[pianotech] breach of contract?

[Terry Peterson]

There is no doubt that if I could turn back the clock I would have definitely turned down the job! Fortunately, I too am in a position to do so.

Terry "UniGeezer" Peterson
"Over 50, and not '2' Tired!" 
www.unigeezer.com


From: rgable at integra.net
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2013 09:06:26 -0700
Subject: Re: [pianotech] breach of contract?







Terry,
Looks like you’ve learned a lesson many of us learn early in our careers – 
get a deposit before starting the job on a piano of that caliber . A deposit 
guarantees that the customer has a financial interest in their piano, and if the 
customer defaults you won’t get stuck trying to sell a near worthless piano to 
recover your losses. Also, many of us “old timers” have the luxury of turning 
down work from those who appear to be troublesome clients.
Roger Gable


 

From: Terry Peterson 
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 8:50 AM
To: PIANOTECH at PTG.ORG 
Subject: [pianotech] breach of contract?
 

Client wanted her 1940's Cable petite grand restrung. As per my 
usual routine, I did the complete prep, and then would have a technician 
specializing in stringing restring the piano. From the beginning this client 
was, shall we say, a royal pain. But I was already well along in the prep stage, 
having removed all old wire, pins, installed understring felts, cleaned and 
detailed, plus ordered and received the bass strings. I had initially confirmed 
one particular stringer (I won't mention who) who was set to do the stringing, 
but he pulled out at the last moment claiming an injury. This necessitated 
postponing/rescheduling with the client while I tried to find a replacement. 


The second "stringer" was suggested by the first, and also was set to do 
the job, but HE also bailed out at the last minute! At this point my client was 
understandably upset. Very soon after, and luckily, I got in touch with a 
technician I have known for at least 15 years, and although he doesn't do 
stringing as a specialty, he has strung many pianos and agreed to do the job. He 
did have to take more time to finish in order to fit the work in with his other 
tuning commitments, but it was finished and he did a fantastic job. Now, the 
client is avoiding my calls and payment of the balance due, and again when I 
called her just this morning, she said she was on the phone and would all back. 
Never did. It's now been 6 days since the work was completed.

So I'm 
wondering what to do. She is really a major nitpicker and I fear she may refuse 
payment on some frivolous grounds. My technician friend told me that she was 
instantly complaining that her piano "didn't sound right" after he finished and 
gave it a chip tune. He explained that it was not yet in tune, but would sound 
much better once the first actual tuning was done in a few days.  So if she 
refuses payment, or any further communication, what are my options. Sue? It 
seems to me that she would lose hands down as the work was completed in good 
faith. The only valid complaint she could make is that the work took a little 
longer than expected, but there was no guarantee of when the job would be 
completed. And I should add that it was this client who had rescheduled the 
start of the job THREE times! That means that each time she rescheduled that I 
would have to call to do the same with the stringer(s). 


Terry 
"UniGeezer" Peterson
"Over 50, and not '2' Tired!" 
www.unigeezer.com
 		 	   		  
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