Other taxidermists ( Ever send out a registered letter)

[BLKBEARKLR]

Ok so really just asking the other taxidermists on here if they have ever had to send out a registered letter to a customer?

Is there some type of format.

So I dont get a bunch of negative on here, I have 4 items that have been done since September have called and talked numerous times to the customers, I get the hey will be right over or hey coming this weekend. And nothing.

I think I have done my fair share of waiting.

Joe

[Michelle_Nelson]

Me personally, I have never had to send out a registered letter.  Thats not saying I havn't had some of the same issues with a few customers not picking up there animals in a timely manner.  It doesn't happen very often and I have only ever been stuck with 1 Shoulder Mount deer in my 9 years as a Taxidermist.  It's one of those things that happen.

I had a guy in March 2011 bring me a Bobcat to tan and have the skull cleaned.  He had been laid off and was short on cash so I worked with him on the payments.  Once he had given me the money to cover the cost of the bobcat I let him take his hide home.  I've still got the Bobcat Skull, it's been 5 months...  I've called him 3 different times.  It's probably just going to end up a display in my shop.

I've got 2 Bear Rugs from the Fall of 2010 that I've had done for 2 months maybe a little more.  Had great comunication with them until I sent them the bill and havn't heard from them since.  I've tried contacting them 3 times.  I expect they will get back to me eventually.

I have this written into my contract. .

5. I agree to pay MNT a 50% deposit before work begins and will pay the remainder of the balance due within 30 days upon notification that services have been completed.

6.  I agree that if payment is not completed within 30 days after notification, a storage fee of 5% per month will be added to the unpaid balance.  No work will be released until the balance is paid in full.  If specimen is not picked up within 90 days after notification of completion, owner forfeits the rights to the specimen.  MNT may dispose or sell the specimen.

I understand that things in life happen. . . people get laid off, medical emergincies, other unforseeable event. . . which cause money to become short.  Pretty much everyone has had this happen to them in the past or knows someone going through it.   

I try very hard to work with people. Especially if unforseable events happen.  All I ask for is the customer to be honest with me.  I don't need to know exactly what is going on in there lives, thats personal.  Just tell me your no working, or you had a medical emergancy and money is short.  I am more than willing to work with them.

[summit creek]

ive never sent a letter but ive had issues with cuot picking up completed work i had a half lifesize blackbear done and the customer still had a ballance of 650$ and wouldent call me back finally after 6 months he makes arangments to pick it up and wondered why he had a late fee its just part of this trade were in it hapens to all of us i try not to dwell on it too much and i work really well with customers who are honest and keep in contact

[Kuduman]

Joe:
 I have only had to send out one registered letter in nearly 10 years of operation. No real format to speak of except reviewing the conditions set forth in the agreement to pay for services rendered and the timeframe they agreed to adhere to, I like Michelle have every client sign an agreement form that clearly states what actions will be taken if a mount is left past 30 days. The registered letter protects you if you settel the account buy selling the finished piece to someone other than the client. I do take into account my end of the agreement and if I take longer than expected to complete the work I in turn give them longer to pick up the piece. That said to date I have been left hanging on one deer head and one bear rug in ten years. The bear rug was due to the client passing away and the deer head was due to a unemployment. Also I have sold one specimen ( to recover storage fees ) and two mounts from delinquent accounts. It always amazes me that a small minority of customers will call call and call until there their piece is ready then for some reason their phone doesn't work. 
My advice is simple, A fair but firm approach to settling delinquent accounts normally resolves these instances. Allowing any client to go more than 60 days past due will almost always lead to non recovery of balances.
 Hope this helps

Jeff
A.K.A. Kuduman