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what would you do? after the ISABEL HURRICANE, I got 2 calls from different customer asking to come down and give an estimate for the sign that collapse due to the hurricane. the 1st one asked if I can do a proposal so he can send it to insurance co., the 2nd customer so did the same. I did the proposal for both and took to their places. I didn't hear from them over a month, after that the 1st customer call and ask me to come down and talk about the new sign, he say he gotta check, so I went and spoke with him, he asked to fix the same sign, so I told him the proposal he summite was for a new sign not to fix the old sign, so I told him I can't do that, he said, but we want you to do the sign, and , I say "yes, I want to do the sign for you, but not that way", then he said "well, if you don't want to do it, fine". I went back the shop, the 2st customer call, asked if I can come to their place, He say they got the check, but the insurance co. print their old business name and the check was on both manes, he say he was trying to cash it , but the mane of the co. wasn't right, so he asked if I can sign the check, because they would like to try it again with my signature,and I did and wait there, he asked me to go back the shop and he'll call me as soon he find out. Is been 3 weeks and no one has get back to me yet?
I'M CONCERNED IF THEY CASH THE CHECKS, WILL I GET TROUBLE WITH "IRS"?
Any help I would apreciate. Thaks
-------------------- Sal Cabrera Signs By Sal New Freedom , PA
The goal of Yesterday will be the Stating Point of Tomorrow! Posts: 686 | From: New Freedom , PA US | Registered: Nov 1999
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Sal we would like to speek with you. Signed; IRS
-------------------- Ed CJ Williams CJ Graffx Christiana,Pa. cjgraffx@comcast.net Just have'n fun.... Posts: 296 | From: Christiana,Pa. | Registered: May 1999
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Hi Sal! Justis says Hi to Wesley. The same thing happened to me after a hailstorm. A place down the road called me for an estimate, bla bla bla. It was a pretty good estimate as the sign was a double-sided 4X10 with raised cut-out letters. I submitted the bid and a whole season went by...Lo & Behold, their old signs is up with a fresh coat of paint. I did nothing and luckily had not signed any checks, but if I had it to do over again, I would find out who their insurance company is and report them. What both of our customers did is an ugly little thing called insurance FRAUD. It makes all our rates go up and is not fair. I think I would ask someone who knows about the IRS so that if you were liable to get into trouble, you would know what to do. Good Luck, my friend! Love- JILL
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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I don't know about the IRS, but I would have never signed my name to that check because it wasn't made out to you, was it? The only way your name could be on the back is if that customer gave you the check as payment, then it would have become a 2-party check. I don't know about Penn, but no bank in Fla will cash a 2-party check anymore. You used to be able to do that once in a while, but no more...something to do with the terrorist act or whatever they call it. Ever since 911 no more 2-party checks. You might be laundering money for a terrorist cell or something like that.
It sounds like both of those guys are unscrupulous businessmen. They got the insurance money, and now they want to keep it. They could care less about you. Don't let them use you like that. Send them both a bill for your time doing the estimate, and then wash your hands of the whole deal. Now I make no claims to being a model businessman, but these are my thoughts on the matter, and that is what I would do. Others may have a more diplomatic route of course, so hear them out too. Good luck !
-------------------- Jeff Ogden 8727 NE 68 Terr. Gainesville FL, 32609 Posts: 2138 | From: 8827 NE 68 Terr Gainesville Fl 32609 | Registered: Aug 2002
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If you explain it to them as clearly as you have explained it here it my vote=60/40 in your favor.
-------------------- Gavin Chachere Plotter in the garage,New Orleans La.
"Sgts Shugart and Gordon again request permission to rope down to crash site two" Posts: 1223 | From: new orleans.la. | Registered: Mar 2000
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"If you explain it to them as clearly as you have explained it here it my vote=60/40 in your favor."
Sounds like the same ratio on a subject that caused so much fury a few days ago (ahem). But precisely in whose favor has been remanded to the flavor of the month club for further scrutiny :-)
Kind regards,
Fran
-------------------- Fran Maholland Pro Sign NJ Posts: 169 | From: Voorhees, New Jersey | Registered: Feb 2003
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Fran if you're gonna dig at me you better do way better than that....you've demonstrated over the course of a couple of posts that you can't leave well enuff alone,don't have squat to say beyond babbling and expect quoting enuff movies and making enuff literary references will add enuff words and substance to a post in order to cover up the fact that you really don't have a damn thing to say....doesn't work. You obviously have some other agenda to being here and I hope its not practicing your writing skills b/c what you just posted to me indicates maybe a dictionary and a thesaurus might help you out in that field and give you a grasp of when and how to use certain words and how to put them into the proper context. Have a nice day
-------------------- Gavin Chachere Plotter in the garage,New Orleans La.
"Sgts Shugart and Gordon again request permission to rope down to crash site two" Posts: 1223 | From: new orleans.la. | Registered: Mar 2000
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There are no end of businesses who will try and use you to squeeze a few bucks out of their insurance company after a storm. This is how to keep them from wasting your time: Tell them you will write up a contract for the cost of a new sign, and that AFTER they sign a contract and give you a deposit, you'll be happy to forward a copy of the invoice to their insurance company for reimbursement. The ones that are just trying to scam some insurance money will hang up and go waste someone else's time.
Oh, BTW Pat, there WAS damage in Western PA after Isabel.
-------------------- "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
Cam Bortz Finest Kind Signs Pondside Iron works 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988" Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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My favorite response to that is "If I would screw the insurance company, what makes you think I will be honest with you?" My quote stands. Any questions, I will call your adjuster.
BTW Insurance $ is not taxable, so calling the IRS won't work.
Regards
[ December 04, 2003, 07:21 PM: Message edited by: Rick Beisiegel ]
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3486 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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I got in a traffic accident one time and the insurance paid for having the section of the custom striping replaced. I never completed that striping, but was compensated for my loss. I don't think I ripped off the insurance.
These folks were compensated for their loss. You were used.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6718 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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How is this senerio fraud? The business payed for the original sign, pays premiums, and collects after damages. Whatever they do with the money should be no concern of the insurance co.
This isn't when you crash your, (your banks), car, and don't get it fixed.
Of course- insurance is a strange animal.
I like insurance jobs- no haggling allowed.
-------------------- "B0LT" on the chat room thing.
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