"Of all the animals, the BOY is the most unmanageable!" ~ Plato

11.07.2008

bizarre.

My hubby and I own and run a swimming pool service and repair company. Recently, we had one of the STRANGEST things happen! The economy, as you know, sucks so we've lost a few customers because people just can't afford everything anymore. Today though, we found out something really odd. Last month, when I sent out our regular billing, one customer's bill came back saying they had moved and left no forwarding address. I thought that must be a mistake so I peeled off the sticker and popped the invoice back in the mail. It came back again stating the same thing. Jared called this customer and left several messages. Keep in mind that Jared and his customers have great, friendly relationships and this was also a guy and his wife who I had gone to high school with..... well, we've not had ANY return phone calls. Jared went to the door last week and nobody was home but he said that everything looked the same. He was there again today. He just called and told me that when he went to the door today, a different lady answered. Our customers moved! There was never a for sale sign, there was never a request to terminate service. There wasn't so much as a phone call giving us a heads up. These new people have lived there since mid September! This tells me that our customer received their September bill but never paid it! AND, worse, the bill didn't jog their memory about....oh, I don't know....cancelling service?! Who does that kind of thing? Luckily Jared IS friendly with his customers so I know where this guy works and will be sending his bill to his business. As far as I'm concerned, they are still responsible for September and October since we HAVE been performing the regular service.

On a side note, the new people do not want service. She says her hubby has been doing a fine job. Let's see how quickly they call once MY hubby is no longer providing service.

7 comments:

Ruby Red Slippers said...

Very interesting...hope you track them down!!!

~Sheila~ said...

Well that is strange. How crappy of people to not tie up loose ends. Keep us posted on if they pay the bill once they get it at the job site.

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

WAit... So the new people haven't NOTICED your husband doing service to their pool??? How convenient.

One of the downfalls for doing your own business, I guess. I'm sure if they had just CALLED you and said they had a problem paying it, you guys would have worked something out, but that is just stinky to avoid the issue.

Claremont First Ward said...

Sure he's been doing it fine.......since your husband has! :) I can't believe they finched on you!

Karin Katherine said...

You know, I agree that your customer should have cancelled service but what about the NEW OWNERS not saying anything about your hubby performing pool services all this time???? That is CRAZY too. Glad she thinks it was HER HUBBY who has been doing a FINE job...If she really thinks that.

MammaDucky said...

Bahahahaha! I love when people assume they can do just as good a job as a professional. We have an a/c and heating business and I just LOVE tracking down delinquent bills. You go SITSta!

Jaime said...

This would erk me to no end. Glad you have the business address to send the bill to, and I hope you got paid.