While the rest of the world was prepping for the Superbowl (and being from Mississsippi, “Who Dat!”), I was going around the city knocking on doors of some of our long time debtors. Three customers, two who have used our service before, and one first time customer, with bills more than 30 days past due.
The first was the home of JF. JF wasn’t home, but his kids were. We didn’t know that none of the adults were home. We sent all three of the customers emails stating we were coming out, and none replied. We didn’t know what to expect when going out. In 4 years, we’ve only been to 9 homes, including these three. I can’t explain it in anyway other than to say that when you physically show up to someone’s house who has been ducking their responsibilities, it has a way of getting results.
Alas, there were no results to yield from the first house as it was only kids at home. We asked the kids if there was a number we could call a parent at, or an address we could go and see one at. We learned nothing new, and just left a copy of the invoice.
With JF, we don’t understand what has happened. JF never complained about service, and has used us more than one time, but for some reason they are putting a lot at risk to get out of paying a $95 bill. We are at a point where they give us little choices in moving forward. The next step is placing a lien, which would put their home in limbo and seriously affect their credit report. Most people don’t realize that a lien can appear on a credit report, but it does. If you pull your credit report and look at the “Negative Public Records” section, it appears there and it does have affect on one’s ability to get credit.
The next step after this attempt is pressing charge for theft of service. Once this is filed, JF will be arrested and charge, and will have a few hours of jail. He may not have to even pay bail to get out as it is a low misdemeanor, but the fine who could end up paying to the court along can be up to 1050% more expensive and, if not paid, a short jail period. The disturbing part of this for me is that JF would rather risk paying more, going to court, and possible jail time over paying a small bill he owes. He has kids for christ sake.
The next debtor is DW. DW’s situation hits me more personally than JF. I don’t have kids, so I have never had either the obligation or responsibility that comes with the role. JF’s inaction could affect his family in serious ways, but I haven’t walked a mile in his shoes. I have, however, when it comes to DW.
DW is a failed millionaire with a failed business. He worked in talent representation, web design and hosting, and tried to make himself a small-time media mogul. Picture Russell Simmons but with a small business. It seams that a few years ago, DW was doing well for himself. He bought himself a 400,000 home that would be work almost twice as much in another neighborhood. He seemed to have a staff and several businesses, but all of those business seem to have closed and failed, with their contact information invalid or inactive, and their websites dysfunctionally operating.
We did a little more work for DW than we do for the average customer, but though he lives in a big house an boasts himself as an entrepreneur, he did have the money to pay the bill. He paid part of the bill, and we negotiated other aspects, but he still has a lien on his house which will negatively affect him. If only he had settled his account on time, he could have avoided the extra costs in money and in future financial stability.
What worries me is that DW has become a total failure in his successes, and I have never experienced failure yet. In a relatively short amount of time, I built us the largest gutter cleaning company in Atlanta. And before this, in previous jobs and careers, I always excelled. I’ve never experienced failure, but I know that it is only a matter of time. I would almost trade the remainder of what he owes to know how it happened, what caused such a collapse.
My theory is that he invested too much in industries that are designed for him to make his living off of the management of talents of others. If the people you hire aren’t talented, then you are going to loose.
I had suspicions of the motivations of DW and JF, but all my suspicions of KB were easily confirmed by KB. He told me that he hired my company without the funds or ability to pay, and was out of work without a job. Her purposely stole services from us, but regretfully. He has been proactive in communicating with us, unlike his counterparts, and we’ve worked out a way where in can work off the balance.
Though everything is settled now with KB, I can’t imagine hiring someone for work when you know there is no way to pay. The ethics and logic escape me. I can wrap my head around the sociological idea of the desperate, the idea that one must steal to simply survive; but stealing the elective service for gutter cleaning is not even close.
I still have more respect for KB than the others. KB was honest about his actions, regretful, and prepared to make amends. JF is trying to ignore the consequence of his action, and DW simply doesn’t care.