Easiest way to deal with non-paying customers is to send them a final demand letter stating you'll take legal action if no payment. Then take them to the small claims court. It's quick and easy.

@Armed-Forever

Жыл бұрын

yup

@grenphelps7455

Жыл бұрын

Totally agree with that 👆👆 but also stand your ground and tell them you don't do that type of work as your to busy...

@daveswarbrick5576

Жыл бұрын

The only thing i'd add is a time limit, stating payment in full by......

@bignasty3274

Жыл бұрын

Yep 100% agree you can't let customers take you for a ride as small claims court is a quick and effective way of dealing with just this sort of problem.

@kensmith895

Жыл бұрын

Small claims court

As someone else said, a County Court Order against him. That sort of person, doesn’t deserve your help.

@tonyhaynes9080

Жыл бұрын

The problem is, that he would probably make himself bankrupt to avoid paying you. I've had 'friends' pull that stunt on me three times. And people wonder why I don't like people.

@desd1932

Жыл бұрын

@@tonyhaynes9080 Thats true first thing they do is fiel for bankruptcy

Time to inform the Rozzers.. treat it as theft. Unless you know a Johnny knock down doors to pop round and collect 😂

@johnhayles16

Жыл бұрын

Me lol

@Hydrogenblonde

Жыл бұрын

I totally agree on informing the Rozzers but they are likely to veiw it as a civil matter and not theft and leave it to Lee to take legal action which of course will cost more than the money that could be regained. This is a idiotic state of affairs, in my thinking if you take the item and don't pay it is straight out theft. Try doing that at a store and you will find yourself in a gaol cell. But if you employ someone to do a task for you and don't pay the Rozzers do nothing. Plenty of con artists and general arse holes know this and take advantage of it to get free stuff and services.

As a member of the Barum Engines advisory board (subscriber) I suggest sending an Email to the thief with a deadline for payment and state failure to pay by said date will result in legal proceedings. Then if he doesn't pay, go for a County Court Order.

@martincraig1974

Жыл бұрын

Advisory board made me laugh 😂 😂 yes Lee send the subscribers round bet there's a few people on here who would like to sort out that thieving scumbag 😂👍👍

Your composure in dealing with the con artist trash of society, again, shows us that you are an honest gentleman. Cheers from Texas!

@hipflask69

Жыл бұрын

sounds like a propper w*nker

@bill8by5

Жыл бұрын

Hey Mike!! Wonderment - I'm at 57th and N 1/2.

@GalvestonCountyMike

Жыл бұрын

@@bill8by5 I'm in western Galveston County on Highland Rd.

If small claims court isn't a practical option then sell it to debt collection agency, you won't get full payment but he'll get continuous aggro until it's paid!

The instant he started badgering you to do work you didn't want to do you should just walk away. People like that are argumentative and just the sort to argue the price at the end. Small amount involved too - makes no difference to that sort, they need to feel they have won. Get all work quotes itemised and written down, get email or signatures accepting them before you do the work and don't allow anything back off the premisis without payment unless it is on account. Customers are not friends where buisiness is concerned.

@riverflyswatter

Жыл бұрын

Exactly

One of my dad's favourite sayings was ' No good deed goes unpunished' even though you were charging for the job you were still trying to help the guy.

Why the hell do you hand keys over before payment!

@DasArab

Жыл бұрын

I guess he needs lessons from The Car Wizard and how he deals with Hoovie.

i have never given the customer the car key until they have paid the bill, i have never been ripped off with a non payment.

@Darth_Chicken

Жыл бұрын

You do right.

No good deed goes unpunished. Any job that's not paid for doesn't leave the premises . You aren't a charity.

It cost £50 for a county court order.

Hope you get a lawyer involved or whatever the process is. Even if it costs more than you’ll get back, people like this need to be taught a lesson.

Either name and shame the Guy, or give him 30days to pay, if he doesn't pay, take him to the small claims court.

Lee…..if I didn’t live a good distance from you, I would love to be working alongside you in your shop, getting my hands dirty on all the brilliant old pieces of machinery you’ve got 🙏🏻😏

Small claims court for Mr I don't wish to pay Make an example and pin the award notice to a wall of shame in your office

you have to many engines in, ask customers to bring them in when you are ready to start on their job, lift your prices if you are that busy. from an oap who was in business for 40 years

If his email said he would pay, I think that leave’s no room to argue his case if you go to small claims court.

It’s a shame you seem such an honest and trust worthy person and people take liberties no money no keys policy and then let the customer look over the car and winge over nothing after but least you’ve been paid And as for keeping the van subtle when you’ve bought the brightest colour made me laugh 🤣

These people are lucky I’m not the owner I’d take the few hundred quid on the nose and then in a few months pay some little shits to take it for a joyride and burn it out

NOTHING leaves my garage without being paid for! Its easier when you have the keys but i would have collections in an area towards the back of the workshop so they cant just back a van up and hoy it in.

We never hand the keys over till payment received! I’ve been burnt a few times, always by ‘matey customers’. Last matey customer dumped a car in our yard and after 6 months of asking him to move it I told him I’m charging for storage. After a few months he came in to pay me, I got distracted by a phone call and he took off in the car without paying. Never seen him since..

You kept your cool Lee 👍 sounds like he had that planned from the beginning keep up the good work

I would not hesitate in taking the law breaking low life to court. you will be 100% successful as he has not paid for the services he agreed to pay for.

Some clients we never will do work for again!!

As other have said, sent him a recorded delivery letter, stating he has a certain time limit to pay, then small claims court. You don't deserve to have your good name and reputation spoilt by freeloaders....good luck!

These small amounts are so easy to deal with in the small claims court, I know, I'm very sure other commentators have said the same thing and they probably don't realise the effort needed for these claims. But it reminds me of an incident I had with someone who dropped his car off and we replaced the front window and he came back with his spare key and took his car back. So we were left with nearly £250 unpaid bill, and his key. We sent countless emails and called many times. Then I personally did the small claim, and then we were paid, then we left his key with the police, at a station in another town. I'm told he was adamant he would never pay from his mates, yet we were paid and I think it might have been 2 years after this, he came back to the garage demanding his key, luckily we had a signed document from the police and video of us dropping the key off and a recorded signed for letter informing him where the key was. Never heard from him again.

I'm livid this clod would do you wong so casually. I couldn't sleep at night if I had that kind of personality, and I wonder what motivates people to abuse businesses this way.

In the future Lee if you have a car & it's completed even if it's inside you should immobilize it till payment is made. We would remove the rotor from the distributor,a few spark plug wires or the main fuse. If you do differently each time there's no pattern to be learned. We caught several potential grab & run customers that way. We had a sign that said "No payment - No product! "

As a friend (a social worker!) Says: "ah, the public... the more you deal with them, the more you want to kill 'em."

Warn him if he doesn’t pay up the “discount will be removed” and the full 4 1/2 hours will be. Charged and or the small claims court will be visited.

Never ever let an absolute scumbag like that take their car or engine without payment. Take that so and so to court, you will win!

No good deed goes unpunished - send him payment terms by registered letter, give him 7 days to pay in full, include your detailed invoice for the work done. Follow up if he does not pay in full with a copy of the form you have filled in for debt recovery from his local county court. Don’t ever do work for him again

Shocking you don’t need customers like that, you have acted very professional and went out your way to help him. Amazing how people can behave so badly. Anyway great work on your side.

All that work coming in tells you that you and your team do good work. All the best.

Under no circumstances let him getaway with it take him to court he will think twice about doing it next time.

Take him to court, send him a message. It's not about the money, it's now about principle.

County Court Claims Notice! followed by bailiffs !

Forget County Court, get debt collectors onto it. No need for court if your invoice conditions are written properly.

"leave it subtle" on a BRIGHT ORANGE van - LOL!

Some of the best lessons in life we get is when some dishonest scrote rips us off. The trick is to learn from experience. Have a good policy and adhere to it absolutely, no exceptions. Don't let your customers make their financial problems into your financial problems.

You need another apprentice and and a time served guy it seems.Thats good news shows your making a good business grow and you come across really genuine.👍

Lee, as for the P.O.S. that stiffed you on your bill for helping him, I agree with the rest in taking him to small claims court. As far as your van, how about a stripe similar to the one on the kit car? You can still put your business name on the side for exposure. Sometimes the minimal things tend to look the best. Just a suggestion. Good luck in what you choose. Love the channel.

All the garages I've used , you don't get the keys till you've paid .

Definitely pursue payment in the small claims tribunal. Really enjoy your channel. All the best with your business. 👍

Many years ago, my boss at the time used to decorate the notice board in the office with CCJ’s, these were all builders we had supplied with steel/fabrication services to and failed to pay. He wasn’t so bothered about the money; it was more to knock their credit ratings.

@puzer1

Жыл бұрын

...correct, you may never collect the judgement but that judgement follows them around...

Take him to court without any doubt!!

We had a repair shop sublet some work to us. We completed the project. We sent them a billing three times. They have dodged our repeated requests for payment. We are too busy to follow up with small claims court. $800 gone. We wrote off the billing along with the shop. This is too small a community to have someone pull that type of issue. This will hurt them far more than it hurts us. Be good Lee. Have a Deluxe day!

Keeping it subtle....... lol. It's bright orange already🤣

Call the police mate they are your parts on the car that is still theft

Great video as always Lee, loving the van mate, looks great.

Cheers Lee, another breakdown of life among the Metal, keep going and just tighten up is all I’m going to say.

County court him ! I could tell you to learn the signs somethings not quite right . But there clever buggers , very nice and polite to begin with . You learn one thing and then they come up with something else . The joy of dealing with the public ! Chin up sunshine !

Dear o dear...no money no keys/parts/engine ect.....never trust anyone...no visitors onto the shop floor..all visitors to office and pay before collection...

I agree with all the advice on getting your money off this joker and I have been very successful with this type of customer. I send a final notice by registered mail along with a copy of a completed N1 (small claims form) all filled apart from my signature stating that should I not receive payment by a stated date and time that I will sign and submit the form to the courts. I have yet to have someone not pay me. Before anyone jumps on the band-wagon I am aware that the form can be filled in on line - the reason I do it this way is that they see the form and it appears to let them know I am serious and not taking any prisoners. Best of luck getting paid. Keep up the great work

Hello Lee, Great vlog, with regard to the non paying customer, send a final demand & then pay him a visit, in person with one of your mates. This chap obviously has the mentality of a 5 year old & when confronted at his own home will definitely pay up...tell him cash or bacs now! Pls... In future, no keys given or car outside, no engine or parts being lifted into vehicles WITHOUT payment first...do not trust anyone in business 100%....no matter who!.. All the best....

I've used Small Claims on a few occasions and always been paid immediately. Got what was owed + Small Claims Court fees + 8% interest. One was my brother who sent payment just before court date. It didn't matter to me that he was my brother, he signed a loan agreement before he got my money. It's always better to be safe than sorry and stressed. There is a host to information on the Web including bespoke wordings for virtually every aspect of running a business. It's so easy to change a few words for each client, then email and have them sign and return before any work starts so they know any delay on their part will result in the work being delayed.

You can hire bailiffs to collect the money on your behalf... I'm pretty sure it's no fee if they don't collect.

Small claims court - has to be the route to follow!

Subtle ? A bright orange van & you want to go Subtle? I'd go for the same stripes as the kit car. Oh, & small claims court summons will probably jog his memory to pay.

@EconoboxGarage

Жыл бұрын

I had the same thought Tony. That orange is definitely not subtle!

CONGRATULATIONS BOYS -NOW ONWARDS FOR 500

I think it's about time you got strict with these sort of customers no payment no keys or engine simple. And get everything in writing or a email .love the channel.

I can feel a BARUM expansion happening soon. And a skilled fitter/machinist joining the firm.

County court summons. No time for thieves!

Sorry to hear about that Lee! - Hope you get it sorted ASAP. May be worth popping into Wrap It Graphics in South Molton and seeing what they can do there for you with the new Van livery.

Hi Lee , there's one way to sort out those type of customers and that is to NAME AND SHAME them , if they never come back so what , they're not worth the effort! . Love watching your show , reminds me of the old days ! Did my time as a motor machinist/ engine builder and loved it . Love the van .

Weird the way that in the UK you seem to have issues with non paying customers. Here in Switzerland there is no way customers could not pay you. You just file a one page claim with their town’s debt department and if they don’t pay the department sells their assets for you. You order stuff on the internet here and pay after it’s delivered.

@samrodian919

Жыл бұрын

What a brilliant idea!

Make an application in the small claims court for the invoice and expenses. A pain but he should pay!

File a claim with the court!

No pay the bill , NO F## KING KEYS .

Small claims online along with his email stating he would pay inline; + daily interest. What a knob!

Well I would be happy to have you work on any of my motors if I didn’t do them myself, and I would definitely send you my machine work if you lived near me. You guys do great work. It’s hugely obvious the pride you take in your work and it shows. Screw him.

Small claim court plus costs

If your turning down work, you need to be looking for bigger premises now. Great to see your business thriving 👍.

Can't you take that bloke to a small claims court for payment if he doesn't pay

Love your ideas on the van stripes and logo (I really like that van), customers come in all flavors and some are truly obnoxious and borderline criminal. This unfortunately happens to all of us that have been in business. You need to have protections in place to prevent this or collection fees will cut even deeper into your margins and the good will you put into your work.... Cheers... Joe

Seriously??? Ring a tow truck to get it back

Never let your leverage leave the shop without payment. Unless you KNOW he’s a stand up person…

Outrageous!. Words yes stripe no keep it simple and elegant .

I don't know how it works there, but you should file a lean against the title of the vehicle preventing resale while you take him to court. Be sure to get your time chasing him down in damages as well.

Back when I worked at auto dealerships as a tech and in machine shops as shop foreman, no one got their auto or repaired auto part before paying. And if we were paid with a check the bank was called that very moment to verify the check was good. Also, sometimes a particular check was taken to the bank by me or the dealer owner to get the money before the customer got his item and could leave. People will do crazy things to con you out of your time and money. Be careful. Like one commenter said, take them to court. That way other customers will think twice before scamming you.

no friends in business good customers and bad and you know what to do with the bad,if in doubt money up front

So sorry,I really enjoy the channel. People know what they are planning to do before hand.

The very nature of dealing with the public means you have to deal with a proportion of narcissistic dishonest scumbags. (Even they need a high quality job done) I wouldn’t be able to deal with people like that with as much grace.

You call the police and have him arrested for theft.

As Morten said below send out a final demand for payment with a deadline and also inform him if not paid Legal proceedings via small claims court.

Can you sell the debt on to a bailiff?

If everything transpired as you said, then the non-paying customer is guilty of theft and slander. Small claims court is good for recovering that money, but there is frustratingly little you can do about his mouth.

Always keep your mouth shut until they pay. But employees should all know that nothing leaves the premise without an invoice being paid.

Sorry that has happened to you , we had a small business , we had the same type of customer , All took to Small Claims , and we got fully paid every time Good Luck

Talk to your local signwriter and he will do a mock up for you so you can have a look before it goes on the van and will be probably be 3/4 of the price

not only go after him but let everyone else what he did. social media for shure. good luck on him ever getting work done.

I have learned to just refuse more work from customers like that. By the time you add up the time your out and the time it would take to collect, your further ahead to let it go. At least he supplied the parts, but he will have issues in the future and that is when he will be sorry. It's too bad but there are people like that every where, you just can't make them happy.

Thanks.

For a couple hundred quid. You learnt a valuable lesson. Small claims court...could be a waste of time, maybe get the money back at £1 a month. If he claims hardship. Not worth the investment of time from the business. 50% up front. Or staged payments. Might sound unreasonable on a job that's a few hundred quid...however...it prevents you being at total loss if someone decides they aren't paying. Plus...you find non payers faulter on stage payments early on...and you retain possession. The cards are in your hands then. My dad said...in life, and more so in business everyone is a c*unt unless they prove otherwise. Mitigate all chances 'people' can have to effect you or your business.

Love watching your videos I wouldn't of give the keys until he paid

Take him to the small claims court. At will teach him a lesson

Love yours videos!

Always keep the keys on you until the client pays. Stops this type of stuff happening. Also send a letter of demand and then speak with a debt collector and let them chase it up

Small claims court. Send him a PDF copy of the claim forms completed by email so he can see you're not mucking about. Supplementary invoice for the unauthorised use of your cleaning equipment?