I'll try to be brief. Over 2 years ago my LLC leased a used copier from "Bruce" of DIS. At the time it was all I could afford for a small business. The $100 a month ended up costing me several hundred dollars for the first month alone; lesson here is to read the fine print a bit more carefully. Also, my first check - which I swear he walked over to the bank to cash rather than deposited - didn't clear right away, or so he told me on the phone. I was threatened with immediate arrest if I didn't make good on the check right then, he was on his way over. I got the money together and when he arrived noticed the check was not stamped "Do not redeposit" as Bruce had claimed. Anyway, I gave him the cash, with a hefty fee added, and figured this was going to be an interesting relationship.
A few months later I moved the business. Bruce was suddenly not around to move the copier as he had promised; I dealt with that.
Another few months, I closed the business. Long story. I left several messages for Bruce to pick up the copier.
A few months later (10/06) I'm subpoenaed to Small Claims court. This bozo has requested not only my business records be brought to court but also my personal bank and tax records. No, that was an LLC. I arrive to discover he has gotten a judgment against me already by sending notices to the address I had moved from over a year ago, and following court procedures. Nice that when he wants to sue me he can't use a current address, but now he can? Oh well. I showed up in court, and explained the business was closed so there were no records. He demanded my personal records. Nope. Llc. He had a fit. He then told the magistrate that all my checks had been written on closed accounts. Excuse me? He finally did admit that he had been paid, until I closed the business. He denied being told to pick up the copier. The magistrate told him to subpoena me again if he wanted more records. Bruce was not happy, and I heard nothing for months.
A few weeks ago a marshal shows up at my door; courtesy call. Bruce has sworn a warrant out for my arrest, a civil warrant. He paid hundreds of dollars to have me arrested. He claimed I did not show up in court. Bull. I don't know how he got the judge to believe this, or what he did, but luckily the court has records showing I WAS there on the specified date. Payback Bruce... Anyway, I met the marshal at the court on the specified day, and went into lockup. I spent a few hours cuffed and shackled until it's my turn. The judge, in the courtroom, looks at the complaint and orders me released on the spot. Tells Bruce and I to discuss our issues; he will not become involved. Bruce has a fit - he wants blood at this point. He tells the judge he wants "a pound of flesh" from me. The judge tells him that is all, talk, and we're done. I'm released, and I agree to talk to Bruce, but only if a marshal stays in the room with me. Bruce was dumb enough to threaten me in front of the marshal. When he realized he was getting nowhere, and wasn't getting more money from me, Bruce was not happy. So mad in fact that the marshal offered to walk me to my car for my own safety.
I highly doubt this man is done with me. He wants blood. He is mad. He will stop at nothing to get 'even'. Oh yeah, did I mention I probably could have avoided all this way back when if I had agreed to make payments via a 'couple monthly visits' each billing cycle? Hmmm...
0 comments