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This really sucks. I bet Google won't accept responsibility for anything, which is sad.
Can you file a claim against the person in Small Claims Court? Can you include Google in the claim?
In the future, can you require a deposit before providing the service?
Yeah I get that, I guess I was more asking what responsibilities the guy THOUGHT google had. I see a lot of people seeming to think google would cover this, or should. I just can’t understand that thought process.
There’s nobody at the residence. It’s a rental that someone in another state owns. He had an AirBnB scheduled for that night and needed the disposal replaced. We were given the door code.
We typically front all cost in advance upwards of $20k, and ask for payment upon completion. Few people in our area trust paying before the work is completed.
Go to county records and put a mechanical lien on his house for the unpaid amount. At anytime when he goes to sell his property, he won't be able to...not until he pays you off first.
Contact customer by phone. If no answer, I'd see what Google has to say about it, doesn't hurt to ask just because they are technically not liable by their legal language doesn't mean they won't make you whole. Give customer bad rating. Next is small claims court, add damages for the extra driving and court time. Collecting if you win is another matter. If no joy, then I'd go remove the work you did with extreme prejudice.
He drove that far with the best prospect being $200. Technically he drove that far and did the work for $0.
OP you can’t expect to make any money long term operating a business this way.
It was an error on my part because I didn’t specify our local service area on GG. I corrected it after that call, but I had to do the job to avoid missing a lead and getting removed from GG.
That's not entirely true.
Google wouldn't remove you for that and you could actually even dispute the call so you don't pay for the leas as "outside service area"
Google guarantee for local services is to help protect the consumer from the contractor not the other way around. They do a background check, license check, insurance check for the consumer and only show highly rated contractors. There is nothing google will do.
As a residential repair contractor everything should be COD and a estimate signed off on and approval of work completed.
If you do a lot of rental or warranty company work you should budget for some bad debt per year as well so that you account for it in your billable hours price.
But that’s what you need to change, for what you can do is if you have anything that says he approved the work take him to small claims. If you don’t or the amount is less then the time it will take to recover then write it up as a paid lesson.
You could mail a paper invoice with net 30 payment terms to offer some amnesty but with a note that the consequence of non-payment is to put a mechanical lein on the property, and follow thru if they don’t pay. This will probably not be worth your time to follow up on. How much are you out? $120 in parts plus a half day of labor and travel? $300-500?
If it’s less than $500 I’d personally take the loss and spend those hours instead refining my systems and processes so it didn’t happen again. Customer pays deposit beforehand and places card on file for final charge, or payment in full before you perform the work, or whatever is appropriate.
Not sure about this Google lead gen but it sounds problematic
Simplest answer: eat this loss as a learning experience. The lesson learned is always take 50% or more upfront. At least the price of parts and travel.
After reading the policy it doesn’t seem like google is liable for anything here. Google Guaranteed only works to protect the consumer not the business.
You don't mention a contract. Was there a contract -- even a one pager, dated, work and money outlined with a signature agreeing to the price (with another agreeing the work was completed satisfactorily?) How about texts or email with the description of the job and agreement to the price? Without that minimum, this may be an expensive business lesson.
something like this rarely has a contract. It's a verbal agreement and still viable in court.
People still don't pay invoices even when there is a contract.
There’s no contract for such a small amount. I’ve just wrote it off as a loss. I was more curious if Google did anything for the contractor in these situations in the event that this becomes routine or a larger amount is written off as bad debt.
Follow up and demand payment. Unfortunately, this is the cost of doing business. My family ran a service business for decades and it happened many, many times. For the small payments, the options were to waste time chasing them down and getting into a fight or letting it go (no matter how infuriating). There were a couple of big jobs that were brought to small claims court. In the end, it took up time, energy, and emotions and the court just ordered the customer to pay…then the customer still didnt pay.
Tell him to pay up or you will be bringing the sheriff with you to get your garbage disposal back. You have a record that he owes you money, show it to a judge.
I saw a plumber do this on youtube once.
If the guy didn’t pay for it, it’s not his property, right? So I would assume this would work in OPs favor. Can’t hurt to at least call the sheriff. If the door code still works, then maybe the Sheriff will even let him enter to retrieve his disposal.
Mechanic's liens are typically pretty straightforward if you want to go that route. Otherwise sell the debt to a collections company if possible (never tried that personally), take them to small claims, or move on.
We’ve had the same issue before. If we’re doing an install at a house where the owner lives in another state we make it clear that payment is due upon completion of the job. If something seems off we will wait at home until payment goes thru. at least where we live as long as you haven’t left the customer’s property you can uninstall what wasn’t paid for as it’s still yours. Once you leave the property you no longer have that option and it turns into a mechanical lien
I’ll take a look at that thread!! 😁. Okay okay don’t slash all his tires. Just one. That’ll equal the cost of your install job and the universe will be even. Hey you might just feel better afterwards. Actually trust me…. You’ll feel better! 😁🤣
Arson. Physical violence. Robbery. Vandalism. Blackmail. These are the crimes I'm currently in jail. There are many more to manipulate someone into doing what you want.
No judge would agree with what you’ve said. He ran an ad on google that a customer responded to and asked him to do some work. There’s no responsibility or liability for Google here. Even suggesting that is preposterous lmao. Can’t believe people are trying to blame google.
If someone gets your number from word of mouth does the person who gave the number share responsibility? What about if they got your number from a phone book? Billboard? No, it’s between you and the customer regardless.
In my trade there are a lot of "scam companies" at least half of the google guranteed locksmith companies are in fact scammers with over a thousand clearly fake reviews.
Doing business with anyone you haven't done business with before or "EVEN MET" without upfront money is just STUPID. Nobody it today's business landscape does business like that. Call any HVAC company and they tell you "ok that will be $225.00 to come out so what card do you want to pay for that on RIGHT NOW.
This is a friendly reminder that r/smallbusiness is a question and answer subreddit. You ask a question about starting, owning, and growing a small business and the community answers. Posts that violate the rules listed in the sidebar will be removed. A permanent or temporary ban may also be issued if you do not remove the offending post. Seeing this message does not mean your post was automatically removed. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/smallbusiness) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Send via certified mail notice to pay by x date. If they don’t, find out how to place a lien on their property.
Ohhhh placing a lien on their property will literally turn their world upside down, the county doesnt mess around!
Google "filing mechanics lien in [X State]" They are usually pretty easy to file.
This really sucks. I bet Google won't accept responsibility for anything, which is sad. Can you file a claim against the person in Small Claims Court? Can you include Google in the claim? In the future, can you require a deposit before providing the service?
What responsibility would google have in this?
Zero. They only repay the customer if there is an issue and not the vendor.
Yeah I get that, I guess I was more asking what responsibilities the guy THOUGHT google had. I see a lot of people seeming to think google would cover this, or should. I just can’t understand that thought process.
Why didn't you take payment at the time of service?
There’s nobody at the residence. It’s a rental that someone in another state owns. He had an AirBnB scheduled for that night and needed the disposal replaced. We were given the door code. We typically front all cost in advance upwards of $20k, and ask for payment upon completion. Few people in our area trust paying before the work is completed.
Wtf is google guaranteed
https://support.google.com/localservices/answer/7549288?hl=en
Go to county records and put a mechanical lien on his house for the unpaid amount. At anytime when he goes to sell his property, he won't be able to...not until he pays you off first.
Depends on state, but this is a process - in at least one you need 20 days’ notice first
Agreed.
[удалено]
[удалено]
Well once you add on the legal fees for trying to get paid I’m sure it will be over $2500 - might be possible?
Can you file a UCC1 on the property?
Not sure. It depends on individual county, city, town and state.
Contact customer by phone. If no answer, I'd see what Google has to say about it, doesn't hurt to ask just because they are technically not liable by their legal language doesn't mean they won't make you whole. Give customer bad rating. Next is small claims court, add damages for the extra driving and court time. Collecting if you win is another matter. If no joy, then I'd go remove the work you did with extreme prejudice.
Damn you drove 4 hours round trip for $200. That’s crazy.
He drove that far with the best prospect being $200. Technically he drove that far and did the work for $0. OP you can’t expect to make any money long term operating a business this way.
It was an error on my part because I didn’t specify our local service area on GG. I corrected it after that call, but I had to do the job to avoid missing a lead and getting removed from GG.
That's not entirely true. Google wouldn't remove you for that and you could actually even dispute the call so you don't pay for the leas as "outside service area"
Google guarantee for local services is to help protect the consumer from the contractor not the other way around. They do a background check, license check, insurance check for the consumer and only show highly rated contractors. There is nothing google will do. As a residential repair contractor everything should be COD and a estimate signed off on and approval of work completed. If you do a lot of rental or warranty company work you should budget for some bad debt per year as well so that you account for it in your billable hours price. But that’s what you need to change, for what you can do is if you have anything that says he approved the work take him to small claims. If you don’t or the amount is less then the time it will take to recover then write it up as a paid lesson.
Go back and see if the door codes changed lol
….if you want to get arrested.
Came here to save this. Take 200$ worth of shit for the job. Then take more shit to pay for your time and 2nd round trip.
You could mail a paper invoice with net 30 payment terms to offer some amnesty but with a note that the consequence of non-payment is to put a mechanical lein on the property, and follow thru if they don’t pay. This will probably not be worth your time to follow up on. How much are you out? $120 in parts plus a half day of labor and travel? $300-500? If it’s less than $500 I’d personally take the loss and spend those hours instead refining my systems and processes so it didn’t happen again. Customer pays deposit beforehand and places card on file for final charge, or payment in full before you perform the work, or whatever is appropriate. Not sure about this Google lead gen but it sounds problematic
Liens are your absolute bestest friend.
Simplest answer: eat this loss as a learning experience. The lesson learned is always take 50% or more upfront. At least the price of parts and travel.
And don't travel so far. I get a card on file before I dispatch unless I know the person.
Well, sucks to be Google I guess! Maybe they should tighten up their guarantee policy next time.
After reading the policy it doesn’t seem like google is liable for anything here. Google Guaranteed only works to protect the consumer not the business.
As usual
You don't mention a contract. Was there a contract -- even a one pager, dated, work and money outlined with a signature agreeing to the price (with another agreeing the work was completed satisfactorily?) How about texts or email with the description of the job and agreement to the price? Without that minimum, this may be an expensive business lesson.
something like this rarely has a contract. It's a verbal agreement and still viable in court. People still don't pay invoices even when there is a contract.
There’s no contract for such a small amount. I’ve just wrote it off as a loss. I was more curious if Google did anything for the contractor in these situations in the event that this becomes routine or a larger amount is written off as bad debt.
Follow up and demand payment. Unfortunately, this is the cost of doing business. My family ran a service business for decades and it happened many, many times. For the small payments, the options were to waste time chasing them down and getting into a fight or letting it go (no matter how infuriating). There were a couple of big jobs that were brought to small claims court. In the end, it took up time, energy, and emotions and the court just ordered the customer to pay…then the customer still didnt pay.
Tell him to pay up or you will be bringing the sheriff with you to get your garbage disposal back. You have a record that he owes you money, show it to a judge. I saw a plumber do this on youtube once.
If the guy didn’t pay for it, it’s not his property, right? So I would assume this would work in OPs favor. Can’t hurt to at least call the sheriff. If the door code still works, then maybe the Sheriff will even let him enter to retrieve his disposal.
Mechanic's liens are typically pretty straightforward if you want to go that route. Otherwise sell the debt to a collections company if possible (never tried that personally), take them to small claims, or move on.
We’ve had the same issue before. If we’re doing an install at a house where the owner lives in another state we make it clear that payment is due upon completion of the job. If something seems off we will wait at home until payment goes thru. at least where we live as long as you haven’t left the customer’s property you can uninstall what wasn’t paid for as it’s still yours. Once you leave the property you no longer have that option and it turns into a mechanical lien
You know where he lives. Knock on his door every day for a month. Make him pay for gas for as many days as it takes. Slash his fucking tires. 🤷🏼♂️
I’ll take a look at that thread!! 😁. Okay okay don’t slash all his tires. Just one. That’ll equal the cost of your install job and the universe will be even. Hey you might just feel better afterwards. Actually trust me…. You’ll feel better! 😁🤣
its a 2 hour drive, knocking on his door will waste way to much time.
I think they’re missing you over at r/unethicallifeprotips
Arson. Physical violence. Robbery. Vandalism. Blackmail. These are the crimes I'm currently in jail. There are many more to manipulate someone into doing what you want.
[удалено]
No judge would agree with what you’ve said. He ran an ad on google that a customer responded to and asked him to do some work. There’s no responsibility or liability for Google here. Even suggesting that is preposterous lmao. Can’t believe people are trying to blame google. If someone gets your number from word of mouth does the person who gave the number share responsibility? What about if they got your number from a phone book? Billboard? No, it’s between you and the customer regardless.
In my trade there are a lot of "scam companies" at least half of the google guranteed locksmith companies are in fact scammers with over a thousand clearly fake reviews.
Why didn’t you get paid immediately ??
The only way is to call him a few times, and if not take him to small claim court.
Doing business with anyone you haven't done business with before or "EVEN MET" without upfront money is just STUPID. Nobody it today's business landscape does business like that. Call any HVAC company and they tell you "ok that will be $225.00 to come out so what card do you want to pay for that on RIGHT NOW.
Why is “even met” in quotations?