We actually have seen customers front up and expect an annual to be done, and under their terms. They seem to have ignored the fact that they are yet to pay for last year's... What would you be saying to them ?
I love this...esp given the leverage you have in aviation, even more so if you are the only LAME on the field.
If you are in the above situation, dead easy. Say yes to the client, not mention last years unpaid bill.
Aircraft arrives. Out of hours, out of time...ground it. Once you have possession, you have the ability to go down the road of a repairers Lein. They don't pay, you sell it. Having possession is the key.
If they decide that they do need to fork out the money to get you to do some work, no problem. "we'll start when you pay last years bill, AND we'll have that amount again UPFRONT before we start this years work."
If they don't like that, ground the thing, and start the repairers lein process...that really brightens their idea's when they realise their machine will be sold to the highest bidder, and they won't get market value for it...esp after the court awards you charges + costs.
Any person thinking they can screw a repairer has rocks in their head.
A recent convo, a LAME was named as a dog, as he refused to hand over the books on one he hadn't been paid for. This particular LAME is known as a nice, and fair bloke. When the owner complained around the bar, one punter said to him, well that just means you owe him money, pay up or shut up.
