is it legal to stop payment for received service without notice? feels like robbery! what can i do? plumber.?

Question

after digging up and replacing sewer pipe ,a difficult job,profesionly done,customer seemed greatful payed with ck 3000.00
next day stoped payment . this is motel any one can see drain works well. owner is not responding to my efferts to contact. is this robbery! he has an invoice marked paid in full. I have bogus ck

Answer 1

This is actually theft. It is theft of a service, and a service of which he benefited from. The cost may or may not be high, and could be disputed, but the fact remains he still---owes you. Call your local police and file a complaint of theft. They will direct you as to whether you should follow this up in court.
He may however feel that you did something while you were there to negate some or all of the payment. Damage to property, didn't work right, had to have someone else finish it ...ect. Be prepared

Answer 2

It is legal to place the stop payment itself, but it is not legal to not pay you for the services rendered.

However if you can't get the Owner to pay you, your only real recourse is to take it to a small claims court.
With the stopped cheque as proof there's no way they won't rule in your favour, especially since it sounds like he wrote it after the completion of the work.

It would be up to him to prove you didn't do it.

Answer 3

Go see him in person and tell him you're going to take him to small claims court. Don't be threatening or anything. Make and keep copies of every single piece of paperwork related to this and make notes of the dates and times you tried to contact them, and of when you actually speak to him. If you do go to court, your evidence will far outweigh his paid in full invoice.

Answer 4

they are correct about small claims court. i would also spread the word around the local shops, where contractors buy their supplies, about this particular hotel so it does not happen to your colleagues.

Answer 5

Take him to small claims court.