, mostly the 50 and older folks, or the ones who follow Dave Ramsey and others advice on not having credit cards. I haven't run into anybody yet that didn't have a debit card or cash though. I accepted a personal check once, doing freelance computer work, and regretted it. The person writing the check handed to me and said: "Don't cash it until [payday date]," which was over 2 weeks away. In their mind, because they'd given me a check, I was paid. In reality I was paid 16 days after the fact. Rather than get ugly about it, I simply decided not to accept personal checks for anything going forward.

[MSL]

Granted I'm not in business yet so its easy for me to say I think I'd be ok with that. If someone wanted to post-date a check I imagine I'd take it. Better than having it bounce.

[billdeserthills]

I take post-dated checks all the time, I just write the date to cash it next to the endorsement line, that way I can make sure I don't accidentally cash it early. Still I do understand 1mrchristopher's aversion to accepting a piece of paper that is worth nothing for some period of time, as payment for services rendered.
I remember one time a guy needed a key by code, which is a $35 charge. He offered to trade me a box of Omaha ribeye steaks and I accepted. I suppose it was an OK deal, the steaks were tough and I learned that I don't want anything to do with the barter system. I also found out that omaha steaks weren't to my taste too. Lotsa negative learning all the way around

[hjlocks]

Do non-commercial customers write a lot of checks still? I haven't written a check for anything other than a mortgage or car payment (or something like that )in a long time. I would have imagined it would mostly be credit cards nowadays.

I'd say about %50 of my residential customers go for their check book without even asking me what I accept. I haven't run into any *serious issues fortunately, but I also don't advertise that I take credit cards as it costs me money to do it. The exception is people who are locked out of their cars. That's almost always a credit card.

*One lady got locked out of her car twice in the span of about 3 weeks. The first time she forgot to sign it. The second time she forgot to write in the amount.

[1mrchristopher]

I'm not opposed to barter - I'm doing a few locks for a full service station & mechanics garage, and am gladly taking some mechanic work in trade. I don't think I'd trade for frozen steaks, but I've never been offered either.

[billdeserthills]

I'm not opposed to barter - I'm doing a few locks for a full service station & mechanics garage, and am gladly taking some mechanic work in trade. I don't think I'd trade for frozen steaks, but I've never been offered either.

If the guy tells you to just toss the steaks on the grill right outta the freezer it's cause they suck.

[alockguru]

Ive bartered a second PT key (h72) for a $100 worth of steak once as well. Walked away with cash for original key and some delicous stake to go with it

As for the ignition they probably drilled the old one out when in the 'off' position then forcibly installed the new one in some other position that lined up wrong with the switch.

[billdeserthills]

Ive bartered a second PT key (h72) for a $100 worth of steak once as well. Walked away with cash for original key and some delicous stake to go with it

As for the ignition they probably drilled the old one out when in the 'off' position then forcibly installed the new one in some other position that lined up wrong with the switch.

You do know that "stake" is made from wood, right?
You just gotta be careful what You trade for sometimes...