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A Storm is Brewing.....

I'd wonder how much of this has happened due to his trading knowingly on your goodwill. Dependent on his mental capacity, I'd say he's been manipulating you into getting as much out of the deals as he can.
(And seeing as I worked in a care in the community program before I had my boys, I've witnessed how explosive a tantrum can be when an adult with learning difficulties loses control or had their wishes thwarted)
 
We have had enough people that routinely run up bills and take forever to pay that we have created specific policies for them. They must first pay off any owed balance before any services are rendered. Then, any future services must be pre-paid, in full, before they get past the front desk. And if they create any sort of stick, they get a letter saying they have been fired as clients and not to step foot on the property ever again. All of those things are perfectly legal to do. Any business has the right to refuse service to any one, for any reason, let alone a good reason such as being a deadbeat. You just have to stick to your guns and stop being a softie.
 
No longer are we softies :)
This guy was the only person we EVER did it for....and never again!

I just hope his tantrum does not become violent on the third!
 
Well, after a few days of peace and quiet...the phone rang.
It was him....to tell us that he will be here at 10:00 on the third....
(we both already knew this, but the closer the third gets now, the more the phone will ring with him telling us he will be here at 10 on the third......)

Oh Joy.......
 
Beth this is only a suggestion but if he calls again before the third, why don’t you mention the total amount of money (the total cost of every thing he want done) that he needs to bring in on Tuesday and that the $300 won’t cover this and if he want the extra work done he will need to bring more money. This way you give him a warning on how the transaction is “going down” and he can start a hissy fit at home first before entering the shop.
Tell him the way you do business, like at my bike shop, I sign check, bike gets rolled out. Done deal.
 
Aww this must really be nervewrecking for you !! I'll be thinking of you and also hoping it turns out better than expected. Tell us what happened as soon as possible!
 
Okay so I just read through this whole thing, and I'm sure your aware of it as it's been said many times. You are completely within your rights to do exactly what you are planning to do. Regardless of any disabilities he is aware that payment must be made for services rendered, otherwise he wouldn't have used to stop in to make payments.

I would maybe call the police station and request that they send someone over around 10:15 to make sure that there aren't any issues with "Bob" that require assistance. My family worked with a developmentally challenged gentlemen for a few years and his tantrums were really destructive. So having a law enforcement official present or stop by would be a very good idea.

I would also suggest getting payment before giving or showing him his bike.
 
Lennycorn said:
Beth this is only a suggestion but if he calls again before the third, why don’t you mention the total amount of money (the total cost of every thing he want done) that he needs to bring in on Tuesday and that the $300 won’t cover this and if he want the extra work done he will need to bring more money. This way you give him a warning on how the transaction is “going down” and he can start a hissy fit at home first before entering the shop.
Tell him the way you do business, like at my bike shop, I sign check, bike gets rolled out. Done deal.
Click to expand...

As much as I would like to do it this way, I know there is no way he will have that much money...this is the best way we know to get this settled...
So, first he will come in,pay his old debt....
then we will bring his bike upstairs with the $70 worth of work done, and explain why we didn't do $250 worth of work. We will have the tires and bags aside and tell him that if he wants them, to bring the bike back in 3 weeks, and pay for that work on the following third. Then we will demand payment for the $70.
If he pitches a fit (which he probably will) I will call the police, make sure we get paid for the $70 worth of work, and tell "Bob" never to come back!

Tony, I will have the number of the police handy (as in in my hand) when we drive up to the shop. "Bob" will be waiting for us. If it even looks like it might get ugly (as in, if Bob even raises his voice) will call the police. They are literally 2 minutes down the road.

Oh, and Dave...he WILL call again..and again and again and again...before the third....the closer the third gets, the more he will call....
 
Beth, I'm really not being mean (and I think you've already mentioned it), but your psycho sounds crazy in the head like my psycho.
Hissy fit. God in Heaven I hate awkward situations like this.
 
Hey Beth are you selling ringside seats??? I'd like one in the front row if you are.:twohammer Try to look at the situation as amusing and you won't be nearly as stressed. No offense to your chosen profession, but it's a bike we are talking about not life and death. I once got called to the pet store in the evening because an older man was threatening bodily harm to my staff because a lop eared rabbit he had on "hold" had accidentally been sold (there were two that looked identical in cages right next to each other). The guys I had working that night were much bigger than the customer and the customer was bigger than me. And to be honest once he got in my face about the injustice wrought upon him and his family by our "deliberant" fraud, I just started to giggle. In the midst of language that would curl a sailor's ears, his cane whipping around in the air, threats of bodily harm and his spit soaking my face, the sheer ridiculousness of the situation struck me funny. It's very hard to sustain a tantrum when no one is taking you seriously. I did nothing more than smile and hold eye contact until he calmed down. I told him he had to leave because he was being abusive and that was unacceptable behavior. Of course prior to all this happening I told the guys to be ready to call the police if things escalated. Take a deep breath Beth. It will work out for the best. I'm pulling for you.
So were do I send the ticket money?;)
Terri
 
Well, he just called again..to tell us that he will be here at 10am on the third......

Also, I didn't mention this before, but when he brought his bike in a few weeks back, he also had another bike with him that belonged to someone else. He said he used it and it needed repair because he broke something on it ( I don't remember what, Rick fixed it and it's in the basement). Well about 2 weeks ago, he started calling and saying that he was not paying for the other guys bike, even though he admitted he broke it. He said that it's not his bike and he shouldnt have to pay to get it fixed. Well, a few days later he called us back (multiple times) to tell us that the guy agreed to pay for it and gave him the money for it, so he can pick both bikes up on the third.....

Well, he just called us to tell us that he wasn't going to pay for the guys bike! After he called us weeks ago saying that the guy already gave him the money to pick it up!! (That's another thing, Bob is a compulsive liar).
We won't know the real story til the third, I guess....
 
Geez, Beth... I'm waiting patiently for the 3rd... So that no matter what happens, it'll be over and done with and you won't have to deal with him anymore. THIS kind of customer can really take the joy out of what anyone does.
 
Beth, don't let him even see either bike until you have all the money you are going to get. Then you can decide how many if any bikes he is going to get back. I believe you are well with in your rights to do that. This guy certainly isn't cutting you any slack.
 
I guess personally, I'd really recommend telling him exactly what you are going to be doing over the phone. Let him have his temper tantrum at home. Doing it that way, you can hang up the phone if he becomes belligerent and he has until the 3rd to calm down or if he becomes violent you'll know ahead of time and the police can head him off at the pass. Just my 2 cents (And with Obama running the show who knows what that will be worth tomorrow!! ;) ). :shrugs:

D80
 
wade said:
That is a really good point Brent.
Click to expand...

I won't take all the credit. Lenny brought up the idea first, but the more I think about it, the more I think it's a better plan of action. More sane if you will. I'm a plan for the worst, expect the best kind of guy.

D80
 
Good luck with him, Beth. I just keep coming back to the part about he has a brain injury...
 
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