Okay Mailman, Patrick, and George, here is a true story. It is not racist, it is the gods honest truth, I was there, and saw it happen. A number of years ago one of the drivers brought in a medium large dog crate that had the door and vent holes covered with paper. It was labeled, "Rush, Live Animal". The crate was so heavy it was all one man could do to lift and move it. Anyhow, some of the overally curious dock workers moved the crate and whatever was inside hissed! Well, one of them asked the driver, "do you have any idea what is in there," to which he said, "no, the office was closed and everyone was gone when he picked up the mail. It might be some sort of cat." So the dock worker went over to the crate and gave it a shake, and whatever was inside hissed again. His curiousity overly peaked, he decided to pull a little piece of the paper off the crate and looked inside. Upon observing the contents of the crate he instantly became several shades lighter complected and ran inside, refusing to return to the dock. Word quickly spread from inside what was in the crate, and most of the black workers made a bee line off of the dock, leaving us white folks behind. Inside the crate was an eight foot Burmese Python! As to the bee situation, what happens is many of the workers fear being stung, due to allergies. As you are aware some of the bees occaisionally escape from the wood and wire crate they are shipped in, and the workers fear the loose bees will sting them. I have explained numerous times to them that if they set the crate in one location that is open the loose bees will come to the crate and stay there with the rest of her pals. I further explain to them that the only thing they have to fear, regarding being bee stung, is if one of the loose ones gets caught in thier hair or clothing and stings while attempting to get free or if they were to crush one. I am seriously allergic to bee stings, and generally do not fear handling them, but those people who have never been around them do not understand how the domesticated bee acts, or how to treat them.

For me to order new doors, the company charged me almost $2,000 for 34 doors when I had some of the cabinets modified. When Cabfiascoguy ordered these doors, he only PAID $2,000 for ALL the doors because his company got a huge discount. I just WISH the Judge had asked me what I think is fair. I just WISH the Judge wasn't a lazy, milquetoast, milksop, candy a$$ and showed some courage. He didn't DISCERN CRAP. My 14 year old son said that the Judge restated the OBVIOUS and judged nothing fairly. JUSTICE, in our country today, is NOT FAIR. I know this. You know this. It's just the way it is. Just so you know, the remaining $7,250 from the balance was GONE, SPENT within the first two months to pay for the LABOR OF: uninstallation, reinstallation of modified cabinets, redoing all of the crown molding (labor), measuring and ordering new doors. This did NOT cover any prepping of the location to paint on site, the stripping of ALL of the cabinet boxes, sanding of the doors the second time they were painted, the glazing, the products/paints/supplies, or the Painting labor. And let's not forget the WOOD bill for redoing 5" crown and rope molding. Also, NONE of these charges alone included modifications to my HOOD or master bedroom TV Cabinet! OR having to have the granite template guy return twice and redo the templates because the first time was when we found out our cabinet bases were not anchored to the FLOOR! ALL, and I mean ALL of the labor was piecemealed out. Many different hands were in this pie. WHY? NO ONE wanted to end up in court of to take on this job. I was so upset, I can see why no one wanted to help me. After the sixth guy turned us down, knowing this would end up in court, I cried. I couldn't hold it back. That is how I found out how to get the job done. I couldn't even get an estimate in writing from one person. Not to re-try this, know that it was AFTER the second painter finished that the doors turned green. Why? No primer from the FIRST GUY!!!! ALL doors turned key lime GREEN!!!!!!! THESE had to be stripped and repainted, which has not been completed OR PAID for. I had someone to repaint them the third time, but has now gone on to work for a company and can't do them. The next most REASONABLE BID FOR PAINTING ONLY THE DOORS: is $6,800. This does not count glazing and reinstallation of the doors. I can't find a company, and the LORD knows I've tried, to paint my doors the color I need....and that I can afford. Please, please, tell me if you know of someone. I'm in NE Florida. And just for giggles, let's not forget the court costs, legal fees, anger management classes my husband attended, homestudy bill, and other miscellaneous charges. I could have ordered the TOP of the line Omega cabinets for what we've now invested for these shoddy cabinets. OH, by the way, I still need two drawer boxes modified. The drawers won't close because the boxes aren't square. I have legitimate receipts for $10,000 and ADDITIONAL $24,000, not counting finishing. You think I don't feel shafted and like a fool? I HATE this rage I feel. I hate this bitterness I have. And believe me, my husband is bitter towards me because I chose this guy. $34,000 down the line and I don't have this mess resolved. It's NOT just the kitchen: it's my master bedroom, too. I live in a large area, but our little home town atmosphere is small. The judge lives within a mile of my home. I WILL run into that judge somewhere or at a party. I've learned we know some of the same people. I WILL see him again, I am sure. I just don't know what I'll do at that time. I know this, it ain't gonna be sweet nothings I whisper in his ear the next time I see him.

I have never heard of a "call-in" to a proceeding. If they gave you a phone number on the notice, the first step I would take is call it Monday morning, and ask if you are allowed to file a statement. If you get lucky, the person will indicate what to file, where to file, etc. At a minium, I would put togethor a brief summary of situaiton. 1. Amount ordered (ex. 200 per month for 12 years, total of 24,000) 2. Amount paid (400) 3. Amount still owed. (20,000) End with a statement that you are also requesting interest, penalties for the late payments to the extent the court allows. sign, it, get it notarized and send it in. Make certain to have any and all contact informatin for you, if you cant or dont want to take calls at work, give cell, but try to give a daytime number, give email and home address. If you have a copy of the original order, I would send it in (copy, not original). If you live near where order was issued, and can do so, if you dont have copy, see if you can go to courthouse and get. I dont know if it pays to get attorney (sounds like this guy avoids paying, may be money down the drain). Always assume that the court personnel are overworked, lots of cases, and dont have time to call other states and get paperwork, so if you can send copies it will help.

Update... First off, thank you all very much for every single comment, advice and resource! Of course, I did my own research, but getting a varied response of peoples views is what is really helpful. I went through every comment and summarized a point by point list of advice, resources and Do's and Dont's for this person. We met a couple of days ago. he still thought he wanted to sell his home and just be done with it. I was able to show him how spending $7000 to get $8000 is not a smart financial move, on top of the fact that he would no longer own a home, no longer have any equity to his name and on top of it all, be paying more per month in rent. He eventually saw the light, and is not going to sell. He found a room mate yesterday for $500/month, and he is going to call the collection agency's Attorney every week to offer what he thinks he can afford. This way, we thought he could show this effort to any future Judge and the Judge could see that it was them that were saying no to a settlement as opposed to the other way around. I told him to keep track of every correspondence, and to bring this to court if they sue him. (The "summons" he told me about was not a summons at all... it was a certified letter delivered by the Sheriff, just explaining that the agency had now hired an attorney to handle all negotiations. The attorney was the last person he spoke to who refused his offer. There is no court date set.) Thanks again for your help. He feels much better now.