Posted by David Sanzo on 12/23/10 12:04am
Msg #365843

Paul Gambs

Paul Gambs owes me for signings a year old. As is typical, many promises via phone and email - including check numbers, etc. But never do I actually see payment. I do not recommend accepting any work from him - unless you like to volunteer for his benefit.

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 12/23/10 12:57am
Msg #365846

I'm truly sorry you got stiffed, but here's my Christmas wish to everybody:

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could go a whole year without the name "Paul Gambs" rearing its ugly head?

Reply by JulieD/KS on 12/23/10 6:12am
Msg #365848

Yeah, it would be nice, but people need to reminded to just say No to him.

Look him up on Facebook. He's living a fine life on your money, sad to say.

Reply by JulieD/KS on 12/23/10 6:13am
Msg #365849

Re: collection letter

Have you faxed him a stern collection letter? Of course, that needs to be done at the 60-day mark. At this point, he probably figures he's home free.

Reply by Raimond on 12/23/10 1:33pm
Msg #365908

Have you been sending a invoice each month with late fees?
I had one company try this same thing, I added a $25 late fee each month with a updated invoice and phone call. I kept a log of all the activity. When the late fees were as much as the original amount I contacted my lawyer (JAG) who wrote a demand letter outlining my attempts to collect and the planned course of legal action.
I had a check within the week including all the late fees.

Here are a couple of ideas for assistance;
I was in a union that had contracted a lawyer as part of the dues to provide some services for free.
Contact your local legal aide.
Call a lawyer to see what they would charge for the letter. Even if you break even you will feel better about it.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 12/23/10 3:15pm
Msg #365918

Re: Paul Gambs...just a note on late fees

Careful what you charge and how you assess them - states have laws in place to regulate how much can be assessed in late fees and when -

Reply by JulieD/KS on 12/23/10 4:06pm
Msg #365922

Re: Paul Gambs...just a note on late fees

Plus, the fact that you are going to charge late fees needs to be disclosed in advance of actually charging them. At the bottom of the invoice that I send to the company, I have this:

A 5.0%, but not less than $5.00, late charge will apply to unpaid balances as of 5:00 PM (CT) on the past due date.

Reply by Raimond on 12/23/10 8:28pm
Msg #365937

Re: just a note on late fees

My policies on payment due time frames and late fees are included on my initial invoice. Plus I inform a new SS what I expect on the initial call. Never had a single person question my policy.
Like I said, only once in five years have I had to collect the late fees through my lawyer. Most of them get to it when they receive my past due invoice that includes a late fee. I have read here that some SAs call title to question why the payment has not been made. Apparently that works well although I have never choose to go that route.

Here's a reference to California law;
Question - "What is the maximum amount of money one company can charge another company if they pay an invoice late? This is for CA based company. Is there a legal limit?"
Answer in 2002 - "California courts have recognized that accounting and collection expenses are actual damages suffered by a creditor when a customer does not timely pay its invoices. On that basis, California courts have consistently upheld service charge, also known as delinquency charges, late fees, and finance charges"

Clearly it is within a California SA's right to peruse collecting a late fee.

Reply by ikando on 12/24/10 7:26am
Msg #365966

Re: just a note on late fees

You may want to review your state's Consumer Credit laws. Since we are offering services on credit, we are covered by that law.