For those of us who charge the customer by the trapped animal, how do you deal with a situation of the customer releasing a trapped coon or whatever so they don’t have to pay as much? Yes I have a contract that stipulates no molesting the traps, which is also a state law where I live. Would you pull off the job? They hired me to do exclusion work but got to trap the buggers first. I think they underestimated how many animals there actually are……

Tell him if he does it again you are going to release nuisance animals in his yard for a year.

He signed a contract. He gets charged for the catch. Remind him of the law.
This is way I get paid by the trip and when they pull this crap and I can determine that they released or messed with my trap(s). They get charged.
Also, let them know that they just made your harder and the price increased. If they don't like it. Collect your equipment and your money. If not wanting to pay. Thank them. Then head straight to magistrates office and file papers for small claims court.
Then sue for everything you can get. Including your time for court. You deserve to get paid. They would not like it if an employer shorted their paychecks.
Neither should you.
Sarge

^^^ Amen ^^^

X3, I have delivered a few stinker catches to an unknown release point a few times myself! Worse is the wife or daughter (always seems to be a female) watching the sets to "release the poor little varmint so it doesn't suffer". That's why game cams are SO valuable, and husbands get so WHIZZED when they have to pay twice or 3x for the same animal. He's already paying that long distance travel charge to release the varmint unharmed because of them. And don't forget to mention the ADC Operator hotline you will post on so NOBODY else will take his job! LOL

All the more reason to charge by the job and collect up front. No skin off my nose then if they want to be stupid. Besides it removes the incentive for them to tamper and me to exaggerate my numbers and just focus on the problem.

But tampering is a major no no nonetheless. First incident a come to Jesus talking to. Second, I pack my crap and roll.

I always face away from the customer while setting the trap, it’s usually covered in a contractor bag anyway. While doing this I casually mention how one of my guys wasn’t paying attention while setting the trap, it fired and broke his thumb.

Most of our customers aren’t the DIY type anyway. They don’t want to go anywhere near the animals.

Charge them for the released animal and charge them the 2nd time you catch it also. They don't sound to smart.

Leave

The first signs of obvious animal release or trap tampering I pull the job.

Our customers are always fully educated on what the terms and conditions are upon them accepting the job and signing the contract. The language is in our contracts. It is their responsibility for the care and safety of your equipment while on their premises or property. Stolen, damaged or tampered with equipment is billed at their expense. This includes released animals of any type. Most experienced individuals can determine if there has been a capture since the original set up. Pretty obvious in most situations.

Only problem I've had was at a resort motel, Family with a teenage girl, she removed a skunk from the trap & thur the trap in the lake, she had to be watching because traps were well hidden. Owner paid for the trap & catch. After that, he has had his own guys trap his nuisance animals, this after ten seasons of trapping for him.