Re: disconnect letters

["Robert L Bass" <no-sales-spam@bassburglaralarms>]

> I prefer using a phone call informing
> them of the lien being placed on
> their property and how sorry I am for
> having to do this but since they
> ignored the invoices I was left with
> no other option...

I wasn't aware that you could use a lien for overdue monitoring payments.  In CT we once used a mechanic's lien where the customer
tried to avoid paying us a balance of about $7,000 on his installation.  IIRC, the lien had to be placed within 90 days of the work.
The customer paid right away.  The reason I question it is that the so-called "mechanic's lien" is for work performed on the
physical property -- labor and materials.  I didn't know you could use a lien for services that don't involve on-premises work.

> I apologize for their credit being ruined
> and how bad credit can cost tens of
> thousands of dollars due to higher
> mortgage rates. Property liens prevent
> homes from being sold, equity lines to
> be drawn, or mortgages being refinanced.

That lien was very effective for us because
the homeowner was acting as his own GC.
He needed to convert from a high interest
construction loan to a conventional
mortgage.  I don't recall ever having filed
a lien other than that.  It worked but I was
always reluctant to hurt a customer's
credit unless it was absolutely the only
way we could get paid.  Fortunately, most
people willingly pay up on time.

> If the client isn't a dickhead and is just
> going through rough times then the above
> does not occur.  I have a few folks
> coasting on their bill due to financial
> difficulty but I know they will make good
> on their debts when they can.

Same here.  During the late eighties there
was a recession and a lot of people lost
their jobs.  When anyone said they were
not renewing the monitoring contract due
to a job loss I gave them a year's service
at no charge.  I told them to let me know
when they were employed again and we'd
resume billing but the service would be
free in the meantime.

Almost every one of them resumed
paying for monitoring when they were
able. Most even paid for the "free"
period though we didn't ask them to. I
don't think we actually lost more than
a few customers due to the recession.
Instead, we got tons of referrals to new
customers.

> Rules are simple:
> Call me and tell me times are tough.
> If I have to call you first then we have
> an issue...

Same here, but if they had a genuine problem
I would let them slide anyway.  Sometimes
people are just too embarassed to say
anything.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

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Bass Home Electronics
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4883 Fallcrest Circle
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http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
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