rebuilding deadlines/angry client

[Fenton Murray]

Rick,
This is why you're glad you got the deposit before beginning work. I would write her a nice letter (registered), document all your phone calls and letters as well as signed work orders, etc. Give it 30 days, during which time I would not be surprised if she contacts you. If not, I would probably hand it over to a collection agency. I've done this a couple times, they usually get half, to me it's not worth the effort pursuing people that won't pay, I hate that part of the job. Fortunately it's extremely rare. If she won't pay you may be able to take possession of the piano, donate it to a cancer research agency in her name, take the deduction on the full amount of the bill as the value of the piano. If you're in the 30% tax bracket you might come out close with the 50% deposit you already have. Could that really work?
Fenton
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Brian Doepke 
  To: 'Pianotech List' 
  Sent: Saturday, July 01, 2006 4:36 PM
  Subject: RE: rebuilding deadlines/angry client


  I am anxious to read some responses from more experienced folks than I.

   

  Brian P. Doepke 

  AAA Piano Works, Inc.

  Piano Tuning-Repair-Purchase Consults

  260-432-2043

  260-417-1298

   


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  From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of richard.ucci at att.net
  Sent: Saturday, July 01, 2006 5:14 PM
  To: pianotech at ptg.org
  Subject: rebuilding deadlines/angry client

   

  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 
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