Home>Levelset Community>Legal Help>If we removed our equipment and had the customer sign the certificate of satisfaction but the customer called back and asked us to bring the equipment back but we don't have any new documents signed is the last day of completion the day the certificate of satisfaction was signed or the day we picked up the equipment?
If we removed our equipment and had the customer sign the certificate of satisfaction but the customer called back and asked us to bring the equipment back but we don't have any new documents signed is the last day of completion the day the certificate of satisfaction was signed or the day we picked up the equipment?
We did smoke remediation on a home after the wild fire in Malibu the homeowner is refusing to pay our invoice because he thinks we charged to much. The insurance company has payed the homeowner for our services. Initial work was completed on 11/20
1 reply
Feb 6, 2019
I'm sorry to hear about that - and I'm sure that must be frustrating. That's an interesting question, though. Ultimately, the answer might come down to whether the additional work is being charged for and whether the additional work is substantial or insubstantial in nature. As zlien discusses in the following article, minor work may not be enough to extend the project timeframe (and thereby the deadline to file a mechanics lien), but substantial work could: I Returned to a Job – Does that Change the Lien Deadlines? As mentioned in that article - keep in mind that the California mechanics lien deadline is based on the completion of the project rather than the claimant's last furnishing (granted, when a claimant was hired directly by the property owner or someone on their behalf, that may be the same date). Further, before filing a mechanics lien claim, sending a threat of lien - such as a Notice of Intent to Lien - can go a long way to compel payment, and it could potentially result in payment without the need for filing a lien. Of course, a Notice of Intent to Lien will do nothing for your lien deadlines, so if push comes to shove and the deadline is closing in, filing a lien might become necessary. Here are a few resources that should be helpful: (1) What Is a Notice of Intent to Lien and Should You Send One?; (2) California Lien & Notice FAQs; and (3) How to File a CA Mechanics Lien.