Tree service guy suddenly wants cash....opinions?

[BrewerJohn]

So we had this guy do some yard work for us, trimming hedges, cutting back trees and so forth.
We patronized him two years ago for the same thing, he gave us a bill with his little logo
on it, we shot him a check, simple.

This time, though, nothing happens at first: no bill in the mail. I wonder about it a bit,
but figure either he'll get to it or we'll call him up and remind him some time.

Two weeks later, he shows up at the door one afternoon. He "just noticed" that he hadn't
sent us a bill, and anyway would we mind just giving him a named price in cash?

Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal, but this is almost $400 we're talking about (just
about what the estimate was). So I have to make a special trip to the bank, then try to
connect with you somehow to hand it over? And anyway, what are you trying to do, evade
taxes? And you want me to be a party to that?

I'm never prepared when people go sideways on me like this. I muttered something I hoped
was noncommittal enough ("We'll see what we can do" --"No hurry, whenever you can get to
the bank").

So tonight, about a week after that, he shows up again. Just checking if we had any money
for him. Of course, we hadn't gotten around to it yet, still trying to figure out what
to do. But this is starting to really creep me out. It's like having a damn loan shark
coming around to check on you. I figure either way the guy's toast as far as hiring him
for anything again goes, but just wonder how you all would handle this?

[Gormy Cuss]

1. Write up a receipt.

Detail what the amount was for, the dates (or at least month/year) and ask him to sign it and enter his state license #, if that's required in your state, or his business address.

It sounds like he's running something under the table but for your purposes it's good to have a receipt in your files if for no other reason than it's a reference.

[democracyindanger]

2. Times are tough

If he already did the work, pay him the money. The taxes are his problem. Just get a receipt.

[BrewerJohn]

3. Of course I don't have any problem with paying him

just not happy with the extra trouble and general flakiness involved in doing it this way.

[sbj405]

4. Ask if he'll take a money order.

Maybe he's had people's checks bounce or his bank holds them. A money order would allow him to get his money sooner and give you more of a receipt than something he writes.

Is this a company or a one man gig?

[Nicole]

5. I would pay him any way I wanted.

Since he didn't specify payment must be in cash beforehand, I would pay him in whichever way was most convenient to me. Sounds like that would be a check for you.

Explain to him that you write checks for all household expenses so you can track them for budgeting purposes. In addition to that tell him it's not convenient for you to go withdraw cash.

I wouldn't care if he liked it or not, especially since you have no plans to use his services in the future.

[jobycom]

6. Pay him, and be sure you look your doors and windows.

Just my paranoia, maybe. I had an AC guy start quibbling over method of payment, and even wanted me to write a check out to his nephew instead of him. He made up some excuse as to why, but I could tell it was BS. Something just made me uncomfortable about it, like with your guy. A couple months later something else broke (not his fault, just an old system) and I called a different repairman. During normal conversation I asked if he knew the other guy. The other guy was in jail for stealing tools and equipment from another contractor, and was suspected in a couple of home burglaries of customers.

In addition, he owed lots of back taxes, so any time he opened a checking account, they tracked him down and garnished his wages. Thus, the checks made out to his nephew.

Sounds like you have reason to be suspicious. He's not in a hurry for the money, or he'd take a check. He's not sending invoices out with his name on it. He doesn't have a steady address or doesn't want business done where he lives. He's not keeping a regular bookkeeping schedule if he's got time to wander around collecting cash. So you've got reasons to be suspicious of him. Sounds to me like he's in trouble with some legal entity or creditor somewhere. I'd pay him, say nice things to him so he doesn't hold a grudge, lock my doors when I'm gone, and keep his name somewhere in case your house gets robbed. That's what I'd do, you'll have to decide what you should do.

[Suich]

7. I would have gone to the bank the next day,

gotten $400 and given it to him the next time I saw him. Give the guy a break, especially if he did the work and you're happy with it.

:hi:

[BrewerJohn]

8. Thanks for the replies, all

Sometimes it helps to bounce these things off a group to gauge one's own reactions.
We'll dispose of this matter one way or another soon.