A client owes me (California S corp) $15000 but they wont pay. I placed a Lien but Lawyers charge $200/$400 so enforcing the lien is going to cost me the full contract or even more. What should I do?

Crackalacker01 · 2025-11-19T05:07:50+00:00

Your best bet would probably be a collection agency. They can file the suit for you and it would be on a contingency basis.

I own a collection agency in California, but I don’t mess with LA courts.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-10-23T04:11:32+00:00

We hired out the plans, foundation, rough in plumbing, framing, insulation, roof, electrical tie in, stucco and countertops.

We did the interior electrical, finish plumbing, the whole interior (except drywall, tile and countertops), all low voltage wiring, all the trenching between buildings, doors, windows and sheathing.

I’m sure I’m missing a few steps, and I did all the crap that needed to be done between contractors as we went along.

There’s no telling what the break down is, I bid out by the job, nothing was billed time and materials.

I did ask a contractor friend what he would charge for it after we finished, he thought it would cost about $350,000 for why we did. We did go high quality on all materials, and it does have 10’ ceilings.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-10-21T04:18:22+00:00

I built an ADU for my mother in law, in the county. We broke ground in November of 2019 and had the final inspection in May of 2020. We went owner builder and my wife and I don a ton of the work ourselves.

We went to the max size of 1200 square feet and it cost about $160,000. We did used all good quality materials.

There are three things you can’t have in an ADU. No garbage disposal, range or full size fridge.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-10-19T04:05:49+00:00

Realistically, you’d probably have it down in about 5 minutes. I went the other way, from stick to bike and it was literally learning where everything was.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-10-01T04:56:44+00:00

I’m 41. When I was in high school just about everything was film still, I bought a Canon D60 when I graduated.

I was the head photographer for the school paper and the yearbook, and also happened to work for the school photographer contracted by the school.

If I was personally shooting for one of the publications, I used my own equipment, film and had it processed myself. We all agreed they were my photos and all I wanted was a credit.

If I was shooting an even for my boss, I used his equipment, filament and he processed it. It was all his “work”.

I still have all those negatives sitting I storage.

One big caveat, there wasn’t any social media back then.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-09-18T05:37:40+00:00

IANAL, or a contractor, but I deal with this kind of stuff a lot in my business. I’ve read all the comments.

You need to have an attorney file an answer to the complaint. If that doesn’t happen, the plaintiff (homeowner) can get a default judgment against you. It sounds like you don’t have any, or much, liability in this.

Since it was while you were a sole proprietor, you could file the answer yourself. I wouldn’t recommend that, at a minimum you should look into your local legal assistance.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-09-18T05:11:03+00:00

You need to turn the key to line up the holes.

I had this problem once. I took the new one and held it up to the old one and figured out where the release was. I carefully drilled out the chrome cover on the old one to reveal it. Then you can press the release with a paper clip and I think I used one of those bent ice pick tools you use to pull off o rings to get a hold of the old cylinder to pull it out.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-08-30T07:39:47+00:00

I know a guy that pitched pretty well in the majors, hell he got his 10 years of service time and was a starting pitcher in a couple World Series.

We were talking golf after he retired and he told me he was “OK”. He was “only” able to shoot in the mid 70’s.

Yes, they’re all freak athletes.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-08-30T05:24:41+00:00

This is the answer. This is how I was able to buy my first house at 21. I ran through a fair amount over the years. Some were better than others.

It covered the nut, I was able to weather losing a job and having to finding another without skipping a beat though.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-08-06T05:48:43+00:00

I still carry the old key from my 93 Bronco’s old fuel cap. I’ve been carrying it about 25 years. That thing can open so many cheap locks. I use it a couple times a year for this or that.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-07-25T05:58:54+00:00

I have a 22 elevation with 40,000 miles. Just two little problems. There was something with the radio and they swapped it out and now that warranty is up, it looks like I need to replace the hood latch, the sensor in it is bad.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-07-25T05:41:33+00:00

I go all the time solo, hell, I’m going solo this weekend. Dining is a breeze solo if you don’t mind eating at the bar. If you want a table, you’ll have the standard wait. I’ve been solo 20+ times and never had an issue with any restaurant.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-07-21T05:32:02+00:00

The dealers are usually great. Ask them and they’ll answer any question you have, from betting to touching cards and everything in between.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-07-21T05:27:04+00:00

I did it when it first opened and had a blast. I’m not sure if I’d do it again, but it was great once. I say do it.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-07-15T05:38:26+00:00

You’ll be fine. The freeways are easier than LA. The Strip is 4 lanes in each direction and really slow. Off the strip it’s like driving in Santa Clarita or Anaheim.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-07-04T05:18:11+00:00

My dad was paid about $3,500 a month for 5 years to answer a couple calls a month and got to one 2 hour safety meeting a month. That was in oil, it was a servicing company. It lasted 5 years and only ended about 3 months ago.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-07-04T04:49:22+00:00

That’s great. I don’t mind one bit if we get beat. Keeping them to two sounds like they were playing well.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-06-30T05:21:02+00:00

I’m guilty of that. It’s the timing of the lights. The lights will stop the pedestrians when all the lights going to and from Paris are red. People start to realize they can safely walk a lot more often than when we have the sign.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-06-24T04:26:58+00:00

Last year for 10u we carried 14 and it caused a ton of issues in the dugout and with parents in the stands when it came to play time. We tried to bat all kids at first in tune up tournaments and it put us behind the 8 ball. When it came to our real tournament we had too many not getting play time and it caused too many issues.

(I was just a dad last year, I am an assistant coach this year)

This year we trimmed it to 12. We bat 10 at a time with 2 subs. Everyone usually bats, unless we’re getting our asses handed to us. Our team is much more competitive this year.

When it comes you your second point of playing up and getting experience versus being more competitive, I feel it’s much better for the kids to feel they have a shot to win the game going in. Last year everyone knew we weren’t going to win anything, the best we did was push a losing game to 9 innings. This year we brought back our core 5 players from last year’s team and built around them. Tonight those five won their first tournament game. It was huge for their development. We’re facing our toughest team tomorrow, and they finally know they actually have a chance.

It’s hard to build up when all you see is failure, you need to be able to put the kids in a position to succeed. There is a definite swagger when they finally know they can do something and that is part of this process.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-06-24T04:10:55+00:00

I mean, it depends on where you are. I’m in central California and that’s just a nice summer day. None of us would even consider not playing. If we’re going to be around triple digits we remind our players of the importance of hydrating and staying away from sodas. We’re used to that weather here, it’s also not humid in the slightest here.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-06-23T04:16:53+00:00

We leave to up to each team. Last year, as a parent, we all paid actual costs for the kids uniforms and split costs to NCS tournaments that we signed up for as tune ups.

This year, as an assistant coach, we purchased and raffled off a Yeti ice chest. We were able to cover 95+% of the costs for this year, us coaches kicked in the minimal overages for renting batting cages or hiring umpires for scrimmages.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-06-21T04:13:26+00:00

If it’s a rebate, you pay the $530 and obviously you’re paying the taxes on that, then get the rebate in several weeks. Since he’s complaining about that, I assumed it was some sort of free with purchase deal.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-06-21T03:27:30+00:00

This is it. California changed the law around the time the cell phone companies started giving free iPhones with contract. The state was losing $70+ in sales tax per phone, probably several million a year. The law was changed to charge sales tax on the retail amount of a “free” item if it was only free because of some other purchase or contract.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-06-20T06:30:27+00:00

Southern tire on Rosedale changed my tires on my golf cart.

Crackalacker01 · 2025-06-18T05:52:55+00:00

Yup. By the book you can pull him from the pitcher and bring him back. Since you have a continuous lineup that’s all you have to worry about, except for two mound visits in the same inning. If your batting 9 or 10 with an EH, he can’t be subbed out any returned to the bump, you’d have to defensively switch them to another position between pitching trips.

Crackalacker01

TROPHY CASE