rebuilding deadlines/angry client

[Ken Knapp]

About 10 years ago I was told I had cancer - supposedly terminal. But
all through that time I never once ignored any financial obligation. In
fact, I worried even more about them. In the end it turned out to be a
total misdiagnosis. 

That being said, remember a key point - she spent the money she had
planned to pay you with. IF (and I do mean IF) she had a mastectomy she
could have EASILY returned one of your many calls and explained her
situation and I am sure you would have cut her some slack. But she
didn't. Personally, I think she's playing games with you. 

Ken



On Sat, 2006-07-01 at 21:14 +0000, richard.ucci at att.net wrote:
> List,
> Sept.15th,2005 I took delivery of a 1902 Schirmer upright from a woman
> who wanted it rebuilt. I had given her an estimate of total cost of
> which she paid half on the 15th and was to pay the balance when
> completed.
> I had said that I would try and have the piano done by Christmas 05,
> but as often happens, work schedual did not allow enough time to do
> that.
> I spoke with her just prior to Christmas, and she said to take as much
> time as I needed. In her defense, she never bugged me about the piano,
> and when it would be done.
> I finished it at the end of May , and spoke with her then to say that
> the work was completed. She needed to have a friend and her husband
> work out a time to pick it up, and was working a golf tournament on
> the weekend of June 2-4. She also told me that she had spent the tax
> refund that was to go towards the balance.That was the last time I
> heard from her.
> I left her a message about two weeks ago asking when she was comming
> to get the piano and pay the balance. No reply after two weeks. I
> called again two days ago, and told her I had another job comming in
> next week and needed the shop space, and would have to move her
> piano to a storage unit which would cost $150mo. plus $175 to move. 
> Bingo!  She left a message today reading me the riot act , telling me
> she just had a mastectomy, and the piano wasn't exactly the most
> important thing on her mind. I'm deeply sympathetic about this serious
> health crisis, but had no way of knowing that was the case. My
> messages to her were polite, and professional and without the benifit
> of a crystal ball. It was understood that payment was expected upon
> completion.
> I had intended to use the money from this job to take my family on a
> short summer vacation, and having already told my 9yr.old , felt under
> the gun.
> Help!!!! I need some advice on how to procede. Is there a way to mend
> this situation?
>  
> Thanks,
> Rick Ucci/Ucci Piano