ULPT Request: How do I get back at a customer who won’t pay?
Posted by KingOfKrackers@reddit | UnethicalLifeProTips | View on Reddit | 32 comments
I have a repair business and I have a customer who I did about $1500 worth of work for who hasn’t paid me and has completely ghosted me for months. I’ve already sent her a notice that I’ll be filing a lien against her property, but if she doesn’t ever sell her house or try to loan against it it won’t affect her much. I’ve always tried to do right by my customers and this is the only time in 4 years this has happened.
She is a business owner herself and I obviously know her address and name but that’s about it.
Any ideas how I can get some satisfaction out of this because at this point I don’t expect to get paid what I’m owed.
NefariousnessTop354@reddit
Send her a certified letter again mentioning a lien, but this time make the total she owes you 2 or 3 times the actual amount. Also tell her all communications must be in writing. Chances are good when she sees the increased amount she will email you immediately to tell you that she doesn't owe that much. Then you can thank her, file in small claims using only her words to prevail. Hope it works for you. I did concrete over 30 years and that worked 4 or 5 times for us. We also showed up to a guys house where we poured a small patio 6 months earlier. Parked the air compressor in driveway. I started rolling out air hose and jack hammer. Boss went to the door to let the guy know we were there to repossess the patio. He wrote a check right then.
Grant_Winner_Extra@reddit
oh damn... this is awesome.
OverTheDump@reddit
Nice tip! Definitely stealing this.
beachbum818@reddit
Take her to small claims court. If she doesn't show they rule in your favor
distributingthefutur@reddit
Not unethical, stand in front of her business with a sign. It can be non-specific like, "nobody likes a deadbeat." Don't forget the piss disk in your pocket, though.
Autocorrect game me puss disk.
Grant_Winner_Extra@reddit
If it's OP, it's not unethical, just weird.
Now... if OP gives the piss disk to someone else, maybe someone a little janky, and then gifts them something and *suggests* they might enjoy hanging around the client's storefront.... now he's crossed the line to unethical.
Business_Orange5215@reddit
I don’t know, puss disk would prob be brutal too
Creepy_old_man_in_IL@reddit
ULPT - get others to post bad reviews.
Grant_Winner_Extra@reddit
lol "sending a notice" - man, this isn't even unethical, just never make a threat. Either DO or NOT DO, like master Yoda. Threats of legal action are a giveaway you are not serious.
And any unethical thing you do will NOT get her to pay you back - in fact, if that's your goal, the actions become illegal, because it's now extortion.
With all that out of the way, back to piss disks and liquid ass.
c_webbie@reddit
If she is on Facebook, write a post about how you don't understand why on Earth she isnt able to pay her bill. Fake like you are concerned for her. Then copy and paste it to the people on her friends list via messenger one person at a time. I guarantee that will get her attention.
If she's not on Facebook fear not: The Next Door App was made for this kind of shit.
leroy4447@reddit
Start a go fund me in her name and post it to all of her Facebook friends so they can help her out
Putrid-Marsupial8157@reddit
Brilliant!
Professional_Copy517@reddit
Legal Debt collector by trade, petty bitch by night here
Re: the "ethical" route - the legal judgment for the lien will fuck up their credit for years + make it hard for them to refinance their property. - They'll end up with a higher interest rate. - You'll end up getting paid when they have to reamortize their mortgage, - they'll pay thousands in interest they wouldn't have needed to pay. - petty wins all round
BUT this is unethical tips isn't it. So in addition to the above, you can always: - use their email address and sign them up for all of the news letters. All of them. Particularly religious things like Scientology saying you have an interest in converting - use their phone number for similar things. Religious people will never stop calling. - you know where they live. Take a look at the outside of their house, figure out where the air intakes are (the hoods look distinct). Then fart spray. Or Surströmming, if you want to choose violence. Super soakers full of the liquid will also work if you can't access directly. - and of course the ol faithfuls, glitter bombs and piss disks
Kewkky@reddit
I would literally sue her and argue that by her not paying you what was agreed upon at the time that was agreed upon, she has caused financial strain on MY business and higher damages than the initial cost of the job.
stabbingrabbit@reddit
I dont think that would be a small claims lawsuit.
Kewkky@reddit
Me neither. OP has to argue that the costs and damages combined exceeded $10k and he would be good to go.
sierrabravo1984@reddit
What's with all the ethical ideas? Piss disk in the mail slot.
Creepy_old_man_in_IL@reddit
She has a female slot.
bill-schick@reddit
How old is she? I think it is a sale or transfer of the house aka when she needs to go to a nursing home or passes, the estate would have to pay you out first, she couldn't even transfer it to a relative.
NefariousnessTop354@reddit
Send her a certified letter again mentioning a lien, but this time make the total she owes you 2 or 3 times the actual amount. Also tell her all communications must be in writing. Chances are good when she sees the increased amount she will email you immediately to tell you that she doesn't owe that much. Then you can thank her, file in small claims using only her words to prevail. Hope it works for you. I did concrete over 30 years and that worked 4 or 5 times for us. We also showed up to a guys house where we poured a small patio 6 months earlier. Parked the air compressor in driveway. I started rolling out air hose and jack hammer. Boss went to the door to let the guy know we were there to repossess the patio. He wrote a check right then.
Holden-McGroyn@reddit
You can say that again!
IAmTheLizardQueen666@reddit
…that.
OriginalIronDan@reddit
This is the second time this same comment has shown up on this thread. I upvoted it the first time, and because it’s such a good idea, I’m going to upvote it this time too!
DifficultyNo3093@reddit
Take her / her business to small claims court? As a small business owner, I can't imagine she'd want that kind of publicity.
scotus1959@reddit
Small claims court will get you a judgement, but you still have to collect. A lien is a better method because you can foreclose and sell the property. But you will need a lawyer for that.
Alpha-Studios@reddit
At a certain point, you just have to chalk it up. Otherwise, it will eat you. Take quick revenge; if you cannot, drop it.
KifDawg@reddit
When I was subcontracting electrical I had a clause in my invoices that any unpaid services after 2months of completing would incrue a 15% increase per month. Usually after the first increase they write the cheque
Green_Yesterday3054@reddit
Small claims court
Sharkhous@reddit
Depending on what thr work is, it could be undone. Though I imagine it's too late for that.
FlowerComfortable889@reddit
Sadly, small claims is the ethical answer.
Piss disks are the unethical, but correct answer
ww11gunny@reddit
Negatively review her business with the truth that she doesn't honor her commitments
friezbeforeguys@reddit
Well… it depends. A lot. What kind of business does she run?