Accepting payments, get burned every time...

[phynny]

We said we would help a high school friend by accepting payments for a HG on their envoy. It was going to be 1200 and they would put 800 down. Turned out they needed an engine and out of 3100 they put 500 down... I asked the husband 4-5 times to thing of what he can pay and let me know and I also needed at least half down. The wife ended up just showing up with no money and no idea what I had told her husband... Like a sucker I have her the car.

 

The car recently stopped on her and she called me complaint that with her "new engine" it should never break down and wanted to know what i was going to do about it... Being an envoy and being that EVERY time I see the car it's fuel light is on. Can you say GM fuel pump? Anyway it's getting towed in tomorrow and I do not plan on letting it leave unless paid in full.

 

Thoughts?

[Jeff]

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[CARMandP]

I refuse to take any kind of payments anymore. If you approved the work, you can come up with the money to pay for it. If we do the work, who do I say doesn't get paid since the work wasn't paid for when the vehicle left the shop? Been burned too may times because I am a "nice" guy.

[Jeff]

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[HarrytheCarGeek]

You know, this is an excellent topic I would like to see discussed.

 

KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER. This is phrase used by the banks, and if you are thinking about taking payments, it would behoove you to know your customer.

 

I have taken payments in the past, and have been burned, but in all honesty after careful review, my instinct had warned me I would get burned.

 

I also have taken payments from people than needed their cars for work, and they paid on time without a glitch.

 

As a rule of thumb, I had taken half the amount for the job and the rest in payments.

[5 Star Auto Spa]

This is a very slippery slope to go down. As a business owner, you want to try and help your customers and also not lose out on the job. The problem is not everyone is ethical and even though you are going out of your way to help this individual, they may not see it in this light. We have only put work on credit one time here at our shop and it did work out in the end but would not do it again if possible.

[xrac]

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