So, what do you guys think? P43 issues

So, we got called to service a stove of a competitor. Erratic operation.......stove doing weird things like overfeeding, underfeeding, not igniting all the time, etc. The competitor had gone out and worked on it, customer not satisfied, so we went out.....customer told us that HE had replaced the circuit board, the ESP, and the igniter. Basically threw parts at the thing. Our tech tested the igniter....old one was fine......so, not the igniter......as a matter of course, he tested the outlet (we usually do this anyhow), and found out that there was no ground, and the polarity was reversed. Well, we aren't electricians, and basically told the client that its was likely that this was his issue.....tested a few other outlets- all the same. We don't fix electrical issues, so, suggested he hire an electrician. Customer refused to allow that this could be the issue. He insisted we call Harman, which we did......they also concurred that its very likely he has a electrical/power supply issue, and it certainly would/could cause erratic operation of the unit. Customer refuses still to believe it still, and refuses to pay for a service call......

So, what think you all.......?

 

Take him to small claims court.

 

thats a good idea, Save, but the thing with small claims is it costs more than its worth......file court papers, have to appear in court, then when you show up, it gets continued, you lose a days' work, etc..........never has worked......the amount is like $189....all I can do is blackball him with our company, and tell him I wont do anything until he pays his LAST bill......far too easy for him to just $crew some other dealer or repairguy over.......

 

Kick his azz Seabass!

 

You sell pellets, right? I'd blackball him from buying them too unless he pays his bill.

I agree with you about small claims court. Not worth it.

 

Sounds as tho you have a "model" customer there. He's got it all figured out… After your company eats the latest service call, and the competitor has done the same… guessing this guy's gonna have trouble getting through on the phone to anybody. Unfortunately, you're right, small claims costs about 5-10 times what you'd get back on this amount. Sad but true… Good luck with this jughead.

 

Get Moose & Rocco to pay him a visit

 

Ahh the all knowing deadbeat. Gotta love em. Generally we get COD on new customers, but you cant do anything if you dont get that check or credit card prior to the work. Its a conundrum, I tell ya !!

Although not a deadbeat, I have a customer that we subcontract for-they have some technical experience. We worked on a fax machine that they threw 2 or 3 drum units at but the issue came back quickly after each. They called us in and guess what, the machine says "change drum cartridge". Never once did they reset the life counter. We reset the life counter on the existing drum unit and all was good without changing anything else. In their words-It couldn't have been that. Guess that they never realized that just maybe resetting the life counter might actually adjust voltages and not be a dumb counter.

 

they find ME!

 

good idea, Sub, except these days finding pellets is like finding toilet paper....even the 7-11 has em! We actually require our pellets paid for before we deliver them...we don't like the drivers to carry money, or take checks which could bounce, and they don't have credit card machines.....so wouldn't get hurt that way........the thing that burns my bacon is that this is likely his issue, he's been told that by Harman and us, and still refuses to believe that, ergo, still refuses to pay........not sure how you win in that scenario other than to chalk another one up to experience

 

all those guys re dead now......

 

oh, he'll just call another guy, with some story that he's had two outfits look at the unit, but they are so dumb they cant figure it out......and IF the new folks check the socket, they will likely concur, but who the heck knows? All I know is if I check the outlet and even ONE thing isn't kosher, its basically foolish to do anything else without the power situation being rectified....this guy had NO ground AND reversed polarity..........with a complaint of erratic operation, youre just chasing ghosts until the power is ironed out.....

 

Mechanic's Lien. Varies by state.

“. . . the important purpose of mechanic's lien statutes to provide an inexpensive and simple method for material suppliers and contractors to secure the value of the services or materials that they have added to the property.”
“Any mechanic's lien may be foreclosed in the same manner as a mortgage.”

http://www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/Notebooks/Pathfinders/mechanics.htm

 

all good stuff, but its a $189 bill....now, there are fees associated with filing the lien, time doing so, a trip to the registry of deeds, etc......so, is it still worth it? Also, given the fact that most folks call, try and prove a contract was made.......this, to me, makes no sense either.......

 

Unfortunately you're in an industry that it is easy for customers to stiff you. Auto mechanics, those who do small engine repair and anyone in a business in which the customer brings the product in for service all have leverage to get the customer to pay since the tradesman has the product that needs service. Friend of mine was in the marine services business. Hard to get those people to pay. You go to their boat at the dock, do the work, they say to send a bill and then the boat is gone the next day to parts unknown.

I would think that if you do the lien once, it would be easier the next time and it could be for more money. Might be worth investigating whether or not you can recover legal/filing costs as well as interest. Also, if the house ends up for sale, the lien will end up as a title defect which the former deadbeat customer would want to settle right away....

Wonder if he did the electrical work himself and was thus offended that you said that he screwed it up... Good luck. Love that Avatar!!!

 

thanks on the Avatar, muck! Noone wants to see what I REALLY look like!

We also sell lumber & building materials and have filed liens before.....so, yea, I know the process, and have learned that if its not, say, over a thousand, it tends to be in the realm of diminishing returns....and if they never sell the house, it means nothing.......

I've no idea who/when the electrical work was done....I just have the feeling that since the tv and microwave still works, he figures that it cant be the problem.....makes sense in a way, but it also doesn't make any sense for me to spend any more time with it until he gets the power at least straightened out.....

 

Would reverse polarity actually cause any harm? I hear its a potential shock hazard but have never heard it being an issue as far as performance.

My old apartment had outlets without the polarity or ground like we find today lol

And I wouldnt rely on good information from Harman. Any chance to pass the blame is in their best interest.

 

honestly, there's guys who frequent here who can answer this, but NO ground AND reversed polarity?

hmmm....no ground?..... http://www.ehow.com/info_8559361_dangers-missing-grounds-plugs.html

reversed polarity..... http://inspectapedia.com/electric/Electrical_Outlet_Reversed_Polarity.php

so, looks like the ground is the more dangerous of the two.....the reversed polarity is a simple shocking/electrocution hazard.......evenso, not an electrician, till its fixed, no more workee