Been in business for 5+ years now and I have only had one payment problem, a client wrote me a bad check. Got that one replaced easy with a phone call. I guess it was simply a matter of time before I ran into a real problem.

Had a customer call and order a Jager Pro trap. He wanted it delivered and setup in Choctaw County. I did so on May 26. He said he would mail me the check on May 29 when he gets back in his office. He calls me a few days later with some personal tax problem issue and says he needs for me to come get the trap.

How should I handle this problem?

I would get the trap, but charge for labor. Surely he cant expect you to put all that time,work,gas,etc. In for nothing.

Better go and get the trap ASAP. At least he is telling you he doesn't have the money and not stringing you on for several months or longer. The time you have invested in delivering and picking up the trap will be much cheaper than getting lawyers and the courts involved. He hasn't had the trap but a couple of weeks. I have always been a handshake and take a a man at his word kinda guy. Sometimes I have gotten burned and lost some money. But I haven't been burned bad enough for me to change my principals and change the way I do business. I would go get the trap, send him a bill for your time and services and tell him he can pay in increments. Maybe you will get something. Good Luck.

Whip his ass seabass!!!!

First, go get your trap, now.

Second, You can sue him for breach of contract. Suing him is the easy part, collecting the judgment can sometimes be difficult. As long as he is employed you can garnish his wages and get up to 25% of his disposable income per pay period. However, if he is judgment proof then you are pi$$ing up a rope trying to collect anything. Go get your trap.

Not an attorney, but can you just go pick it up and resale it? If not you will occur some fees that will cost you money in the end if he don't pay up. You may not get the trap to re-sale or the money either if he files for bankruptcy or just doesn't pay his bills. Not sure which route, but find a different form of payment in future. At least get half before delivery maybe. Try moving to the new online processing system. You out 3%, but instantly solves that problem. A few people will write you a check knowing it will not cash.

Do you have anything he signed ordering or agreeing to pay for it?

This would be a good way to handle the situation. Once lawyers get involved the fees add up fast. Reclaim your material cost and try to sell the trap to someone else. Yes you will be out your time and labor but that happens. As said above, at least the guy didn't try string you along and lie to you about not being able to pay, and is giving you the opportunity to retrieve your material.

Go get the trap, and physically hand him an invoice for the labor to pick it up if you can. Unless you're out more than $750.00 in labor, I would just be happy I got the trap back.

Yep. You've got to have an expensive debt to justify a lawyer. Sad but true.

Good advice above. If you felt like you had to take it to court then just file a small claims without a lawyer. Plan on missing a couple days work.

Do to him what that lawyer did to that guy who owed him 60 bucks

Text sent

I got a place where you can “store” that trap until you find a new home for it. I will make sure the gate doesn’t get locked up from lack of use

WHASB

Wear a dress when you pick up the traps.

Get your trap asap and cut your losses.Not worth getting an attorney over except for the principal of it. I would invoice for labor and pray.

When I can get a free hour, I am making BFred a shirt (wife has a shirt press maker thingy) that reads "WHASB"

Was it Eric Church?