102
Root
5y

My previous employer still (contractually) owes me $5k. I still have push access to the repo and prod servers. Should I add a reminder to the admin dashboard? (After yet another email reminder, ofc.)

I could also mail him an invoice, since I have his addresses. Then again, it has been about a year since I was supposed to receive it, so maybe I'll just file a lawsuit. 🙄

Should @Root sue her ex-boss?

Comments
  • 29
    @irene The email will get ignored. So, lawsuit? Because i'm thinking lawsuit.
  • 39
    @Root
    - Email
    - Wait a week
    - lawsuit
  • 16
    @Root you have every right for a lawsuit so, yes. Lawsuit
  • 29
    Did you send a registered letter where they have to sign on recieval?
  • 26
    Or a consigned letter first possibly, so he can't say he didn't get your warnings
  • 19
  • 15
    push an invoice on prod 😂
  • 27
    🙂
    Certified letter with final reminder/contract/dates/etc, email containing a copy of the letter, and a lawsuit one week later.

    Sounds lovely!
  • 3
    @irene Thanks!
  • 2
    @Root 🚩 for updates
  • 1
  • 1
    Please take this to judge Judy
  • 9
    Lawsuit, don’t push, they can turn around the tables if you do that. Keep us updated please
  • 1
  • 10
    Do not E-Mail them, do not push (push could be seen as a breach into their system, this could get you in trouble)

    Over here we have strict warning-procedurs we have to follow to start a lawsuit. Make sure to follow your regional procedurs before filing a lawsuit. Contact your lawyer, if you don't have one, get one.

    Send them a letter with return receipt, this way they can't deny they have gotten the letter.

    Also, put a bag full of poo on their doormat! (don't do that)
  • 7
    @marvinpoo username checks out

    Wait, this isn't reddit
  • 3
    If they're close to your hometown, why not giving them a visit and explaining them that you'll sue them if they keep ignoring you face to face.

    Might save yourself time and money.
  • 1
    [ Notification brackets ]
  • 6
    Write him a formal letter where you give him one final chance to pay the amount he owes you within a certain number of days. Make it a reasonable term e.g. 7 days, so that he has some time to get the money. Clearly but friendly state that you will take legal action if he does not meet your request as you already requested for it multiple times. Send the letter in such a way that he needs to sign for having it delivered. Try to keep the letter friendly but as formal as possible. Usually this should help! Good luck!
  • 1
    Yup, that's suit-able.

    You still have access? That's an argument in your regard.. x)
  • 4
    People commenting for a lawsuit: is that really necessary for $5k because of lawyer costs?
  • 8
    @retnikt The loser pays all legal fees.

    I have an employment contract that specifies the $5k, provided by his lawyer. I have emails, screenshots, and slack history showing this. No lawyer would fight it, and the judge would rule more or less instantly on it. The threat of a lawsuit is to force him to settle outside of court, because otherwise he'll need to pay more due to legal fees.

    Asshole broke every promise he ever made me, and there have been plenty. I won't let him do it again.
  • 7
    Please, @Root, as clear as it seems to you, have a lawyer check everything first.
    I have been in a similar situation: to be right does not seem to be the same as to get right.

    In my case the judge gave him 30% right and me 70% (or some law-bs like that) which ended with me having some crappy 100’sh €s because I needed to pay parts as well.

    Also, maybe you can get an law-insurance for that beforehand...
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 3
    @Root in my country we have work union's for this kind of matter, and they will handle everything for you (much cheaper than a lawyer too)

    Don't you have that in your country?
  • 6
    If you have paperwork, just sell the debt. A broker company will gladly buy it for something like $4.9k and they'll also make your former employer pay interest so they'll end up paying about 5.4k. Cheaper than lawsuit and they get that life lesson sting straight where it hurts the most, in the wallet.
  • 3
    @cprn I will absolutely look into this!
  • 1
    Email yes, sue yes, push no.

    Just sue their ass and get intrest and damages added to the original invoice.
  • 5
    @NeatNerdPrime That might be hard. If @Root can't prove on paper she pursed the case from the very beginning they have an excuse of not being notified about the delay and it's often enough to not get the interest. Also, winning doesn't mean she'll be reinforced for the costs, it depends on the circumstances.

    I had the doubtful pleasure of fighting for my paycheck 3 times:

    * 1st, I sued and got 55% of what was own to me after 8 months (no interest + I had to pay the lawyer),

    * 2nd, I sued same company again and got around 120% but it took over 2 years (they paid the costs and interest),

    * 3rd, different company, I sold the debt straight away and got 98% in 1 month no stress.
  • 2
    Sell the debt. 5k in small claims court won't be worth your time or headache
  • 2
    @Root any update?
  • 4
    @Coffe2Code Finding an attorney has been slow going since they're all only open when I'm at work 😅
  • 4
    @Root The attorney's staff has been exceptionally short and rude, and they want to charge me $350 for a consult, plus $450/hr thereafter... if they think there is a case. It's enforcing a contract, which both I and the company lawyer have furnished, with evidence of contact and deferral aplenty; ofc there is a case 🙄. It also works out to an $800 letter.

    So I'm looking elsewhere.
  • 1
    @Root Holy crap. In my case there was a website, I sent them the copy of the contract and five overdue invoices, they checked everything and sent me the money. It took a month or so and I know it wasn't their usual case but I didn't had to pay anything (normally they ask for 20$/month for handling up to 5 cases, then it goes up). The way they operate is they sent maybe three template letters in my name (each time I got notified) and my ex employer finally agreed to meet with them and they made them pay 118% of what they owed me, the debt company took 20%, I got 98% (rounding up). Sorry to hear you're having issues with that.

    I'd recommend the website but it's a Polish company and they only handle local cases. Did you try to just google invoice factoring? It's hard to imagine there are no such on-line services elsewhere.
  • 0
    @cprn I'll look into it; thanks!
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