Customers not picking work up

David Cleverly · June 13th, 2012, 06:22 PM

Hi again,

Wanted to ask the legal responsibilities a business owner has when chasing people to pick up the work they have asked us to do.

In 2009 we were given a camcorder to take from it the vision of a family that were killed in a motor vehicle accident. Their family wanted the last vision of their loved ones copied to DVD, which we did. This was organised through a family friend who had known us for years. At the same time we were asked to copy our old friend's wedding video to DVD.

Several phonecalls, SMS's and emails later, still no response fro either family. Here we are three years down the track.

We still have the camera (I have threatened selling it to recoup costs without response) and the wedding DVD's.

Any advice?

Bob Hart · June 13th, 2012, 09:16 PM

Family 1.

Maybe it is a combination of somebody having forgotten about it and not wanting to pick at the trauma sore. It depends on how hardnosed business-wise you want to be about this one whether you really want to sell off their camera. I think you may need to seek some sort of court order before you go doing that, otherwise you could be stealing.

Family 2.

Has there been a divorce. In that event, the wedding video is the last thing anyone is going want to keep as I have myself discovered. As a motivator or attention getter, maybe send a registered letter to both partners, suggesting that recourse to legal action is being considered or that you intend to sell the debt off to a collection agency.

Whatever transpires, the endurance of friendship will likely come to an end. I doubt that the legal costs involved in recovering this debt are going to be worth pursuing it.

Mike Watson · June 26th, 2012, 11:03 PM

It happens to me from time to time. After about a year I put it in a box, hide it, and forget about it. When I come upon the box ten years later, I pitch it.

This is why people charge 50% up front. At least you could have made 50% on this deal.

David Cleverly · June 26th, 2012, 11:49 PM

Strange how it includes their original wedding video and a dvd copy of the same AND a pretty darned good video camera!

You would at least think they would want the camera back! :-)

Lee Mullen · August 7th, 2012, 09:03 PM

Send it back to them with registered post and an invoice. Simple.

David Cleverly · August 7th, 2012, 10:30 PM

Yes. Simple if you know where they live.

Chris Davis · August 11th, 2012, 02:22 PM

Mike's solution is the same as what I'd probably do. Stick it away and forget about it. At this point it's not worth thinking about.

June 13th, 2012, 06:22 PM	#1
David Cleverly Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sydney NSW Posts: 220	Customers not picking work up - legal obligations? Hi again, Wanted to ask the legal responsibilities a business owner has when chasing people to pick up the work they have asked us to do. In 2009 we were given a camcorder to take from it the vision of a family that were killed in a motor vehicle accident. Their family wanted the last vision of their loved ones copied to DVD, which we did. This was organised through a family friend who had known us for years. At the same time we were asked to copy our old friend's wedding video to DVD. Several phonecalls, SMS's and emails later, still no response fro either family. Here we are three years down the track. We still have the camera (I have threatened selling it to recoup costs without response) and the wedding DVD's. Any advice?

June 13th, 2012, 09:16 PM	#2
Bob Hart Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PERTH. W.A. AUSTRALIA. Posts: 4,476	Re: Customers not picking work up - legal obligations? Family 1. Maybe it is a combination of somebody having forgotten about it and not wanting to pick at the trauma sore. It depends on how hardnosed business-wise you want to be about this one whether you really want to sell off their camera. I think you may need to seek some sort of court order before you go doing that, otherwise you could be stealing. Family 2. Has there been a divorce. In that event, the wedding video is the last thing anyone is going want to keep as I have myself discovered. As a motivator or attention getter, maybe send a registered letter to both partners, suggesting that recourse to legal action is being considered or that you intend to sell the debt off to a collection agency. Whatever transpires, the endurance of friendship will likely come to an end. I doubt that the legal costs involved in recovering this debt are going to be worth pursuing it. Last edited by Bob Hart; June 13th, 2012 at 09:19 PM. Reason: error

June 26th, 2012, 11:03 PM	#3
Mike Watson Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,082	Re: Customers not picking work up - legal obligations? It happens to me from time to time. After about a year I put it in a box, hide it, and forget about it. When I come upon the box ten years later, I pitch it. This is why people charge 50% up front. At least you could have made 50% on this deal.

June 26th, 2012, 11:49 PM	#4
David Cleverly Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sydney NSW Posts: 220	Re: Customers not picking work up - legal obligations? Strange how it includes their original wedding video and a dvd copy of the same AND a pretty darned good video camera! You would at least think they would want the camera back! :-)

August 7th, 2012, 09:03 PM	#5
Lee Mullen Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Western Australia Posts: 576	Re: Customers not picking work up - legal obligations? Send it back to them with registered post and an invoice. Simple.

August 7th, 2012, 10:30 PM	#6
David Cleverly Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sydney NSW Posts: 220	Re: Customers not picking work up - legal obligations? Yes. Simple if you know where they live.

August 11th, 2012, 02:22 PM	#7
Chris Davis Trustee Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Willmar, MN Posts: 1,400	Re: Customers not picking work up - legal obligations? Mike's solution is the same as what I'd probably do. Stick it away and forget about it. At this point it's not worth thinking about.