getting serious about collecting

[Wimblees@AOL.COM]

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Brian's dilemma with collecting his fee is something all of us, at one time 
or another, have had to deal with. One of the basic problems, I think, is 
that most of us, as a rule, are too nice. We try bend over backwards to 
please the customer, and very seldom have a situation where are stiffed. We 
want to be Mr. Nice Guy, but when we are faced with an ugly situation, we 
don't know how to handle it. 

There will come a time in our work where we have to be the heavy. So there is 
nothing wrong with putting your foot down and demand payment. It doesn't mean 
we have to be nasty, or belligerent, but we have to learn to ask for our 
money, and mean it. 

I know this is not the advice Brian wants to hear, right now, but hopefully 
all of can learn a lesson from his unfortunate situation. I had a similar, 
and even more drastic episode a number of years ago. After completing a $8000 
rebuild, the customer didn't want to pay me the balance until he had played 
the piano for 3 months to determine if I had done a good job. Obviously I 
refused to deliver the piano. After two months, and both of our lawyers 
getting into it, a very interesting thing happened. On the day I decided to 
let him have his way, and prove himself to be an honest or dishonest person, 
a carrier came to my door with a check for the balance. 

If something similar happens, don't be afraid to ask for the money, and be 
prepared to take the piano, (or organ) back. Don't be afraid to take it to 
the next level, like small claims, or even a law suit. It is surprising how 
quickly some people will respond to a letter threatening a law suit, or 
having the bill turned over to a collection agency, and especially to a 
summons to small claims court.

Willem 



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