Premium Members Brad Grimmett Posted January 27, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 I'm wondering if any of you guys can help me. I'm assuming many of you probably can because all of us has had to wait WAY too long for a paycheck at one time or another. I did a day of steadicam on a show in the middle of November. I worked on this show for quite a while as an operator, but I only did one day of steadicam. Well, I still haven't been paid for my rental. They gave me a bunch of crap about the accountant being on vacation, and then when she was "back" from vacation (about a month later) they told me that the invoice had been lost and that I needed to re-invoice and that she would cut a check as soon as she received it. Of course I sent another invoice that day (late December) but I still haven't been paid. I've heard that after 30 days you can legally charge them interest, but I don't know what the percentage is and haven't been able to check into it during business hours since I'm working 6 day weeks right now. So, does anyone have any insight about this? Or, if not, does anyone know where I should call to get the info? I'm in L.A. and I'm guessing that it's some labor dept. Any help would be greatly appreciated. It's just a one day rental (I got paid for labor through payroll), so calling a lawyer is probably overkill if I want to keep any of the money. I've called and called and it's become apparent that I need to take further action. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Erwin Landau Posted January 27, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 Hi Brad, I did two shows of the Sharon Osborne Show back in October... Guess what? They avoiding me since then and no check in the mail yet. I was told that you can go to the labor board and request there assistance... After 60 days the employer can be charged the full amount owed to the employee per day every day until you receive a check... Give it a try... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Eric Fletcher S.O.C. Posted January 27, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 I was told that you can go to the labor board and request there assistance... After 60 days the employer can be charged the full amount owed to the employee per day every day until you receive a check... That only goes for your taxable hourly rate, NOT your rental. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members David Allen Grove Posted January 27, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 I've called and called and it's become apparent that I need to take further action. I would suggest faxing them an invoice every few days. I had this problem on a show recently and once I started faxing them, the check showed up in my mailbox soonafter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brad Grimmett Posted January 27, 2004 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 Hi Brad, I did two shows of the Sharon Osborne Show back in October... Guess what? They avoiding me since then and no check in the mail yet. That sucks Erwin. Let me know what you figure out. I'll do the same. Eric, it seems like you have some insight. If you have any tips I'd love to hear em. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Michael Stumpf Posted January 28, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 If you don't mind NEVER working for this company again. Which doesn't sound like you'd want too, I'd just send a demand letter. In it state that they have a "reasonable" amount of time, say 2 weeks, from that day to pay the rental in full, or you will "excercise your legal right and collect the payment in full plus monetary damages." A letter on a law office company letterhead wouldn't hurt either, with the, "P.S. next letter will come from the lawyer himself" added to the bottom. You could also let them know you will contact the Labor Board as well. You could let them know that you'll be sure to excercise you 1st Amendment Right of free speech and post the name of the Company and the producer's on this website warning ALL operator's to NOT do business with them, and further, if they are a unionized company, that you will call IATSE regarding this issue. It worked for me in 2001 and I got a call from the companies lawyer the next day, verifying my address and where the check should be sent. I surely didn't want to EVER work for that company again anyway. It was one of the most unorganized and unprofessional bunch of people I'd ever worked with, so the contact loss, was no loss! Good Luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Bryan Trieb Posted January 28, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 Michael....very efficient and professional, bravo! It sure beats the time I showed up at a production company studio/office with 2 of the biggest goons I could find and pounded my fist on the boardroom table untill I had the cheque in my hand. Of course, I'll never work for them again....but man that was fun! Bryan "The Enforcer" Trieb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Gross Posted January 28, 2004 Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 There's nothing like going into an office, sitting down across from someone's desk and REFUSING TO MOVE. Once I put my feet up on a real jerk's desk. Three hours of my time, but I got my money and felt great doing it. Next time I'll bring Cheetos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericoh Posted January 28, 2004 Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 It took one company close to a year to pay me and my crew for a music video we shot for them. I was DP/Steadicam on it and none of my crew got paid (AC's, Grips, Electrics). Everytime I called, I would get the usual "we are sending the cheques out right now" routine. They would ask for my address evertime I called but no cheque would ever arrive. We tried sending them letters but to no avail. We finally went down to the office en masse, and said that we were not leaving until we were compensated. The office manager threatened calling the police but we were nt intimidated by this as we weren't doing anything illegal or threatening. We all got paid the next day (accountant had left that day) PLUS the production added a little something to "compensate for the hassle". Needless to say that company is now defunct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatrickvanWeeren Posted January 29, 2004 Report Share Posted January 29, 2004 Hi folks, Basically it sucks, but being an "ARTIST(?)"and not an "ACCOUNTANT", we also tend to be slow and easy-going on payment; they know, it's easier to deal with you than e.g. a Lab or Kodak/Fuji or studio's. Don't accept a two month period etc. Don't be easy on the contract. Always confirm prices by fax or in writing, set to date as well. An extra help is being the FIRST to send a check, make notice of the expiration date and be straight forward and clear from the beginning. (Sorry but the first bill will be paid easier. (Most of the time your not the most expensive bill they get.) I also ***** -up when i gave the bill personally, always bring/send t to the office. never give it to the producer on location. Anyway its a pain in the ... Kind regards, Patrick "my girlfriend is a producer" Van Weeren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Erwin Landau Posted February 4, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 That sucks Erwin. Let me know what you figure out. I'll do the same.Eric, it seems like you have some insight. If you have any tips I'd love to hear em. Hey Brad, I by passed the UPM and the Producer by going directly to accounting (I got the number through a friend that used to work for the show) I bugged the hell out of that accountant. It looks like she when to town with the UPM (She claimed he never gave her my info to begine with) as he called me back within a day and asked me to fax the new Invoice imidiately and it would be taken care of by the end of the week... We will see... as soon as the check get's in AND clears I'll let you know... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brad Grimmett Posted February 6, 2004 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted February 6, 2004 Hey Brad, I by passed the UPM and the Producer by going directly to accounting (I got the number through a friend that used to work for the show) I bugged the hell out of that accountant. It looks like she when to town with the UPM (She claimed he never gave her my info to begine with) as he called me back within a day and asked me to fax the new Invoice imidiately and it would be taken care of by the end of the week... We will see... as soon as the check get's in AND clears I'll let you know... Funny, I heard the same BS from the UPM and accountant as well. Luckily I've gotten the check now. I had just contacted a relative of mine that's an attorney to write a letter for me. Check came before I got to threaten them, which almost bums me out, considering what a pain in the ass they were to me. I wanted to be a pain in the ass to them as well! Well, at least I got paid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbalsdon Posted February 13, 2004 Report Share Posted February 13, 2004 There's nothing like going into an office, sitting down across from someone's desk and REFUSING TO MOVE. Once I put my feet up on a real jerk's desk. Three hours of my time, but I got my money and felt great doing it. Next time I'll bring Cheetos. Reminds me of a friend who sent his wife and kids to a slow to pay company. They camped noisily in reception and everytime a client entered the building wife loudly complained to the receptionist about how long they'd been waiting for payment. Didn't take long for cheque to be signed. Phil Balsdon Sydney, Australia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brad Grimmett Posted February 13, 2004 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted February 13, 2004 Reminds me of a friend who sent his wife and kids to a slow to pay company. They camped noisily in reception and everytime a client entered the building wife loudly complained to the receptionist about how long they'd been waiting for payment.Didn't take long for cheque to be signed. Phil Balsdon Sydney, Australia Now that's a good one! I'll have to hire a wife and kids the next time I need a check. Anybody know of any famlies for hire? :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Erwin Landau Posted February 14, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 14, 2004 We will see... as soon as the check get's in AND clears I'll let you know... It did. Today. 3 1/2 Months after I was called in for an emergancy "fill in"... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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