Customer did not pay for the house wash. What are my options?

Hello folks.
I pressure washed house past weekend. Customer left home about an hour before I was done, said he will be back. When I was done with the job I called him up and he said " Im on my way". So I sat in my truck waited for him. Then garage door opens, his 12 y.o boy comes out and says " He said to send him invoice" turned around and walked back inside.
I pick up the phone and call him - goes straight to voicemail. I didn’t make it back home till late. Next morning I send him a message on Facebook. He goes “Text me the invoice, I will pay it ASAP”
I text him the paypal invoice, cc it to his facebook. Again - silence.
Today I send him a message about the invoice - silence.
What are my options? We haven’t had a written agreement or contract (I know) but I have our facebook conversation, quote and his request for invoice.
I am in Mississippi.
Any advice is appreciated.

It’s only been a couple of days - send him the invoice VIA text as well as regular mail with net ___ (whatever number) days on it. If he hasn’t paid in that amount of time then you can start hassling him if you want. Small claims court is always an option, but quite the crap shoot.

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If he doesnt pay within a reasonable time go to his place of work.

Find your local rancher and tell him you’ll clean out one of his stalls if you can keep the manure. Take said manure and spread it across every window, on the door handles, stuff it into the dryer vents, throw a BIG chunk up on the roof so it’s a pain to get down. Leave. Enjoy your retribution.

OR

Just send him an invoice every day until he pays. Each time you send one tack on a $10 PITA fee.

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Ill go with option 1 for $1000 Texan.

Move on, he stiffed you big time. Anytime someone puts their kids in the mix, they’re a piece of trash. Be a better judge of character, that’s important.

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Show up at their house. These days 99% of people are tough through texts or online but face to face are babies. Guaranteed you’ll get a big apology and a check if you ring the doorbell and their home.

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Depending on the loss and personal belief’s I have found life has a funny way of serving up people what they serve to others. You definitely should try to get your payment first, but if you can eat it and not bother you wash on. I am btw waiting for over a month for a commercial payment after being told it would be overnighted. So definitely know the salt on the wound.

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If it’s not in by this weekend that’s when I suggest taking further action, while all my residential is due day off I’d had to hassle people for a cpl days before I ended up getting it. If he ghosts you till this weekend that’s when I’d show up at his house and demand payment

Remain professional! Most importantly.

Send him payment Reminders… After 30 days, Send him a demand letter. If he ignores that too… Take him to court! 99% once they get served they pay

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Going to court is a waste of time. You will spend a day in court for the judge to say it is a valid debt, maybe. The judge isn’t going to take money out of his account and pay you, just say it is a valid debt. You can take a lien out, spend a $100 to do it, and wait 20 years for him to sell his house and then get paid. I write off a dozen or so houses a year. Just part of doing business.

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Sometimes you just have to take a loss and move on, not worth the stress. Use the time to try to collect to wash elsewhere. It doesn’t happen often, if ever, at least in my 27 years in business.

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Demand letter. File a lien on the home. Check with state for proper procedure. No written agreement certainly doesn’t help in your favor. Good luck

I agree! But if he’s a small guy with some time to spare! People like this need to be shown a lesson! They usually keep screwing til someone stops them

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What? You have that many customers that don’t pay? In 25 years I had two that delayed payment.

It’s Monday. You washed it just a couple days ago. He might be overextended and needing his paycheck to come in. Who knows. Regardless, you need to give him at least a week.

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I think a lot has to do with people not writing checks anymore and it’s a hassle for them to figure out to pay me maybe.

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LOL… typical residential payment here… We’re still waiting on commercial payments 90 days since invoice was issued, and you guys are suggesting a mechanic lien on a residential house washing…

Just keep submitting your invoice weekly and follow-up… He’ll pay

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I start to worry when I don’t see a payment within 2 weeks, 5 working days is a reasonable time frame in most trades. Many homeowners are good people they just don’t have there house wash payment on there mind 24 hours a day. If you have the time to take a house wash payment through the courts your not busy enough you need to be marketing more.

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Thank you all for your input. I will keep on trying to get in touch with him and if not paid up by next weekend I will come back to see him in person with printed invoice.
Could anyone of you fine fellers share your contract wording for me to develop my own contract ?
Thank you again for the valuable input!

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