If I owed someone money, I wouldn't be able to face them. I certainly wouldn't call them to work for me again. Maybe she has forgotten it. Planning a Funeral and being overwhelmed you can forget your own name.

I think you might give her a written notice of the amount owed, before you start the new job. Just a gentle reminder.

Gayle

Sounds like a good sign to me!
As for doing the work for her again, you might want to ask for it to be paid in advance, or at least a good sized deposit.

Tami

Mallory, you are such a loving person - that's why I love reading your posts so much, and miss you when you don't post!

I would take the lady's order, then when she comes in to finalize the deal, talk to her about adding the owed $80 to the current charges. I would bet she has forgotten, too. I am sure she (or some family member) realizes that the money owed you is part of your livelihood, and would not intentionally cheat you out of it. If the lady doesn't 'get it', ask to speak to another family member and see if they will help.

As for Comcast, they will go out of their way to help a client - I have dealt with them on a couple of levels, and they have always beem MORE than fair with me.

As for karma, I definently believe in it!!!! Keep us posted on how the deal turns out with the lady and the owed money!!! Hugs, Jo

I' m like Gayle - if I owed someone only $80 for 2 years, I would be embarrassed to face them. She could have paid a little at a time and paid it off. But, of course I don't know her circumstances and maybe she has had nothing to pay. It's very nice of you to be pleasant to her. I am just wondering if she expects you to give her credit again?

And just maybe your credit with Comcast was karma. *S*

Gotta tell you this story. About a week after I got out of the hospital, a local florist shop delivered a beautiful arrangement of a dozen red roses. I had received other flowers, plants, etc, but nothing quite like this. I was surprised to see that it was from our local mortician and his wife. We have known each other for years and she and my sister were friends while growing up. I thought that was so sweet of them. Jammer said, "I don't know about you, but I'd be a little nervous if the mortician was sending me roses." LOL We've had lots of laughs over that!!!

LOL at Jammer, Maryann. I guess we in the funeral business have quite a stigma to live down (or live up to, depending LOL). My cousin jokingly calls me a ghoul. I fail to see the humor teehee. Customers call me "the obituary lady." Of course I appreciate the phone ringing with business but to be perfectly honest, there are some customers I don't want to hear from again. Sometimes, I feel like it is way too soon from the last time, so imagine how they feel. Sometimes, it's just too hard on them and on me. Despite their line of business, I can imagine your friends were happy being able to give you your flowers now. Know what I mean?

Aw man, KayJones, that was soooo sweet. I love your insight because what I neglected to mention was two years ago, my customer was burying her best friend. There was no insurance policy, so everything was paid from whatever she could come up with in addition to selling the friend's belongings. There was the added obligation of paying off the friend's debts with what she was able to sell. The friend lived a good life and worked hard to save and accumulate, but then she fell ill and fought it for a couple years. Everything went behind after that. I think my customer went overboard in trying to make things especially nice for the funeral. Her bill with me was $635. She could have done it much less expensively, but I thought about also I might just as well have given her that much of a discount. I often do for return customers, which is one reason I had pretty much resolved the 80 dollar issue in my mind.

Something else I neglected to mention is this lady did it before and called me promptly to come and pick up my money. We settled her order and my bill but the night before the service, she began to feel in retrospect that she hadn't ordered enough and added on another hundred program books. The additional books amounted to $95 dollars, which she was to pay me when I delivered the order the next morning. I sent the delivery by someone else, but she called the next day to tell me come and get it. I don't want the first story above to sound like a sad story that I fell for. I know it was genuine and didn't see the point in pressuring her.

I'll see how it goes. Haven't made up my mind if I'll mention it or not. I expect she will though.

{{gwi:1564080}}
Enjoy your day with a smile!

bestlawn, I'm sure the good feeling you get from helping this lady is worth much more than the $80! We need more people who put people ahead of $$$.

LOL @ I can imagine your friends were happy being able to give you your flowers now. Know what I mean? We all should remember to do this. *S*

My $.02,...would be to forget the past debt, but do not forget the present one! Ask for full payment upon delivery. You can say that you made a "policy change". If you don't, your generous nature can, and will, be used against you.
I've had similar situations. (Unless, your willing to give this customer another break.)

LOL Read and understood, Foggyj. My policy isn't going to change but in this case, everything will be taken care of through the funeral director. He'll pay me from the insurance policy. I'm going to her to help compose the book and video.

Sounds like a good deal. Good luck with the phone.