rebuilding deadlines/angry client

[richard.ucci at att.net]

Ken,
Thanks, and I think you're very close to the truth on this matter. How does she know that I didn't have a serious crisis during the past few months? 
I'll post what happens later in the week.

Rick Ucci/Ucci Piano

-------------- Original message from Ken Knapp <skyking at nep.net>: -------------- 


> About 10 years ago I was told I had cancer - supposedly terminal. But 
> all through that time I never once ignored any financial obligation. In 
> fact, I worried even more about them. In the end it turned out to be a 
> total misdiagnosis. 
> 
> That being said, remember a key point - she spent the money she had 
> planned to pay you with. IF (and I do mean IF) she had a mastectomy she 
> could have EASILY returned one of your many calls and explained her 
> situation and I am sure you would have cut her some slack. But she 
> didn't. Personally, I think she's playing games with you. 
> 
> Ken 
> 
> 
> 
> On Sat, 2006-07-01 at 21:14 +0000, richard.ucci at att.net wrote: 
> > List, 
> > Sept.15th,2005 I took delivery of a 1902 Schirmer upright from a woman 
> > who wanted it rebuilt. I had given her an estimate of total cost of 
> > which she paid half on the 15th and was to pay the balance when 
> > completed. 
> > I had said that I would try and have the piano done by Christmas 05, 
> > but as often happens, work schedual did not allow enough time to do 
> > that. 
> > I spoke with her just prior to Christmas, and she said to take as much 
> > time as I needed. In her defense, she never bugged me about the piano, 
> > and when it would be done. 
> > I finished it at the end of May , and spoke with her then to say that 
> > the work was completed. She needed to have a friend and her husband 
> > work out a time to pick it up, and was working a golf tournament on 
> > the weekend of June 2-4. She also told me that she had spent the tax 
> > refund that was to go towards the balance.That was the last time I 
> > heard from her. 
> > I left her a message about two weeks ago asking when she was comming 
> > to get the piano and pay the balance. No reply after two weeks. I 
> > called again two days ago, and told her I had another job comming in 
> > next week and needed the shop space, and would have to move her 
> > piano to a storage unit which would cost $150mo. plus $175 to move. 
> > Bingo! She left a message today reading me the riot act , telling me 
> > she just had a mastectomy, and the piano wasn't exactly the most 
> > important thing on her mind. I'm deeply sympathetic about this serious 
> > health crisis, but had no way of knowing that was the case. My 
> > messages to her were polite, and professional and without the benifit 
> > of a crystal ball. It was understood that payment was expected upon 
> > completion. 
> > I had intended to use the money from this job to take my family on a 
> > short summer vacation, and having already told my 9yr.old , felt under 
> > the gun. 
> > Help!!!! I need some advice on how to procede. Is there a way to mend 
> > this situation? 
> > 
> > Thanks, 
> > Rick Ucci/Ucci Piano 
> 
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