legal advice

[smmoty]

Once again I find myself needing some small business advice. If somebody stiffs you and doesn't pay a bill they owe you, do you have to get an attorney to get your money or to get their railroad wages garnished? I know when my husband worked in finance you used to be able to go represent yourself to collect a debt. But I think that has changed. I'm sure an attorney would cost more than the debt owed. Its only $200, unless I charge interest because its been over a year with no payent at all, but I don't want to go in debt to get an attorney. Any advice???

[smmoty]

Thanks for the advice. I was just guilty of trusting a "friend" who just flat out stiffed me. But you live and learn and there is no more store creit at my place. Thanks again

[vids4ckcrash]

I am not a lawyer and never played one on TV, but............

I had a close neighbor/(not close friend) write me a bad business check for 50.00 once. I nagged until they paid me the 50.00 plus all bad check charges and more.

You could call them frequently and possibly ask them in the presence of others. But if they still do not pay.........

There are ways to get YOUR satisfaction in ways that they may not be aware of, but you will.

I have not read any of these for quite a while and there are several new ones. Check the Library or Amazon.com.

I like the sound of Byte Me.

Don't Get Mad, Get Even by George Hayduke

Get Even: The Complete Book Of Dirty Tricks by George Hayduke

Get Even: The Complete Book Of Dirty Tricks by George Hayduke

Get Even 2: More Dirty Tricks From The Master O... by George Hayduke

Byte Me!: Hayduke's Guide To Computer-Gener... by George Hayduke

[orange-n-brown 365]

having a small business at one time that gave credit I had to nag big companies monthly to pay up.. had one customer stiff me.. took him to small claims 13 years later still waiting on the money and he is laying in prison now so I can kiss that all good-bye.. court costs you money and time.. take them to court pay the costs I think you can charge up to 8% interest on the $ if you want and then get a judgement do a 15 day letter and then if they do not pay up then pay out some more $$ and file a garnishment your local municpal court can walk you through this and will probably provide all the forms you need.. and make them pay all the costs also.. here in athens county I think its 44 to file and 75 to file garnishment papers..
Good luck!!

[Der_Kommissar1968]

Small claims court may be your best bet. You'd likely have a hard time finding a lawyer willing to take a $200.00 case. Here's a link to lawyers.com which provides information on the small claims process in Ohio (I assume that's where you're from): http://research.lawyers.com/Ohio/Ohio-Small-Claims.html

[TheMalteseFalcon]

You'd likely have a hard time finding a lawyer willing to take a $200.00 case.

Yeah, if they can't rob you BIG TIME, they're not interested. The only "justice" they're interested in is $$$$$$$$$$$$

[Der_Kommissar1968]

You'd likely have a hard time finding a lawyer willing to take a $200.00 case.

Yeah, if they can't rob you BIG TIME, they're not interested. The only "justice" they're interested in is $$$$$$$$$$$$

Just like any other profession, there are some good (ethical) ones and some bad (unethical) ones. I'd agree with you though on your last statement. The practice of law has very little to do with finding the truth, which is sad.

[Space Cowboy]

I am not a lawyer and never played one on TV, but............

I had a close neighbor/(not close friend) write me a bad business check for 50.00 once. I nagged until they paid me the 50.00 plus all bad check charges and more.

You could call them frequently and possibly ask them in the presence of others. But if they still do not pay.........

There are ways to get YOUR satisfaction in ways that they may not be aware of, but you will.

I have not read any of these for quite a while and there are several new ones. Check the Library or Amazon.com.

I like the sound of Byte Me.

Don't Get Mad, Get Even by George Hayduke

Get Even: The Complete Book Of Dirty Tricks by George Hayduke

Get Even: The Complete Book Of Dirty Tricks by George Hayduke

Get Even 2: More Dirty Tricks From The Master O... by George Hayduke

Byte Me!: Hayduke's Guide To Computer-Gener... by George Hayduke

Dont laugh, in the mid 80s, the spec-ops team I was assigned to used several of these tricks to hurt the money flow and morale of known terrorists ( that we were told hands off ).

[Space Cowboy]

Thanks for the advice. I was just guilty of trusting a "friend" who just flat out stiffed me. But you live and learn and there is no more store creit at my place. Thanks again

I hate to put it this way but you found out just how good a friend this really is. Actually a cheap price to pay for that kind of information. Now, be done with them.