Billed $1,200 for a backyard patio job and got ghosted for 6 weeks

I did a flagstone patio for a guy in Lakewood last spring, sent the invoice for $1,200, and then heard nothing. After 6 weeks of waiting and two follow-up emails, I finally called him and he said he thought I'd just wait forever. I started asking for 50% up front after that. Has anyone else had a client just disappear on a payment like that?

3 comments

4 Comments

parker_webb1mo ago

50% up front is a smart move honestly, but idk if that alone would have helped here. Sounds like the guy was just gonna ghost no matter what. Maybe it's just me but I feel like a signed contract with specific payment terms written out would have made it harder for him to pull that. Something like "payment due within 14 days of completion" or whatever. I had a similar thing happen with a deck stain job once and it took me threatening to put a lien on their house to get paid.

sagejackson1mo ago

$1,200 is a serious amount of money to just sit on for six weeks. I can't believe the guy actually admitted he thought you'd just give up and never chase it. That takes a special kind of nerve. It makes you wonder how many other small contractors he's done that to over the years. Getting 50% up front sounds like a good start, but honestly I'd also want something in writing with a late fee attached. A signed contract with a clear due date and a penalty for going past it gives you a lot more to stand on when you have to call them out.

lisas781mo ago

I mean yeah but the lien thing is not as easy as people make it sound. You gotta file paperwork with the county and pay fees and it takes weeks. By the time that goes through the guy's probably already moved on. The 50% upfront plus a contract with a late fee is solid but even then, collecting is a pain if someone really doesn't want to pay. I think folks overestimate how much a piece of paper actually scares someone who's already decided to screw you over.

james_paidtoday29d ago

At six weeks, I’d stop treating it like a casual reminder and move to a clear written follow-up.

Something like:

“Hi [Name], following up on the $1,200 invoice for the patio work completed on [date]. Payment is still outstanding. Could you confirm when payment will be made? If there’s an issue with the work or invoice, please let me know today so we can resolve it.”

Still professional, but more explicit. The important part is having the amount, work performed, invoice status, and requested action in writing.