Home Improvement Contractor - Licensed Contractors

Im a painting contractor, anyone no what legal action I should take n this situation? Any Lawyers out there?

My contracts state that I should receive payment within 30 of submiting an invoice. I now have almost $7000.00 that has taken longer than that. Should I get a lawyer, make threats of it, or can i make a civil case of it?

Public Comments

1. Put a lien on the property. Call your local courthouse and ask them what to do. They will give you the information on how to file a lien.
2. put a lien on the home...look up the laws for your state and reserch what needs to be done. usually when you inform the homeowner you are putting a lein on their home, they either pay quickly or raise hell with whomever hasnt paid you....
3. Are you a licensed contractor? OK, since you haven't responded to my question, I'm going to assume that you are in fact not licensed. Don't know what state your in but in CA an unlicensed "contractor" cannot perform a job that exceeds 750.00 per contract. So I expect a couple of things are going on. Either your charging the kind of dough that a licensed contractor would charge, and your clients know that they don't have to pay you, or the work is sub-standard and they are refusing to pay. If you sue, you could wind up in jail for over this.
4. Hi there, oh the joys of being self employed! I would start sending them bills with interest on it, and a note explaining that payment was due within 30 days and that you will require payment by say the end of the week, or they should call to make arrangements. (I would try not to get too nasty, as they will likely complain to others about your work or something, not good for business) But of course you do need to get paid, but hopefully you can do this without it getting ugly, plus you don't really want the cost of legal fees etc. Good luck, hope this helped!
5. from a lawyers advice, get a lawyers advice. just kidding, im not a lawyer but i did take a class in it. if you received the full amount due then go along happy and make sure your next contract has more contingencies with so and so amount paid in the beginnings. As the work comes to an end, your final payment must be recieved by X date so you have the full figures owed to you finished on the very day you finish. now you owe me money for my opinions. lol.