Misunderstanding with customer.

[easy-lift guy]

The castle owners have said it is fine but i have just been on the phone to the council and as i expected the castle grounds and the tree are part of a conservation area . which is fine but the guy isnt going to hand over a penny until i have done the large ash. And now he is refusing to contact the conservation department to get permission.

 

This is proving to be such a hard and expensive lesson learned. I believe the customer is use to taking advantage of situations like this and more than likely always has. I would at this point arrange a meeting between the customer yourself and the conservation department to finally Iron out this matter once and for all. I would still suggest a change order form to be signed by the customer spelling out what is left to be done and that payment is due upon completion with no exceptions. Do the job and move on. I would also not except any more family referals for work in the future, for many reasons and lessons learned from this situation.

easy-lift guy

[Pedroski]

The castle owners have said it is fine but i have just been on the phone to the council and as i expected the castle grounds and the tree are part of a conservation area . which is fine but the guy isnt going to hand over a penny until i have done the large ash. And now he is refusing to contact the conservation department to get permission.

 

You can notify the council of the intended works if you so wish. It doesn't have to be the customer. After 6 weeks, if they haven't decided to TPO the tree, then you can go ahead. But I dunno if I'd bother for a customer like that. It might be worth writing to him to let him know that you are putting the matter in the hands of a solicitor unless an agreement is reached within 14 days or something. I'd also have a word with your friend to express your feelings! Suppose you could file a claim through small claims court. Is there anyone who can back you up with regard to what work you had agreed to?

[gardenmad]

The castle owners have said it is fine but i have just been on the phone to the council and as i expected the castle grounds and the tree are part of a conservation area . which is fine but the guy isnt going to hand over a penny until i have done the large ash. And now he is refusing to contact the conservation department to get permission.

 

Difficult situation as you have a friend involved. I would keep it professional get a copy of paperwork from the castle. Do a letter explaining the extra work he wants you to carry out regarding the tree and get him to sign it (Say it's for insurance purposes) then as it's over £500 take it to small claims. You don't want to walk away but then again you don't want to lose out!

[Mark Bolam]

They are trying it on.

 

How much extra work would the large Ash be?

[Rupe]

Quick question, how much more out of pocket would you be if you did this other Ash and then got paid 600?? i.e. if you walk away know you lose 600, but ig the other ash is worth say 400, then if you spend all that extra time you end up 400 out of pocket, might just be worth walking away.

 

Of course you will earn yourself 600 quids worth of calling them everything under the sun, to their face for the next few weeks.

 

Another thing, how do you know if you'll get a penny even if you do the other tree?

[Rupe]

They are trying it on.

 

How much extra work would the large Ash be?

 

Thats sort of what I meant.

 

If its (compared to what you have done) 200 or less then maybe do it.

[testcricket01]

They are trying it on.

 

How much extra work would the large Ash be?

 

hopefully its just a straight fell, smash the old girl down get loads of cool vids and then run for the hills

 

being serious though if its not going to be much extra i would just do the job and take it as lesson learnt, if its going to cost you everything you own to do it you will just have to walk away.

[Pedroski]

Sorry, here's another thought. Get them to sign something agreeing to pay in full once the other ash is felled, then fell the other ash and just log it up where it is and leave it. If you've not specifically agreed to stack logs somewhere, then logging it where it is won't take long. and log it into REALLY BIG logs. You've then done the work, they need to pay you, and they can then deal with moving REALLY HEAVY chunks of wood or face the wrath of the castle owners if they don't move it.

[Rupe]

Or go in to fell the ash one day and instead set fire to the entire stash of logs you have done so far and then walk away from the whole lot, leaving the extra ash and a pile of ash.

[David Goss]

Lots of good advice here, if the ash is really big and worth anywhere near the 600 then I would just walk away and learn your lesson. Tell them you can't do the ash as its in a conservation area and put in an invoice for half to two thirds of the cash your owed. If they don't pay then it's up to you if you want to take it further. Good luck