The System Can Work

[EGRoth]

This is just to say that the system can work. I completed an appraisal for a rather large national company which they were refusing to pay me for. After exhausting all of my options with the company I finally filed in small claims court. Low and behold, I received a check 19 days after they were served with my notice. (The deadline for filing for a court date is 20 days after service.)

Thank you all for your advice on this matter and your support of my efforts.

EGRoth

 

[Mountain Man]

Congrads! I doubt that you would ever get any more request from them, but who needs a client like that? I hate going to court, but it is a part of business.

 

[airphoto]

Mell,

Doesn't matter .. once the lowlife sticks you for one appraisal, you won't hear from them again, anyhow ..

A non-payer isn't a client, so hasten to collect!

 

[Blue1]

Mell,

If they do call you again (I've had this happen to me) to do another assignment, tell them that their credit is bad and you need cash up front.

Bruce M

 

[Leon Stewart]

Congrads! I doubt that you would ever get any more request from them, but who needs a client like that? I hate going to court, but it is a part of business.

It's always best to avoid doing work for individuals who you have not work for in the past. Get paid up front or at the door, otherwise leave it alone.

leart3

 

[Mountain Man]

Blue,
That has happened to me before too. They were really nice on the phone, just did not like seeing me face to face. I still did some for them, but I got cash from the customer. No checks, CASH. They were a good client, but the boss got in a personal money crunch, so you know who was the last to get paid. It was settled out of court. I end up going to court on a regular basis for something, tenants, money owed, specific prefomance of contract, just real estate biz. I have learned to get every thing in writting, that is what the court will ask for.

 

[Will Granger]

EG Roth,
In the past when I have had a collection fee from a lender, I fax them this type of letter before I mail it:
8O
"Mr. and Mrs. Borrower
1234 Pmtdue Lane
Mortgage, N. C. 28202

Re: Lender collection problem

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Borrower:
I apollogize for having to do this, but your mortgage lender has failed to remit the appraisal fee on your property for your current loan. Unfortunately the lender has not been cooperative with me in my efforts to collect my fee from him. In all probability you will be receiving a subpoena to testify in a court of law concerning this matter. This action does not constitute any wrongdoing on your part nor does it jeopardize your ownership interest in your home.
Thank you in advance for your assistance. If you have any questions concerning this impending legal action, please call Mr. Will Notpay at 800/555-1212 for further clarification." 8)

This gets the lender's attention and works like a charm. Be sure to fax it to the lender before you send it out. :twisted:

 

[Doug Ellwood]

Ahh collection strategies, when we do an appraisal for a broker or private homeowner and ask for payment at the door, we ask for a Certified Cheque or cash. We inform them it is company policy and has nothing to do with them personally. We tell them that if we do take a personal cheque the report is not released until the cheque clears the bank 5-10 days. I had one today and the homeowner said his wife had deposited his benefits cheque in the bank machine and was being held for 10 days. The broker had told him a personal cheque was fine, it makes me wonder how this cheque would have cleared if I had accepted it as payment. Rarely do we get stiffed.

 

[Will Granger]

Doug,
Absolutely! I will usually take a personal check(que), but when I take it to the bank for deposit, I have the tellers call their bankl to see if it is "good." I rarely get burned, but every now and then it happens. :?

 

[Richard Carlsen]

EG-

Stop what you were thinking of doing with that check!

Consider it a gift. Treat yourself to a weekend at a B&B (take along your wife if you have one) or put it aside for a golf weekend that you've been thinking about or get yourself that new flyrod you've wanted. Make it a gift to yourself for your hard work and enterprise. You deserve it!

I'm convinced that when we have to go to such lengths as this to collect our fee, we should spend it on ourselves like it was a gift. It makes the collection so much sweeter.