Frustration sets in because I can't get paid

[Lisa Breiter]

In January, when my main agency was slow, I took a few jobs for another agency. It was either not work at all or take a chance. I had worked for them many years ago and they were very slow in paying and it took a while but I finally got paid from them. I had also heard rumors that now they didn't pay at all and to be careful. Why, oh, why didn't I listen to those rumors? I decided it would only be a few jobs and I would not extend much credit. I even told the scheduler that I had heard these rumors and she acted so surprised and told me she had never heard that before, lied right to my face.
I decided to claim some victory after I got paid for one appearance fee on time. I thought maybe I'm special, maybe I won't have any problems with them. But now after being promised a check time and time again and even having possession of e-mails promising a check on March 3, I do not have a check.
I was so wary finally that I cut them off at around $700 of invoices so it's not like it was the Franklin Mint of jobs. They've called me many times now for work and every time I tell them I might consider it, but that I needed my money first. They even called me for a last-minute job on May 6 and told me they would messenger me a check that day if I just took their job. I said to her it almost sounds like a bribe, that you won't send me my check unless I extend more credit to you? The temptation came over me that I would say okay and let them send me a check and then blow off their job, but believing in karma, I told her that I don't do business that way, that I try to cultivate relationships over a long period of time so that when I'm in a jam, people are happy to help me. I dutifully sent the same 4 invoices again and waited some more till today.
Today my husband was getting off work early and is close to their office so he told me to call them and tell them he was coming over to pick up the check. I called them and got the "the person who writes the checks isn't here today" song and dance. Then he decided to call and got the same song and dance. His suggestion is to call their clients and let them know I did not get paid. I am not sure what will work at this point, but there's one thing I do know -- I've gotten every penny for 24 years and I'm not stopping now and I'm not giving up. Even though it's only $700, I am owed that money. I provided a service and good service at that, on time reporter, good transcript, on-time transcripts. What more could they possibly ask for? I think they are hedging their bets on a reporter that will roll over and forget about it because it's not worth their time to collect on it. You know what, it is worth my time to collect it because it's the principal and not the amount.
In these hard times, we all have to harden up and run these types of places out of business. Don't give up on collecting your money and do everything you can to help out the places that give good work and pay you on time. The one lesson I learned is I am so thankful for my primary agency, Amicus Court Reporters in Chicago. I'm happy as a clam there.

[Lisa Breiter]

HI Melissa, thanks for your comments. I said "only" $700 because I've heard of reporters that are out thousands with this agency. It's a lot of money in my house, too. Heck, I treat $1 coupons like gold these days :)

[Eddie Kocon]

MM I wonder if I can figure out who it is?