so when you call for a cab it takes 40-60 minutes- when customers call for a pump you get 60-90 minutes to be there and set up-when i call for a tow truck the story is they are busy and it will be 2-3 hours or how it goes.

now these guys demand cod payment but we get business card of a third party to bill. 

Yup! You are the first guy on the job and the last to be paid. Perhaps if pumpers had a "deadbeat" list and shared that non-payment history amongst their brethren it could be changed. Maybe................ except for the clown that would use it for a customer list.

no check onsite, the pump rolls down the road! Besides big accounts with credit apps on file, credit card or check or good ol'cash.  No other way. If you wait on money from a C.O.D guy it your own fault!!

i do the same thing as putz63, no check no job, may sound bad but iv got bills to pay, and  WIFE to feed!!

I call it the " Dumb Hooker Factor" You know ,they're willing to pay ANY PRICE to get the job done,but when it's over,they want to negotiate the price! Only a 'dumb hooker' doesn't get her money upfront!

YEahh!!! I like that. We all have to feed families and such. Our contracts state COD before pumping begins. We only honor credit terms from trusted customers we have had for a long time. I remeber 10 years ago doing a job and then having to call the sheriff and track the guy down within an hour of completion of the job. It is simply theft. THey all are quoted the rates when they request the pump. Its non-negotiable after the jobs over. Thats the reality of it. You must get paid prior to setting up. If they don't want to then they are probably not a customer you should do business with. Quote a price get that money and stick to the required hours. Tell them as it gets close to the end of the hours that you will need additional money to stay beyond a certain timeframe. If it is a large pour the check books start appearing fast.

Good Luck

Russ 

Don't stop the clock till the check is in hand.

California has the right idea! It's called a "Mechanics Lien". You do a job,then you fill out paperwork known as a "pre-lien". The contractor cannot pass a final inspection or close escrow until that lein is satisfied.Generally checks are written in two names(or more) and all have to sign off before they can be cashed! So Joe Bloe Const.hands you your check and then you hand him a Lien Release,stating your lien in satisfied. BUT YOU GOTTA DO THE PAPERWORK!!! I know of companys out $700,000 because that customer filed bankruptcy,and they didn't do pre-liens,cause they didn't want to piss off one of their best customers.Who as it turns out,WASN'T!! They wont make that mistake again