Questions are coming in from colleagues that I think you can all benefit from. I've posted one below, paraphrasing a bit so as not to expose the foreclosure cleanup company asking the question. I will send others periodically. (Don't forget to peek at the Golden Nuggets Box below prepared exclusively for you as a Premium Newsletter Subscriber -- invaluable additional info to guide you.)
How to Handle Being Charged for Damage Your Company Did Not Cause
Question:
How do we protect ourselves from getting blamed for damage that occurs to a property after we've worked on a home. We won a bid, completed the job, sent in all the before and after photos, and there was new damage to the home after we left. The assigning company is charging our company for the damage in the form of a chargeback.
Answer:
Hmm, that's a tough one. If it were me, I'd send in a written, notarized statement, with any photos capturing as many affected areas as possible showing the undamaged state after leaving the home. In the written statement, I'd request they remove the chargeback immediately. I'd then call them twice a day until it's removed. (The notarization is not necessary, but I'd do it to send a subliminal message that I'm serious and prepared to pursue legal action if necessary... this may speed up the process.)
Tip: In the future, take as many photos as possible for your personal file when working with this contractor to protect yourself. If you have problems getting paid all your monies from this job, certainly don't work with them again and pursue legal action, starting with filing a mechanic's lien against the home.
What is a Mechanic's Lien?
Do You Have Questions?
If you have a question as a new foreclosure cleanup company, please feel free to email me, and I will respond. May take me a bit to get back to you because there are so many of you, but I will respond. If I feel others can benefit from the foreclosure cleanup business Q&A, I will post the question anonymously on the blog and expand upon the answer in this newsletter.
Cassandra
DISCLAIMER: These Q&A's are for information purposes only and are not intended to replace appropriate legal, tax, insurance and other appropriate counsel.
