What is a deadbeat customer?

According to the "Wiki Dictionary" it states that a deadbeat is:

One who does not pay one's debts.
A lazy person; a loafer.

Marketing Dictionary: Credit customer who, without just cause, has not paid for his order by the end of the billing series; also called uncollectible. Names of deadbeats are removed from the active customer list and may be used later as a purge file against promotion lists. See also bad debt; bad-debt allowance; credit prescreening.

Business Dictionary: In general: one who does not pay his bills. In contrast to a freeloader or Deadhead, who doesn't pay the (train) fare but doesn't necessarily add cost to the service provider, the deadbeat runs up a bill for goods and services that he uses individually, without payment.

Accounting: credit customer who, without just cause, has not paid for his order by the end of the Billing Cycle. Names of deadbeats are removed from the active customer list and may be used later as a purge file against
promotion lists. See also Bad Debt.

Let us say this too - we are not saying all customers are bad. There are just some customers out there that give the good customers a bad name just like some bad businesses give the good businesses a bad name too.

Those customers need to know that they can't keep getting away acting the way they do. And those customers know exactly who they are.

This is not just a deadbeat listing website...

Before you go assuming things like some do, please take not that this is far from those typical sites you see out there on the web that are for people to rant and rave on. Our site is professional and clean with those who use it for the simple reason to warn others about difficult customers, not to trash them. So if that is the only reason you're here reading this right now, then this site is not for you.

Overall Trend On Business Beware

The overall trend we see with BusinessBeware.biz is that most people are not getting paid for large jobs when most signed a contract in the beginning and knew up front what they were going to pay. As a customer, you should financially know what you can or cannot do before you decide to install or repair something at your home.

For example, there was a pool cage contractor that installed a pool cage at a customers house and they had collected $2000 up front but $7000 was still due after they were done. When the contractor went to collect the remaining balance, the customer said they were not going to pay it and did not have the money. After trying to work it out with the customer they finally had no other choice but to send it to collections and put a lien on the customers house.... They still have yet to see any money from the remaining balance of the job.

There are SO many who deal with this exact same situation every day just like this contractor. Yes there are two sides to each story but when you sign an agreement you are in "AGREEMENT" to abide by the contract you both signed.

There are even complaints filed by online printing companies that have customers send off for what they want/need done and then after it's done and printed they decide they don't need/want it anymore but it cost the company money to get it all done for them...

What is the overall trend of why a customer is a deadbeat or a non-paying customer? Some would say it's the economy and people not having money, which is true but at the same time you know that if you call out a person for service that there is at least a service charge fee 95% of the time. Whether someone fixes something or not, you are charged for the business's time and travel to come to you... Yes the economy has gotten worse than what it was a year ago but there have always been non-paying customers, so why do they choose to not pay?

We have scanned our database and asked fellow businesses what they thought about it and this is what they have to say:

"Most of my clients are great but I have noticed there are those certain ones that try each time to take money off the bill stating that it's too high. I try and be fair to the customer and help them out sometimes but it gets old when they try do it everytime they get a bill for service." -Greg H.

I have this one customer that always calls our air conditioning service needing us to come fix or look at his at his home. He always has our guy out there longer than he should making him check over things three or four times when we bill by the hour and for parts used. And every time he gets his bill he complains that he was charged too much for the time we were out there, knowing good and well that he caused our guy to take more time. Our time is something and I think customers forget that sometimes." -John S.

"I think some of the reason some may not pay is simply because they overspend in other areas. They overspend on frivolous things and when they call a business for something to be repaired they think it's not as important to pay us."
-Phil T.

"I take pride in helping out customers and making sure they are taken care of with my business but it's frustrating when you have someone sign a contract knowing what the estimated cost will be and then deciding they don't want to pay. Believe me I understand that things happen you can't always control but we (the business) are usually willing to work something out with you. It's those that insist they are not paying you for the good work you did and send you a nice long letter or message how terrible your company is. It just gets old."
-Gabe R.

What do you think about a deadbeat customer? What is your take on why they do the things they do? We are interested to know, so contact us and tell us! info@businessbeware.biz


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