Do you think I will get paid?

[hhscr]

Here is the scenario. I have a service business that helps keep the photography bills paid.

I went to a customers house for a service call and spent time to diagnose the complaint and find the problem. So I told the customer that part of the equipment would need to be replaced and I would have to get the costs and call them back with the bid.

So here is where I made my mistake, I did not get my money from the customer for my service call and time I spent to find the problem. I just added this amount to the bid I called him back with. He called me back this morning and left a message that he wanted to get another bid (thats OK with me) but here is the thing, his next sentence is oh by the way thanks for coming out and I will let you know what I decide to do. (No mention of how much do I owe you for what you have already done)

I called him back and left a message that the Bid I gave also included the cost of the service call and time to find the problem, so I will Invoice that seperatly and drop it in the mail. It is going out in the mail tomorrow.

Now you have to understand that I will give free 2nd estimates for customers that already know what the problem is and what they want a bid on, but this is not what happend in this case.

Oh well lesson learned, I think from now on I will collect at time of service for all work and then tell them if they accept my bid on completing the repairs I will credit the amont toward the repairs.

So what do you think my chances are for getting my Invoice Paid?

[Steelsun]

If not, you should go to small claims for the implied contract

[CaptainTom]

less than 50/50. It sounds like there was no mention of cost for an estimate.
I think your solution is a sound one.

I hope he pays, but likely he'll get a lower bid from someone who doesn't have to come out and diagnose the ploblem.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Lesson learned? I hope so... try this one out for size:

Fiance's best friend getting married... I get "on the hook" for having to do her wedding photos... 16+ hours of actual photography... including the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, 4 hours of bridal party "makeovers", wedding (and I set up studio lighting), and rehearsal. Then... post processing of 900+ photos.

I thought I would be nice by setting all the photos to $2.00 each for 4x6" prints... and mostly and equivalent for ther larger ones. OH, and she's bitching about the $2.00 cost!! Tough!

What do I get? Thanks + $100 gift card.

Talk about learning your lesson! I just feel sorry for my next wedding bride... she's totally going to have to whip out the checkbook!

- Wil

[suzyjazz]

It's not right but I wouldn't be surprised if you don't get paid. They might have thought at the time you went out there that the estimate was free. Free estimates are common enough in general that I can see some people making an assumption if it's not mentioned. Then once you mentioned it was part of the bill after you left, they might think they can get away with it.

[hhscr]

The Invoice is in the mail, I will let you know what happens. I figured it was a 50/50 shot. Like Wil said, so sorry to the next guy, but you must pay up front.

Life is lessons learned.

[Angelo]

Darrell, just courious, did you tell your client that there would be a fee, up front and before you made the service call?
In my industry we tell the client that there will be a fee for diagnosing a problem, but would be deducted from the bill if they choose to use us.

[HotHolly]

People usually respond to an invoice if they are going to respond at all. Invoice him, like you did. Wait til your next billing cycle and send out another that states it is past due. I would invoice at least 3-4 times and turn the invoice RED after its chronically late. Its hard to ignore repeat mailings. But it'll cost you a few stamps.

[rams]

Always be upfront about cost and make sure you get paid once services are rendered. A friend of a friend needed a wedding photographer, I thought I overbid and unfortunatly I was lowest, so I had to shoot it...I made sure I was paid ahead of time and client was very pleased with photos, as oppsed to one wedding where I was paid $300 for one days work also and lots of post processing....now I just offer a bid of $10k for 10 4x6's :).

[hhscr]

This is a customer I have done work for before. In the past I have been able to correct any issues or problems without having to replace major components. I have always billed him and he has paid when I complete the work.

This was a standard service call type situation in that he called me because he had a problem and wanted me to fix it. It is just that this is the first time for him, I have had to get replacement components prices and then call back with a cost for the total repair.

I am sure he was expecting to pay for the service call and repairs when he called me, but because I did not collect up front and just added the intital costs to the total repair price I am hoping that he will realize that he should still pay me.

If he uses me for the total repair, I will still credit him for the original Invoice toward the repairs.