What to do if a client won't pay me

[AgentJean]

Last month I was contracted to install a couple of PCs and a printer by the computer service provider out of Texas. Their client was opening a new restaurant here in Virginia and there's where I came in.

After I completed the job I was told that I would be paid in 2 weeks. Well 2 weeks passed and I never got paid. I sent an email to the company and they said I'll have my money in about 2 weeks. Well I still haven't been paid.

Yesterday I did a little research about the company that hired my services and I found a complaint on Rip-off Report about the company not paying their service techs, however the complaint is kind of old. I also sent out another invoice for the amount due me with explicit instructions the invoice must be paid within 7 days after receiving the invoice. It was sent certified mail so they won't be able to lie and say they never received it. I also printed the tracking number on the invoice itself and made photocopies.

Lets say they still wanna screw around and don't want to pay; what other options do I have in order to get my money? I don?t want to play around. I want to hit them with a tactical nuke so they won?t try any BS (I?ve found that "shock and awe" tactics do work in business [;D] )

 

[Colt45]

small claims, i guess.

 

[Kaspian]

Could you put a lien on the restaurant?

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

lien.

you can also get fiesty if they still refuse and report the unearned income to the IRS. They always like getting more taxes.

 

[bctbct]

The process of getting paid by a company is not like getting paid by and individual. Most companies pay bills once a month and if your invoice didnt meet the cut off it will sit on the APs desk until the next cycle.

 

[AgentJean]

Originally posted by: bctbct
The process of getting paid by a company is not like getting paid by and individual. Most companies pay bills once a month and if your invoice didnt meet the cut off it will sit on the APs desk until the next cycle.

I was told in 2 weeks. It's been a month.

I have this in writing.

 

[bctbct]

Originally posted by: AgentJean

Originally posted by: bctbct
The process of getting paid by a company is not like getting paid by and individual. Most companies pay bills once a month and if your invoice didnt meet the cut off it will sit on the APs desk until the next cycle.

I was told in 2 weeks. It's been a month.

I have this in writing.

Sometimes I try and push a bill through at work. The people that have to approve this...usually 3, have every excuse not to do expediated the process. Sometimes they just resent someone telling them to do something different from their daily routine.

The payroll lady once told me she couldnt cut a layoff check because she had not processed this weeks payroll and the computer would not allow her to begin the payroll process for the following week.

Her solution? Don't lay him off until Friday which was 2 days later. I countered with "can you hand write a check?", her response "No".

The President of the company told her to hand write a check. She was able to achieve this in minutes. My point being is that sometimes people are assholes and dont care.

I wouldnt worry too much at this point, give it a few more wks before you nuke them.

 

[santz]

put a blog on digg, and get this company some unwanted attention and then screw them .. hahhaa

 

[imported_Imp]

Ah, took a whole course on this crap. You should have gotten a lien or some type of bond (I don't remember which is for who). Now, defame and go to court.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Notify them that there will be a 10% late payment fee attached at the end of each month.

Notify the BBB in their area also.

Get all the paperwork ready for a small claims court and file it 30 days after the date that they stated you would receive the payment.

Note:
Even if you win in court; you are not guarenteed payment without additioanl costs. However, those additional costs can be appended onto the original bill.

 

[richardycc]

you need to send an invoice to the restaurant, so they will pressure the service provider to pay you.

 

[rubix]

go with some friends to the restaurant and order up a meal worth how much they owe you. eat the food then write on bill "now we're even" and leave without paying.