Hi all and a Happy New Year. 
I did some work for a Karate School that opened in my town (this place has 2 locations), the other location is a much bigger studio in another town. This school has a well know name in the South Jersey area.
Anyway, month of Nov, I was handing out flyers and walked into this studio in my town and gave them a flyer. Owner ask me how much for cleaning a small area and I give a price (real cheap to as I needed Christmas cash) we agree to a price and a time and I go in do the work with my 16 yr old and this guy pays me cash. No problem.
He tells me that he wants to get the area cleaned once a month from here on in and he will call me.
Around Dec 10 he calls me and thanks me telling me how good everything looks and wants work done on Dec 22 and he will have either check or cash waiting for me that day. So on Dec 22 I pack up the van and my 16 yr old son and I head out to do the job.
We get there and I walk in and some kid (about early 20) is at the desk on the phone with the owner and he says over the phone for me to do the work and he will mail me a check that day Dec 22. So I said well that's not the deal as its cod, but I think your good for it (was I wrong) and we both laugh and we do the work and leave the invoice and go.
So now it's Dec 31 and still no payment. I have called last week and I do not get to speak to him nor do I get any phone call back. I have sent one letter and I am asking for payment by Jan 4. I also called again today Dec 31 and had to leave a message.
Now all this for guess how much: $53.50 that's it. It took me and my son 30 mins to do this job and 15 min is setting up and breaking down, so it's 15 min of real work, I charge the guy $53.50 with tax and he stiffs me.
Is it worth small claims court. To me, it is; just to show this guy I'm not going to take it.
What would you guys do.
I did some work for a Karate School that opened in my town (this place has 2 locations), the other location is a much bigger studio in another town. This school has a well know name in the South Jersey area.
Anyway, month of Nov, I was handing out flyers and walked into this studio in my town and gave them a flyer. Owner ask me how much for cleaning a small area and I give a price (real cheap to as I needed Christmas cash) we agree to a price and a time and I go in do the work with my 16 yr old and this guy pays me cash. No problem.
He tells me that he wants to get the area cleaned once a month from here on in and he will call me.
Around Dec 10 he calls me and thanks me telling me how good everything looks and wants work done on Dec 22 and he will have either check or cash waiting for me that day. So on Dec 22 I pack up the van and my 16 yr old son and I head out to do the job.
We get there and I walk in and some kid (about early 20) is at the desk on the phone with the owner and he says over the phone for me to do the work and he will mail me a check that day Dec 22. So I said well that's not the deal as its cod, but I think your good for it (was I wrong) and we both laugh and we do the work and leave the invoice and go.
So now it's Dec 31 and still no payment. I have called last week and I do not get to speak to him nor do I get any phone call back. I have sent one letter and I am asking for payment by Jan 4. I also called again today Dec 31 and had to leave a message.
Now all this for guess how much: $53.50 that's it. It took me and my son 30 mins to do this job and 15 min is setting up and breaking down, so it's 15 min of real work, I charge the guy $53.50 with tax and he stiffs me.
Is it worth small claims court. To me, it is; just to show this guy I'm not going to take it.
What would you guys do.