Back me up here

[DefyInertia]

I'm asking one of those questions that I probably don't need to ask. Just looking for a gut check.

Cliff notes:

- wrote a large check and mailed it
- check was lost (no idea what happened)
- intended recipient wants another check ASAP
- I want to wait until the "stop payment" goes through and I know the $ is safe
- I am right, yes? Non-negotiable, yes?

Full story:

Mailed my contractor a $23,000 check. A week later he tells me he never received it. I'ts an online banking check so the funds were removed from my account the same day it was mailed (over a week ago) but the bank reports that the check has still not been deposited by anyone.

Long story short, put a stop on the check ($25 fee) but will not get confirmation that the stop worked for 3 to 4 business days (confirmation will come via email and I will see the funds put back in my account).

Contractor is buggin' out wanting me to write another check like yesterday. He is citing the usual cash flow concerns, which I get.

I have made 8 other payments of varying amounts to the contractor in the same fashion with no issues and I always send the check the same day he asks for it (or within a day). We have a good relationship but he is a bit hyped up about this.

I should under no circumstances write another large check until the original funds are back in my bank and the bank tells me in writing the stop worked, right? Protecting yourself from fraud 101? Full stop, no if ands or buts?

I trust the contractor but who knows where that check ended up!

Thanks

 

[cat_in_sf]

Agreed.

 

[jdhu]

Also agree. Sucks for contractor, who sounds like an innocent party, but he should understand.

 

[m_asim]

Next time send the check via priority mail. You get tracking automatically and can rest assured you payment will reach its destination within 3 days.

 

[LongGoneJohn]

Do you trust your contractor enough to be out $46,000 if he's wrong?

Just wait for it to cancel and write him a new check. If he's not okay with that, tell him to stop working for a few days. If he's already finished, tell him to pound sand.

 

[aminalmutha]

Next time, walk directly into the bank and deposit it into his account, if possible.

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Yes, sounds pretty reasonable.

 

[lefty]

Many contractor's are crooks. My Roofing guy charged me $11K for my (quoted) $7K roof.

I still sent the jerk a check for $11K via certified mail and he claimed that he never got it. He was DEMANDING that I go to the bank and pay him another $11K. I told him to WAIT!!!

He kept demanding/threatening me. I stood my ground and waited. The jerk fouind the envelope under a stack of bills 1 week later.

Many (MOST) contractor's are crooks.

 

[Entoptic]

23k? God that is a lot of money. Certified mail is the way to go. May cost a few bucks but at least you know he got it and signed for it.

 

[byke]

Your actions are very appropriate. If you're the sort who likes to white lie your way through these things, seems like it would be easy enough to tell him you're not liquid enough at the moment to cover another 23k and that you need to wait until the first 23k is returned.

 

[CockyRooster]

What was the due date on the bill? Just like any other bill it's up to you make sure that the payment was made.

With that said... I typically give my clients a couple of weeks to pay before poking them with a cattle prod. Waiting a few days for funds to settle shouldn't be a big deal for a good client.

It sounds like your a good client. :thumbup

 

[rodr]

I've never had a check, online banking or otherwise get lost in the mail, and I'm old enough for that to be significant. Most likely explanation is he thought it was junk mail and tossed it. Second most likely, well never mind.

 

[msethhunter]

"Mr Contractor, I'm terribly sorry, but the check has been lost. The money is already gone from my account and will not be credited back for another few days. You are going to have to wait for the money to be back in the account to get paid. I'm sorry for any inconvinence this is causing you, but it is beyond my control. I hope you understand."

 

[MrIncredible]

Many contractor's are crooks. My Roofing guy charged me $11K for my (quoted) $7K roof.

I still sent the jerk a check for $11K via certified mail and he claimed that he never got it. He was DEMANDING that I go to the bank and pay him another $11K. I told him to WAIT!!!

He kept demanding/threatening me. I stood my ground and waited. The jerk fouind the envelope under a stack of bills 1 week later.

Many (MOST) contractor's are crooks.

Pit bulls are kiddie killing baby maulers.

Or should we not paint with a broad brush?

 

[savan]

Many contractor's are crooks. My Roofing guy charged me $11K for my (quoted) $7K roof.

I still sent the jerk a check for $11K via certified mail and he claimed that he never got it. He was DEMANDING that I go to the bank and pay him another $11K. I told him to WAIT!!!

He kept demanding/threatening me. I stood my ground and waited. The jerk fouind the envelope under a stack of bills 1 week later.

Many (MOST) contractor's are crooks.

Many (most) pit bull owners are not responsible and should be shot on site.

 

[DefyInertia]

Thanks everyone. This helps. I like the guy and take pride in being a good customer but need to cover my ass...it's a lot of $$$

What was the due date on the bill? Just like any other bill it's up to you make sure that the payment was made.

With that said... I typically give my clients a couple of weeks to pay before poking them with a cattle prod. Waiting a few days for funds to settle shouldn't be a big deal for a good client.

It sounds like your a good client. :thumbup

No doubt. Requested payment late saturday night the 13th, I had payment sent Monday morning the 15 th and emailed him with PDF confirmation attached. He contacted me Tuesday the 23rd saying not received "Need payment today". I responded saying I had made an inquiry with the bank (I did). Wednesday he sent another "today" demand citing he "had been patient" so I asked him if he took American Express. He didn't respond. Wrote him later with update on canceling the check, etc.

Meeting with him at 7:30 am tomorrow to discuss a bunch of stuff and he wants another check. Can't give him one yet.

I did concrete and framing for an honest contractor for a couple years...upstate NY...different place for sure.

 

[rodr]

I'm still betting he either tossed it as junk or has it buried under a stack of mail. Those bank payments tend to look very plain from the outside.

 

[lefty]

Pit bulls are kiddie killing baby maulers.

Or should we not paint with a broad brush?

Do you know EVERY Contractor? I know (of) a lot who are crooks. You are correct- I should not have said 'most', I should have just kept it at 'Many'.

I apologize for being ignorant. That was a dumb statement.

Many (most) pit bull owners are not responsible and should be shot on site.

I actually agree with this statement. Let's put Michael Vick at the front of the line. :laughing

 

[MrIncredible]

Do you know EVERY Contractor? I know (of) a lot who are crooks. You are correct- I should not have said 'most', I should have just kept it at 'Many'.

I apologize for being ignorant. That was a dumb statement.



I actually agree with this statement. Let's put Michael Vick at the front of the line. :laughing

Just pointing out you were doing the same thing about contractors that you'd hate anyone else doing about pit bulls. You know it ain't right, so don't do it.

Besides, it's not the contractor! It's the owner.

 

[DefyInertia]

Had a good meeting this morning. No additional checks have been written at this point and we have a mutual understanding and lots of goodwill.

cheers