I had a landowner who has a high-fence ranch with exotics and he was losing every fawn born from his Axis and Fallow deer plus his Black buck herd.

I had a contract written up, stating the first time set-up fee, price/target species taken and price/day the traps were set and working on his ranch.

Upon first inspection and set-up fee, I went over his entire ranch and couldn't find/locate any fresh sign except a little old coyote droppings. No new tracks, kills, crawl-unders, etc. and I told him that it may be a single animal within the enclosure doing the killing/damage and it may take a while to catch that individual. He said it didn't matter and he wanted the work done, which I did for 2 weeks straight. No triped traps, no working of any of the sets, but I did find out he placed a 'walk-over' ladder close to his house where he could actually walk the ladder from one side to the inside of the enclosure to fill a feeder. When I saw this, I told him that was exactly where the species was entering and leaving each time it killed. He didn't believe me and removed it. I caught the coyote right at that spot within the enclosure, since he didn't want any coyotes taken on the outside of his high-fence because he and his wife enjoyed watching them on the outside...go figure!!

After I caught the coyote and was ready to settle up, he didn't pay me except for the coyote, $75, set-up fee, $100 and 7 days I came out at $50/day which was written into the contract for $50/day each day the equipment (traps, snares, shooting, denning) is set and working and that I did not have to be present for the fee to increase/day.

He had a whole lot more money than me plus must of had some pull somewhere because when I said he had breeched the agreement/contract, he said, "So, and just how do you think you're getting the remainder paid?"

Not sure what else I could do, so I told him that I had found other sign and he wanted me to stay. I told him, if you pay me what you owe me, then I would, but the agreement would stand. He ordered me off the property and call the sheriff, who I showed the contract to and how many days I had worked. The sheriff told me it would best if I left.

I have found out if when dealing with those who have more than adequate means of life and money also, they are the hardest to stick to an agreement and get paid.

Any words of wisdom from yall? Sure would like to hear it.

That is why I get paid for my inspection and expected time to take the target animal up front. There is a per animal charge at he end. If they fail to pay the per animal charge at least I have the up-front money that covers all my cost and a little profit. Then I go down to the court house and get my papers to file in small claims. I fill them in and send a copy to the dead beat that if payment is not received within 15 days the legal papers will be filed in court. I have not had to take anyone to court yet.

Take the SOB to court. Clearly he's pulled this crap before.
I have found most times if they got the money on their own, they will be likely tight fisted, and if they are "OLD" money, they are easier to deal with, more casual about being "Taken" if you will, not to say that you are doing that.

I feel very fortunate that this has happened only 7 times in the 16 years I've been in business. In each and every case I have turned them over to a collection agency and let them deal with it. I know I'am never going to get my money but at least I have damaged their credit and there is some satisfaction there. Twice we have actually received a check from the agency. No doubt the parties had tried to buy something and couldn't get a loan until this debt was satisfied.

Bob

Thanks and the odd thing is, when I first met the couple, they had just built a solid rock home, 2-story and their 'guest-house' is their old, yea right, 2-story log cabin about 50 yds next to the new one overlooking a 20 acre lake.

Think I'll go to the courthouse, and get the papers necessary plus turn them in to the BBB and a collection agency. Maybe one or the other will do its slendor.

And the funny thing is, he still calls since he's losing fawns again!!

Thanks again!

ROTFLMAO, What goes around, comes around. That slimeball is so used to doing that to folk's he think it's the normal way to do biz. Maybe send a friend over to "Look the job over" and get what he owes you as up front money, then let him suck eggs when you don't come back.

use this as a learning experience for getting $$ upfront for the whole job.. may have to switch to a flat fee regardless youll have the $ upfront

BUD - the only thing I have found out about doing a nuisance control job by the 'job', one doesn't know just how much time and animals it will be to take care of the problem.

For instance, I had a coon job that lasted over a month and I charged same thing, $100 set-up/inspection, $50/animal & $50/day.

What was the main culprit, a neighbor down 3 houses was feeding the bandits a 25 lb sack of cat food EVERY night!!! The coons then were getting under others homes, storage buildlings, barns, garages, etc. by the herds!!

I ended up catching over 100 coons during that one month and 3 neighbors all pitched in to pay the amount...I added that to the contract...but it was one MEAN, UPSET, FOUL-MOUTHED lady when "her pets" began showing up in smaller numbers. Heck, the fist night with 10 cage traps, I watched the coons enter the traps and emptied them, while other coons watched from trees...I caught 37 coons that first night in 3 hours!!

if i read it right and my math is close thats 50x37=$1850!! that aint to bad. $616 and hour!!! wow!!

.........NO NO NO,,,,,Stay professional at all times....One in this buis doesn't need one customer badmouthin them.....

ChrisL2, Could you not get the set-up/inspection up front, then agree on a number of day and get that up front. Then get paid for each days catch. Extend it as needed?
Kurt

wow, chris... on a job like that i think per animal did you right...

That ranch would be my new coyote relocation area.

I have have this attempted to be done in a contract several years ago.Much in the same manner. Basically he said I couldnt do anything about it.

But haveing been around for a while I simply said this. "You know you are right." The time,expense and aggrivation it would require to collect what you owe me it wouldnt really pay for me to pursue this problem in a legal manner.He just smiled when I said that. He then replied I guess our business is concluded then......and he began walking away.

However, just after he felt this was all said and done I responded with.....

Mr. Smith, which we shall use as a name in this case. You do realize what I do for a living? He said yes he thinks so.

Well since you have obviously made your decision as to not honoring our agreement, you leave me no choice but to act in the only rational manner under these circumstances that I feel is fair and reasonable!!!!

He replies with, and what might that be ?

We catch dozens of problem wildife animals each month. Fox, coyote, coon, skunks etc. He answers sooooooo......

I said, I have just come to the decision that your ranch qualifies as a "wildife sanctuary". I, as well as all of my employees from this day forward will be making it our business to travel here as often as possible to release all of our catches on your ranch from now on.That does include stock killing coyotes..

He quickly responded with, you arent allowed to do that!!!!! I responded, nor are you allowed to breach our agreement but you did regardless.

I stated to him with a friendly smile, "What are you going to do about it???"

He said you will see. I said yes and you will see that I am a man of my word.

Our business is concluded. Good luck with your new "Wildlife Refuge."


The next several days I had 3 different Logo marked control vehicles drive by his house slowly. On two occasions out of the three someone from this house was seen in the yard or in the barnyard who had to see our vehicles.

2 days after the sightings of these vehicles I received a call from this character wanting to know what he owed me.


True story, and I received a check in the mail in a few days.

This may not have a happy ending all the time but it did this time.

+1 TN Ridge Runner.

Good story Bob and I agree. I am always professional until the time comes when you have to act otherwise. I would give him the chance to pay me what was agreed upon, and if that didn't work the SOB would wish he had never met me.

Fight fire with fire. Turning the other cheek just gets the other side slapped too.

Read Bob Jameson's post above.

....I feel your pain there BigBob ,,,But there is a difference in what Bob Jameson did and defrauding a customer....
.....He bluffed and the guy folded a great move I must say ....
..But with that said,,even releasing animals on or in the area and defrauding the customer are two different things....
....Doing animal control work myself,not a lot mind you,but regardless I'll remain professional ...Don't forget about karma....

....Lets just agree to disagree on this shall we.....

How is collecting what's owed you fraud? Fraud is what the SOB did to HIM!

BigBob I was talking about your first post...If not done through proper channels {legally} and taking money for a job and not doing said job,then he has a claim on you as well.....

In every local you have people who with an over lap and this is just the situation you where you want to know and have good relations with your competition.

If he burned you he may have burned another ADC guy in the past or will in the future. So you and you compadres/competition share the names of those burners and when he he needs some the next time they will have either the option to not do the job or collect up front for the estimated cost.

Once you have this kind of relationship, two things can happen. You develope a list of collect first customers because other ADC guys are sharing that information. And you have the confidence to let the guy know that what it's going to cost him in travel/gas charges to hire someone out of the area the next time they have a problem.

if the guy keeps calling, let him know you'll write off the past amount but you want to get paid up front for trap setting and checking for how ever many days it took the last time plus 2 animals.

A freind that does exclusion work got to the point with one client that he didn't want the work. But the husband begged him to help. So he said he wanted to get paid everyday at the end of the day and not deal with the wife. He charges to work under these conditions with a helper and get paid daily; $1,000 per day and the guy happilly paid every day for almost a week.

They need us more than we need anyone of them.

Signed contract + work performed + No payment = Mechanics Lien
http://www.nyliens.com/?gclid=CPbWlfiYzp0CFRBM5QodCivVyQ

NWS said it about right. Bob, Iam glad that threating the guy worked for you but here in Ca. it would only get you law suit. Even though you really want to choke the deadbeat you have a signed contract for a reason, and in such a reason as this you either take him to court or do as I do (because I don't have the time to actually go to court) turn him over to a collection agency and let them deal with him. Either way you're probably not going to get your money (at least not all of it) but you do have the satisfaction in knowing that he now has a lien against him and his credit rating just took a bad hit.
Bob

I'd definitely sue.

If you know he has $, then he' can't escape a garnishment.
You can likely get the money back that you put into it. Maybe you can add some late payment fees as well.

(Always include the late fees in your contract that you make customers sign. $10 per month, etc, for bills with a remaining balance at the end of the month.)

You can also recover court fees on his dime. This includes the cost of paying someone to go serve him, and the money it took to file the paperwork.

If he is subpoenaed, he must pay between $60-80 usually, depending on your state, to even answer and attend the hearing in small claims court. If he shows up, you present your evidence, and you win, usually he forfeits these fees, and more, to you.

If the guy doesn't show up, you will probably win by default, and get an automatic judgment against him, for whatever amount.

When you have a judgment, you can get his bank account garnished. Depending on which state you live in, and what the local laws are, you can suck the money right out of his bank account before he is even notified. For example, as of right now, no notification of pending garnishment is needed in Oregon.

If his bank balance is low, you may not recover the entire sum. However, you get the extra pleasure of knowing that you probably caused his outstanding checks and debit transactions to bounce, resulting in a few hundred dollars in bank fees for the guy.

Tsar,

yer dangerous in the legal area!

WHY WHY??? cant i get jobs like that??? AWESOME!!!!!!

You are sooo right ChrisL. I'm still on a job that started more than a year ago. It probably won't end until they're done building; some time in 2010.

If you live trap any skunks, you now have a place to release them! While this might not be the proper thing to do, it is what that dead beat deserves.

I've never done it but just the thought of a half dozen skunks in an attached garage, makes me feel better.

Texas regulations do not allow relocation of any species except on private land only with the landowner's permission. No release on city, county, state or federal lands.

Papers are currently being drawn-up for him by a lawyer friend.

Do you own wire cutters!! eye for an eye.

That would be vandalism and I do not stand for any type of illegal activity!! I go by our regulations and laws and do not want myself and good name put in with the poachers, criminals and any kind of criminal acts that others do.

Landowner received notification that he would be brought to court and has supplied me with a Cashier's check (my request) for the remaining amount. Has settled this and glad to see the money. Too bad it wasn't to the tune of the coon problem I worked, but at least they know when they sign an agreement, they have no other recourse.

good man ChrisL2!!! dealt him a spade!