What to do if a customer can not pay?

[Jburgett2nd]

So what do you do if you go unlock a door for a customer and you charge your advertised rate lets say 60-70$ and the customer says they cannot pay? Do you just lock the door back up and leave? I have been reading about mechanics liens do those apply in locksmithing? Should you call the police? Any of you guys have any stories you can tell? Thanks I appreciate all responses.

[d_Random]

Out of luck

[GWiens2001]

Make sure the customer can pay before you start. If you have already opened the lock, lock 'er back up and walk away.

Gordon

[billdeserthills]

When this has happened to me I have to blame myself, for not being clear with the customer beforehand.
I have received bounced checks as a reward, in the past for this type behaviour and that one time, a "pro" requested
could I "take it out of her @ss?"
I declined to do any work, on that job as trading services wasn't part of my bargain
She actually named a competitor of mine and said she would call him, as he apparently did trade

[Pintickler]

Why can't the customer pay ? When [i]can[i]the customer pay ? I write down as much information as I can, license plate, debit card number, driver license #. Taking a picture of the customers driver's license will usually motivate them to find a way to pay you.
Any time I've had a customer who couldn't pay, it's always some kind of debit card malfunction, and they always promise to pay as soon as they straighten things out with their bank.

[Jburgett2nd]

Good advise all around. I was envisioning a scenario where the person says they can pay you get there do your thing and then they are like "oh I can't afford that". Obviously there is the human factor involved I think I'd be more likely to let a little old lady back in her house or car for free as opposed to a teenager.

[nick08037]

Depending on your location it may be listed in criminal code for your area, it is in New Jersey, USA

2C:20-8. Theft of Services.
a. A person is guilty of theft if he purposely obtains services which he knows are available only for compensation, by deception or threat, or by false token, slug, or other means, including but not limited to mechanical or electronic devices or through fraudulent statements, to avoid payment for the service. "Services" include labor or professional service; transportation, telephone, telecommunications, electric, water, gas, cable television, or other public service; accommodation in hotels, restaurants or elsewhere; entertainment; admission to exhibitions; use of vehicles or other movable property. Where compensation for service is ordinarily paid immediately upon the rendering of such service, as in the case of hotels and restaurants, absconding without payment or offer to pay gives rise to a presumption that the service was obtained by deception as to intention to pay.

[dll932]

A guy I worked for got so many people calling and then cancelling when they found someone else cheaper that he started taking credit cards in advance and charging at least the service call on them (and of course telling customers he would do that). He also stopped taking checks from people he didn't know.

[billdeserthills]

Here in arizona, the state opened a bad check service, they will pay you the bad check fees and they have gotten me my money back many times. I have had them bring out a picture lineup several times as well,
in order to catch some of the guiltiest offenders. I have been very happy to send a couple of bad check writing bums to court, or even to jail. The system works soo well that I would not hesitate to accept a check from anyone

[Jburgett2nd]

A guy I worked for got so many people calling and then cancelling when they found someone else cheaper that he started taking credit cards in advance and charging at least the service call on them (and of course telling customers he would do that). He also stopped taking checks from people he didn't know.

That is defiantly a good idea, I have been contemplating getting a card reader that hooks to my phone so they can just swipe it there.

[billdeserthills]

A guy I worked for got so many people calling and then cancelling when they found someone else cheaper that he started taking credit cards in advance and charging at least the service call on them (and of course telling customers he would do that). He also stopped taking checks from people he didn't know.

That is defiantly a good idea, I have been contemplating getting a card reader that hooks to my phone so they can just swipe it there.

I just use my phone to call in my credit cards c/o chase paymentech

[MatrixBlackRock]

So what do you do if you go unlock a door for a customer and you charge your advertised rate lets say 60-70$ and the customer says they cannot pay? Do you just lock the door back up and leave?

No, you don't do a truck roll unless you get a pre-authorization of the card they are going to pay with, then once you arrive and unlock the opening swipe their card, have them sigh and go on with life.

Now if the customer can only pay with cash, consider having a carry license and expect you might get robbed.

I have been reading about mechanics liens do those apply in locksmithing? Should you call the police? Any of you guys have any stories you can tell? Thanks I appreciate all responses.

Mechanics leans are a great tool, if the person who called you owns the property and they owe you way more than the filing fees, otherwise you are tossing good money at bad money.

Calling the police is useless unless you have been robbed and roughed up, other than that all they will do is take a report and advise you it is a civil, not criminal manner.

If you are just starting out and trying to stay legal, be very careful to pre-screen before dispatch and as you gain experience you will understand why.

Wayne

[nick08037]

To some extent this can be factored in to your pricing structure similar to a retailer's inventory shrinkage costs.

[Jburgett2nd]

To some extent this can be factored in to your pricing structure similar to a retailer's inventory shrinkage costs.

Thats a pretty good idea. I like to think that the majority of people aren't out to rip everyone off.

[billdeserthills]

I saw on southpark where cartman likes to "rochambeau for it" He begins by kicking his opponent right square, in the nuts.
His opponent then has the option to return the blow & whoever falls down first loses. I just think it can easily be applied here,
plus since the customer has likely not heard of this You will gain the upper hand (first kick)