Piedmont Private Investigations retained Eye Spy Investigations as a subcontractor on 8/7/08. Eye Spy Investigations (ESI) worked several cases for Piedmont Private Investigations (PPI) all within the course of two months. PPI claims that they pay invoices within 45 days. So far they have not paid a single cent of what they are owed. ESI received the following email from Lilly Dailey, Senior Case Manager for PPI,
Original Message
From: Lillie
To: Daemon
Sent: Thursday, September 25 8:59 AM
Subject: RE: New Insurance Case
Scott,
Thanks! I will send the details over to you and early next week is fine... Just let me know what day so I can alert the client of the schedule. We cut checks on Fridays after the invoices have been in the system for 30 days. The invoices are in with Accounting and they are due to be cut on:
Invoice - J* case: Due 09-26-08
Invoice - J* case: Due 10-10-08
Invoice - W* case: Due 10-10-08
Invoice - L* case: Due 10-10-08
Invoice - T* case: Due 10-24-08
I will touch base with you and let you know when the payments are mailed.
Again, thanks!
Lillie
So far one check has been received by ESI for $353.66 but was improperly filled out. PPI was informed and since then NO payment has been received.
ESI received this email from Thomas M. Caune, President/CEO of PPI,
Original Message
From: Tom Caune
To: *@ec. Rr.com
Cc: Lillie
Sent: Wednesday, October 15 9:16 AM
Subject: FW: monies owed
Scott,
I have asked Lillie to send me what you are owed. I am out of town all day, however I will be in the office tomorrow. I will send you something. I can assure you that you will be paid. We don't always pay on time, but we always pay! If we say we are sending a check we are sending. Lillie and staff have been instructed NOT to lie to any vendors. We are watching our cash flow like everyone else. I feel your pain and completely understand your position. I do agree with Lillie though! Holding that insurance case report will not help you get paid any faster. We will also have to send someone else immediately to do the work again and then you will not get paid for that assignment. We pay slow! I know it! But again I would agree with Lillie... You know it too. So if you don't want to get paid slow then don't take the assignments. NO hard feelings. I do want to remind you that you will get paid!
Let me know if you have any questions!
Thanks
Tom
Thomas M. Caune
President/CEO
Email: [email protected]
No where in PPI's contract does it state that they pay "slow". Mr. Caune's argument is hard to follow. How would one know that they pay "slow" (or not at all) without being told so or by learning through example?
This email was followed by another from Tom Caune,
Original Message
From: "Tom Caune"
To: "Daemon"
Sent: Friday, October 17 10:14 AM
Subject: RE: monies owed
I am out of the office. I have been out most of this week. My son is having
surgery as we speak. I will be back in the office on Monday. I will address
your stuff.
ESI sent this reply.
Tom,
While I can sympathize with your sons surgery your response is diametrically
opposed to what you wrote two days ago, "I am out of town all day, however I
will be in the office tomorrow. I will send you something."
I am sorry to say that I can no longer tolerate your companies lack of
payment. You are well past your contractual 45 day agreement, you openly
admit to not paying on time, and you continue to make excuses as to why you
have not sent me any of the money your company owes.
I hope your sons surgery goes well.
Scott
ESI has since sent a demand letter for the complete amount and received no reply. ESI has retained legal counsel and is following through with all legal means to receive payment. ESI is also making complaint to the NC Private Protective Services Board. Four other complaints against this company have been filed. One was dismissed, one was withdrawn, one led to a letter of warning and the last is under review. Add to that the one that ESI is filing and you have five complaints against one company.
Piedmont Private Investigations used every trick they could to stall payment while getting more work out of Eye Spy Investigations. Here is another example,
Original Message
From: Lillie
To: Daemon
Sent: Tuesday, October 14 3:40 PM
Subject: RE: New Insurance Case
Scott,
I wanted to get back to you as soon as I could about this. Our internet has been down since yesterday afternoon. I will speak with Accounting and find out what is going on with these invoices and get at least one out to you as quickly as I can. I have been told that the checks for these invoices have been cut and they are waiting for signature. Our boss is the only person who can sign checks and he has been out of the office more than in the office lately, I'm sure this has to be the reason. I will find out for sure and touch base with you. I assure you, the work you've done has been good and you will be getting paid for the services you provided.
On another note, have you had time to finalize the report for the * case you worked in Shallotte? Let me know when you get a chance and I will keep you posted as well.
Thank-you,
Lillie
As you can see by the dates of the emails and when the checks were supposedly cut it all doesn't add up.By his own admission Tom Caune admits to paying slowly and late. His contract states payment 45 days after receiving the invoice. Never happened. Still hasn't happened. It won't happen voluntarily so Eye Spy Investigations will have to use the court system to enforce payment. It's kind of sad that a company that makes more than three times what they pay subcontractors can't seem to then pay those subcontractors.
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