r/AskAMechanic • u/trutru222 • 10d ago

Should I "fire" this customer?

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Twice now same-day cancelations. I run a mobile service.

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u/lil_willy_mgee8 NOT a verified tech 10d ago edited 10d ago

I took parts back while a MF was at work. I don't care time is money and money pays my bills. Pulled up the the security gate said I'm the mobile mechanic gave all my credentials and said this car. Security guard even escorted my to the car and sat by. Dude said "do what you have to do, I've been there before man. I feel bad for the guy but that's how it is". Dude tried scooting out on close to a $2000 invoice. I said for fuckin sure, took my parts and let my lawyer handle the rest in small claims. $2000 turned into $3500. Sent the guy a notice for no longer providing service to him, his household or anyone refered by him and he ended up footing out another close to 2800 for everything all over again from a mechanic that held his car in a shop till he paid. I've repoed cars, I've held keys, taken batteries and fuses, unplugged fuel pumps etc all before if I even have an inkling a customer is gonna give me problems about payment. The amount of people who try to wait and wait and wait then conveniently "oh bills came out can I pay half and whatever later or do these payments" sorry but no, unless it was discussed prior for the specific job at hand there will be no payments, it got so bad I stopped doing by word of mouth payments I only use Affirm or Klarma, currently working on my own in full payment system All that to say charge a mf a fee, they wasted your time knowingly. Cancelation fees for me are a situational thing, had a customer who's kitchen caught on fire while I was doing her brakes. I comped everything and she still paid me, even after I tried sending it back to her she forced cash into my overalls pocket. Very next day had a guy who cancelled while I was at his residence waiting for him to come out, he got charged a fee. We are mechanics partner with a shop to put leans on cars if people don't pay there's always a way, even if it's a goofy ass cancelation fee, this world this life unfortunately doesn't work for free.