I am BEYOND LIVID - Long ex employee and wife vent

luvmykids wrote: OK, Jeff has this friend who used to work for us. Well, got paid, didn't really work. But seeing as he was one of his "best friends" (big joke) he got away with it for the last four or five years. Not to mention that he also had a GREAT salary (about $18/hr for entry level skills in construction) and got away with stuff like major reimbursements (getting his truck and horse trailer washed after hauling something for us, gas that wasn't job related, etc) of about $400 a week.

Anyway, this guy has never been one of my favorite people and his wife especially. This guy decided he doesn't want to work out of town anymore and Jeff said he didn't really know what to say, we don't have any work in town right now it's all out of town so either go or don't get paid, your choice. He says he needs to think about it. Jeff calls them a few days ago to tell them he'll be coming to get some equipment that is at their house in the next few days and do you know what SHE did? Filed a freakin mechanic's lien for STORAGE. $1.00 per day for the last 778 days. The whole reason it's there in the first place is because he cried anytime he needed it and had to go get it from someplace else This guy quit and they're broke so after him and DH have been friends for about 12 years and we've treated them like family (in spite of my misgivings) they pull this BS. And then leave a message saying that if Jeff or another of our employees shows up over there they'll call the sheriff. So what, we can't get the stuff and they can rack up another $1.00 a day?!?! So I call and they won't answer the phone, I leave a message saying they should be ashamed of themselves and SHE calls me back telling me she has too many bills to pay to worry about what we think and that her husband has "very hurt feelings" that we're treating them this way. WTF is wrong with these people? Maybe, slight maybe, I would be a little less angry if he officially quit and they said "Hey, come get this stuff or we're going to start charging you storage" or something but OMG I've never been so mad in my life. The really crappy thing is it would cost a lot more money for us to take it to court and prove that we don't owe it because in NM anyone can file a lien and you have to prove you DON'T owe it or else the lien is valid

So Jeff wants to just pay it and be done with them and let karma kick them in the rear. He's probably right, SHE would love this to turn into all kinds of drama but OMG it will KILL me to write that check. I just can't believe the NERVE and then to let them get away with it just (*&#%&^$&@%_@*&$^%(*$&% . She keeps telling me to leave it between the two of them, but SHE is the one who filed the lien! And SHE is the one who returns my phone calls. She said I crossed the line by choosing to handle it myself instead of letting Jeff, I told her I own the company as much as he does so SHE gave me a handwritten invitation to be involved in this. Besides that, I said why can't your weenie husband return the messages either of us have left him, why are YOU the one calling back? I can't stand it, I can feel my blood pressure through the roof and my hands are shaking just thinking about it

redchief replied: Wow, been there and done that, but not to quite the extent you guys are dealing with. Their claim of lien isn't valid. You have no obligation to pay for the storage. I'd have half a mind to file extortion charges against them.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: So then, couldn't you write up a claim stating they never paid you the ''borrowing fees'' for the equipment? Of...say...30$ a day? Final bill of...about 23 000$? That's one heck of a cheque to get...

Sorry, jsut trying to make light of it. That sucks that you're oging to have to pay that...

luvmykids replied: I am seriously thinking of filing a lien for unpaid equipment rental. I know why Jeff wants this to go away but I just can't

The simple fact that it's only $1/day tells me they KNOW this is BS, a true storage company would charge far more than $30/month for storing a SEMI

redchief replied:
I like the way you think, Rocky.

PrairieMom replied: I would not just pay them to get them out of your hair, once they figure out they can get $ out of you they will think of some other scheme to get more $ from you, and if it doesn't work on you again, they will do the same thing to the next people he works for. I like Rockies idea. Send THEM a bill.

cameragirl21 replied: i'm with Rocky--place a lien on them for unpaid use of equipment, make sure it's more than a dollar a day and be done with it. beat them at their own game.

luvmykids replied:

luvmykids replied: The problem is Jeff, I can't get him to tell me why he wants to pay it other than he feels bad for them and says it's not worth the energy of fighting it. I am almost as mad at him as them for halfway thinking about it

CantWait replied: Yup I'm with Rocky. Gosh knows what they'll come up with next. Unreal

redchief replied:
I think an element of his old friendship may be making him feel this way too. I know I should have sued a couple of my friends that I did work for over the years after they stiffed me, but I just couldn't put the friendship aside. This is different in that they're actually holding your property hostage. I realized over the years that you can't work for friends... apparently you can't employ them either. Don't let them get away with this!

mckayleesmom replied: Can't you call the police and report the equipment stolen???

Calimama replied: I wouldn't pay them a dime. That is complete BS.

MommyToAshley replied: If you take them to court, and they lose, can you request the court cost and attorney fees be paid in the settlement? If so, I would take them to court and have legal records that the lien is not valid and you have ownership of the equipment.

I'm sorry... how frustrating!

A&A'smommy replied: OMG OMG I would be too thats bs and they know it and if they don't they are just PLAIN dumb!!!! I'm sorry honey I hope you get it all worked out soon!!!

redplaydoh replied: Ugh what a nightmare. I hope this gets resolved soon without too much drama. Sorry you're going through this.

gr33n3y3z replied: keep us posted on this

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Seriously... send them a bill... then call them - and tell her, don't leave a message... but just tell her that she can forget about her lien, and return the equipment, and you will forget about your bill.

Get them out of your hair, asap. With friends like that, who needs enemies?

A get that guys can have a fist fight then go out for a beer, since once something is settled it's settled... but us women are totally NOT like that. Once something is settles, she's *still* a bi***.... lol

Good luck.

See how much regular companies would charge for equipment rental. I think for a small U-haul, when we moved, it was somethingl ike 26$ a day... and that's like half the size of a semi.

jem0622 replied: DH just wants the problem to go away. Typical. I'd bill them for whatever I could come up with and give them 30+ days to pay. If they don't, then take legal action.

Jamison'smama replied: What about the small cost of having an attorney compose a letter. Would just the threat of a lawsuit be enough for them to back off?

luvmykids replied:
I called her this morning and told her that I need to see copies of what she used to file the lien, as in a contract, unpaid invoice, storage agreement, etc. Also I asked her if she was aware that she was comitting perjury since there is a statement that says she certifies all info is true and correct. She wanted to know why I can't just leave it between the guys, I said they are trying to steal from us and she went on about how hurt her husbands feelings are because he can't believe their friendship has come to this . I said "Filing a lien on someone for money they don't owe you is a good way to lose a friend." She got an attitude and I told her she could deal with me or hear from our lawyer and she hung up on me so I think finding a lawyer to draft something is what I am going to do.

Jeff is just as livid with me now as I am with them, he says she is crazy and I shouldn't "mess" with her, just pay it. I said "PLEASE do not tell me you are afraid of her!!" He says no, just get over it and let them get their karma back, I said if he wants to pay it so bad to do it himself because I WILL NOT but until then I'm fighting it.

It sucks because he probably will just pay it and I will have wasted my time fighting it but I at least want to make clear to them that I won't be bullied and I want them to know that their stupidity is obvious.

BTW-this woman is good at this, she stays so calm and collected and keeps her tone of voice so friendly. I hate to admit it but she really knows how to handle herself in a way that pushes my buttons

mom2my2cuties replied: Can you write them a check, hand deliver it during pick up of your belongings and then stop payment on the check?

Sorry you guys are going through this. That just flat out sucks eggs. I wouldn't pay it and would report my things as stolen. And then explain to the cops that the man quit, you requested your equipment back and his wife filed a lien on your belongings when you requested it back.