I told my customer to f off

[KG]

Spent yesterday working in a customers shop, wet, cold, and cramped. The job took 2 hours longer than it should have, because of the conditions he put me under, today I gave him the bill, he refused to pay me the extra $,,,,

 

I took his licence plates off his vehicle before I left, he can't drive it, till I get paid!

 

Who's in the right here?

 

Be honest!

[rose2summer]

Were you a day laborer?

 

If not, he needs to pay you for the extra wages.

 

However, I would give the license plates back, you could get arrested for theft.

 

You may need to take this as a hit, since I don't know how you can get 2 hrs of wages back without going to small claims court, and the amount you desire will not meet the minimum to have a case.

[Creative]

Be honest!

 

 

You should have assessed the situation and gave him a proper price first before doing the job. That's the proper procedure, otherwise if you do the work and then tell him, he'll think you're ripping him off. Perhaps you didn't know how long it'll take prior to working on the task, but you're the professional and he wouldn't have known.

 

So, i guess you're wrong.

[avman]

Do you have an express mechanics lien that lets you disable his car? If you don't, then you can indeed be arrested for stealing his license plates and also sued for depriving him the use of his car.

 

Did you agree on a per hour charge? Then he should pay you the amount you took.

 

If the price you agreed on was for the job and it just took longer than you thought, then you are in the wrong and he doesn't owe you more money.

[CaptainPlanet]

Nah you are in the right if it is reasonable to assume those conditions would not be standard for that type of job.

[JadedStar]

You should have assessed the situation and gave him a proper price first before doing the job. That's the proper procedure, otherwise if you do the work and then tell him, he'll think you're ripping him off. Perhaps you didn't know how long it'll take prior to working on the task, but you're the professional and he wouldn't have known.

 

So, i guess you're wrong.

 

Well, in KG's defense, not every job can be given an estimate to the tee. I assume this is car repair and you give an estimate to the best of your ability, but sometimes it can get more expensive. But in defense of your post, yes, if it is more than the estimate you are supposed to call the customer to get their permission before doing the extra work.

 

KG he has to pay you, i don't know if you taking the plates was the right thing tho, that might get you into trouble.

 

Do you own the business? If not, let the owner handle it. If you do, and he won't pay, this is a pretty open and dry case in small claims court with you as the victor. But only if you give his plates back.

[waveseer]

He didn't really take the plates, that's just to make the story sound better.

[ErikT]

Spent yesterday working in a customers shop, wet, cold, and cramped. The job took 2 hours longer than it should have, because of the conditions he put me under, today I gave him the bill, he refused to pay me the extra $,,,,

 

I took his licence plates off his vehicle before I left, he can't drive it, till I get paid!

 

Who's in the right here?

 

Be honest!

 

Did you not know the conditions when you gave in the price? When the conditions became apparent, did you let him know that it was going to take longer?

 

Regardless, you need to return the plate, as this will cause more trouble than a couple of hours of time. At this point, I would give him his plates and walk away - never to work for him again.

 

To answer your original question: You are both in the wrong...

 

Erik

[rose2summer]

Also, if he gets pulled over not knowing his licence plates are off the car, and then they refer it back to you, you could really find yourself in some deep trouble with the law.

 

You need to give back the plates and just never service his car again.

[JadedStar]

He didn't really take the plates, that's just to make the story sound better.

 

I can only go on the facts given.....i am assuming he really did take the plates.

[waveseer]

I can only go on the facts given.....i am assuming he really did take the plates.

 

It would make no sense to hold your customer's property hostage for ransom. If he really did this type of thing he would have no customers left.

[Supa_gurl]

I think if he agreed to all pricing before the labor was performed then you should take him to small claims court to get your money, then add on for lost time, and add on for grief...etc.

 

But taking the law into your own hands, per se, probably wasn't the wisest thing to do, but I know where you are coming from. Hope it works out KG.

[KG]

The work was done in his shop. It was his responsibility to insure dry, comfortable working conditions to get the job done per the agreed price. He decided to be lazy, which made my job harder, and more costly.

This customer is known for looking down on others...he will not co-operate with vendors who service him, some sort of cheap thrill seeing others struggle.

And R2H, yes, I did take the plates!

We're meeting this morning to negotiate.

[KG]

Update....

He agreed that he was wrong, paid up!

[rose2summer]

That's good he agreed, but for the future, if a job takes longer than expected, write up a document that the person can sign agreeing to future charges, and what those will be.

 

Then you have some form of documentation.

[waveseer]

And R2H, yes, I did take the plates!

 

Wow, you surprized me! lol

[KG]

In my job, there is labor and materials. As in his also. So due to the conditions, labor went higher. It was a no-brainer, he was just being stubborn.

 

I HAD another customer who told me secretly that if he couldn't jyp someone for $5 every day, he wasn''t happy!

 

IDJITS!

[Creative]

The customer made a mature move.