I got my first Stop Payment today...lesson learned.

I

imported_Quenga

New member
I didn't follow my own advice because I wanted the extra money for Thanksgiving. I took on a detail for cheaper than I should have because I wanted the photos and recommendations to help my business grow. After 15 hours and making less than minimum wage on a van that was COVERED in tree sap, I get a phone call from the owner this morning telling me she's going to stop payment because it doesn't look like I did anything to her car. She said all I did was remove a little bit of tree sap on the roof.



This is just a little...



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There was sap all over this car and in every nook and cranny. I spent 11 hours on it because all the sap was dried and caked on so bad that nothing but time and steam was seeming to do anything. I've taken off sap plenty of times, but this was the worst job I've ever had to do.



My gut told me to walk away from this lady in the beginning. I was trying to sell her the service and she wasn't going for it, so I threw in a small discount since she talked about booking bi-weekly washes. She then asked for more...I should have walked away. She wasn't even going to tip me either.





I learned this phrase while ironically in the cheapest tattoo shop, "Cheap ain't good. Good ain't cheap!" It goes for business and people themselves. When someone is trying to cut into your profits for no good reason, walk away. Lesson learned.
 
Sorry to hear that!



Next time just have a couple of bottles of 3M adhesive remover with you.



Better yet, trashed cars like that? Do not do it.
 
No love for alcohol? Let it sit, spray some more on and aggitate with a plastic razor blade if you need some umpth.



At the end of the day this will only make you a wiser business owner. Live and learn from it.
 
Wow, can you not call the cops on her for theft of service? Do you have more before pics of the sap before you cleaned it? Do you have anything in writing stating what you were doing and the price you agreed on? I'd be calling an attorney for a free consult on what you can do.
 
ExplicitDetails said:
Wow, can you not call the cops on her for theft of service? Do you have more before pics of the sap before you cleaned it? Do you have anything in writing stating what you were doing and the price you agreed on? I'd be calling an attorney for a free consult on what you can do.
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If she has not stopped ...go to her bank and cash the check
 
Why would you allow her to do this to you laying down? Call her back and tell her that you provided the agreed upon service, have the documentation to prove it, and if the check is canceled you will be pursuing all legal means to collect payment.



If you go to a hair dresser, and don't like the job, does that mean you don't have to pay for it?



If you buy a massage, and don't feel relaxed afterwords, can you just not pay?



If you pay to have your yard mowed, but they didn't mow it short enough, can you tell them to buzz off?



Do NOT let her do this to you, she probably planned to do this from the get go.
 
Hopefully you have some more photos. At this point you have to worry about how she can hurt your business reputation if you fight back. Make a photocopy of the check for your records. When did she hand you the check? If it was after the detail and she didn't say anything then she has no grounds. It's like eating an entire meal in a restaurant then saying you didn't like it. Cancelling a check without grounds is considered fraud. If the check was mailed it can be a federal offense. This is why I always take before and after photos of any car unless I know the owner. I would say contact an attorney, but that would probably cost a lot more than just eating it. If you threaten to report her for fraud and don't follow through she could hurt your business and reputation. Proceed with caution. And next time trust your gut.
 
I hate to hear this. This is why I have significant relationships with multiple companies in the automotive field. Someone who screws me over..... Can't even get new tires or an oil change without paying cash. And I'm being serious.



I Rarely say anything negative about anyone. But when I do it does get noticed because of that. Sometimes people just have an agenda you can't predict.
 
Honestly, it isn't worth the headache and added stress to pursue it. I took a shower, got a haircut and ate some In-N-Out. It's Thanksgiving and there are more important things on my plate. I have to make an Apple Pie tomorrow!



The time and effort to talk to a lawyer, fight the case, call the cops or go wait in line to cash a check could be better spent looking for better business.



I run a detailing business, but it isn't my main source of income right now. I do it for the experience and it's a chance to build my resume in case I decide to go back to the corporate world after school. Lesson learned, experience shared, and I hope others take my mistake and learn from it. I'm gonna have some Chipotle and a few Belgium beers. Today started off bad, but it will end well.
 
Quenga said:
Honestly, it isn't worth the headache and added stress to pursue it. I took a shower, got a haircut and ate some In-N-Out. It's Thanksgiving and there are more important things on my plate. I have to make an Apple Pie tomorrow!



I run a detailing business, but it isn't my main source of income right now. I do it for the experience and it's a chance to build my resume in case I decide to go back to the corporate world after school. Lesson learned, experience shared, and I hope others take my mistake and learn from it. I'm gonna have some Chipotle and a few Belgium beers. Today started off bad, but it will end well.
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Good attitude!
 
Thomas Dekany said:
Sorry to hear that!



Next time just have a couple of bottles of 3M adhesive remover with you.



Better yet, trashed cars like that? Do not do it.
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I had about 1/3 of a can and ran out, it wasn't touching the tough stuff. This stuff was that ridiculous. It was like Super Sap. I usually say no to trashed cars, but the detailer (not the businessman) in me wanted a piece of this car, lol. Stupid detailer, stay in the back office where you don't lose me money!!





David Fermani said:
No love for alcohol? Let it sit, spray some more on and aggitate with a plastic razor blade if you need some umpth.



At the end of the day this will only make you a wiser business owner. Live and learn from it.
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Alcohol didn't touch it either. I used it mixed and straight. Let it soak on paper towels, too. I was going to pick up some plastic razor blades, but forgot and figured I'd be OK last minute. It honestly wasn't the really big, easy to get to spots that took a long time. It was getting it out off all the cracks, cervices, window seals, moldings, front grill, BEHIND the license plates. It was a nightmare and I walked riiiiight into it.



Nth Degree said:
...next time trust your gut.
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Bingo!



CONCOURS.JOHN said:
I Rarely say anything negative about anyone. But when I do it does get noticed because of that. Sometimes people just have an agenda you can't predict.
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Yeah, not gonna waste my time on punk people. I did that for the first 25 years of my life, which landed me in bed for 4 days with high blood pressure and irregular heart beats and a case of insomnia and lock jaw. Yep, you don't become a Marine because you're the nice guy!! That was the turning point for me, life is much easier when you ignore the bullies. I hate when my mom is right, haha.
 
CONCOURS.JOHN said:
Good attitude!
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:xyxthumbs I agree. We often have a knee-jerk reaction when things like this happen to us. I often find that, once I stop and think about things a little, my first instinct would have created more problems.



That said; you could always offer to return the vehicle to the previous condition.:tape2:
 
Quenga said:
Honestly, it isn't worth the headache and added stress to pursue it. I took a shower, got a haircut and ate some In-N-Out. It's Thanksgiving and there are more important things on my plate. I have to make an Apple Pie tomorrow!



The time and effort to talk to a lawyer, fight the case, call the cops or go wait in line to cash a check could be better spent looking for better business.



I run a detailing business, but it isn't my main source of income right now. I do it for the experience and it's a chance to build my resume in case I decide to go back to the corporate world after school. Lesson learned, experience shared, and I hope others take my mistake and learn from it. I'm gonna have some Chipotle and a few Belgium beers. Today started off bad, but it will end well.
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You've got a great attitude about it. I guess the perspective is different from someone who solely relies on their detailing income to pay the bills. Keep up the good work!
 
I'd still attempt to cash the check. Stop payments are not free, typically it costs the person $35 to $40 to do so around here. If the user actually did stop payment she would have to pay that free.
 
This is the biggest reason I haven't accepted a check in over 15 years. There is simply no reason to have to deal with that BS in this day and age. Get a Square credit card dongle and take payments on your cell phone or just take cash or Paypal. This person likely does this kind of thing regularly - I would sue her *** if she won't pay. Regardless of the amount I don't allow people to rip me off
 
I wouldn't take it lying down. You'll only encourage dirtbags like this to keep doing this.
 
Some good info here: CHECK FRAUD - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS



I also think you should go after this, for the reason Dan said, though I totally respect your decision not too if you feel it's not worth the added stress.



When I get a check, I will try to go straight to the person's bank and cash it. I've never had a problem yet, but cashing it right away at their bank will usually take care of any problems before they occur, unless they don't have the funds to cover it.
 
I completely agree. Imho, you need to stomp this crap out. I would call her up and would say something sorta like this:

"Mrs. Lady, I wanted to take a minute to discuss the matter with you. I have strongly considered the situation and this is what I would like to do. Given that you approved the work for $xxx, I completed it, you inspected it and THEN cut me a check for the agreed upon price, the job is final. If you believe a specific aspect was not given enough attention, we can discuss that. But there will be no stop placed on the money I earned or I will call the police and I WILL press theft charges AKA theft by deception (What is Theft By Deception in Georgia | Reference.com Answers). It is my goal to impress all clients and have a person happy to cut me a check. But I do not work for free and I do not roll over when someone tries to steal from me."



It would involve probably a little more but at the point someone calls and just tells me how they WILL stop payment on a check already cut(which in my eyes is a way a person tries to "nicely" steal from me), it is theft. PERIOD. This person has taken me to a place that I never go on my own. You are stealing money from my wife and child's mouth. It is something completely different if they call and say they were not happy and give you a chance to make it right, even if you did a great job. At least at that point you can work towards making them happy.



Hearing this makes me angry for you. This person is not a customer they are a thief. Even if she was genuinely unhappy, she is trying to take advantage of it and going about it all wrong. She will do it to the next person too. Situations like this are perfect for small claims court.



Dan said:
I wouldn't take it lying down. You'll only encourage dirtbags like this to keep doing this.
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I went through the same thing recently when a customer wrote a cheque. Not only was this person a client, but was also an associate. It was a sizeable cheque so before I deposited it, I called his bank to verify funds. He didn't have the funds to cover it. Well, after EIGHT weeks of him dodging me, I left a message for him that said he had 48 hours to get the cash in the bank, or kindly forward an address to where my lawyer could send the paperwork. I got paid.
 
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