Share the Do's and Don'ts of Collecting Rent

[Susan Smith]

Hey! Can you share you best and worst collection experiences? Particulary once the tenant has been evicted for non payment. What tactics work and what doesn't?

[Bill Gulley]

DOn't ever threaten legal actions that you have no intention of following through with, you'll likely be in violation of civil code, you can explain the process and inform as an option. My 2 cents worth.

Gotta tell this as my worst collection. I was in the Army in an aviation unit. I sold a car and financed it to a civillian low-life who seemd like a decent guy. He stopped paying and moved, took off.. I lived across the street from our municpal judge and asked him about it, he said sometimes you have to get things done on your own toughness.

I let it be known at work and some pilots agreed to look for him as a training mission, flying search and rescue patterns, tha is a valid training mission. They found him! I went out there and knocked on the door and demanded the keys...I got them! The guy asked how I found him, he had not left his country house and had no job and wanted to know since nothing was in his name. While I stood in the front yard an Army chopper flew by overhead and I just pointed at the chopper saying, I have friends and you can't hide!!!!!! LOL