What happens if the tool guy doesnt show up??

[Tarheelgarage]

I'm not trying to stir the pot but he owes this guy the money regardless if he comes around or not. It's a question of integrity.

Yes sir, we both think alike on this matter...

 

[HighPlainsWrencher]

You track him down and pay him because YOU bought the box. He didn't just roll a tool box into your shop and tell you to pay up or else. YOU went on to his truck and YOU bought the box that YOU wanted to purchase. If you have to track him down and blow his phone up then that's what it takes, pay him off and dont do business with him anymore. For Christs sake, its no wonder tools cost so damn much off a tool truck!

 

[Tbirdtc]

When I was 17 I quit a job and owed 300$ to snappy guy .I found him at a another shop and turned in 600$ in new and like new tools
I felt 50 cents on the dollar was fair afterwards I realized he prob would have taken less
But I also kno that guy would sell the open pack stuff to a another young tech at a deal cause it wasn't technically new
He and I both sleep well at night because we do the right thing
Set aside some cash offer him 50 to 75% all at once he will prob take it
I bet everyone here would love to have the good truck drivers We had 30 years ago

 

[Tbirdtc]

Best advice in this thread. It happened to my nephew. His Cornwell guy went to jail. Then comes out and expected payment. Meanwhile my nephew was paying the new Cornwell guy.

He only has to pay his driver until told otherwise get and keep a receipt for future payments
if the driver sold his debt he is doing somthing wrong by taking the $

 

[fatfillup]

Some interesting points here.

1. Most agree debt is owed and OP wants to pay. Bravo to the OP

2. Money needs to go to the legitimate person it is owed to, either driver, Cornwell, or bank, or whoever.

3. Driver has not tried to collect.

4. Some have suggested an escrow account to show good faith.

5.OP wants to trade box for bigger box,,,,,,,,not addressed that I saw.

IMO, OP should try to contact driver to see what is up. If no answer, OP should contact Cornwell to see if dealer is still in business ( I would not bring up debt as it is a truck account). If dealer is still in business (and I think OP said not) I would try one more time to contact him via cornwell corporate. If no response, I would trade box in and assume at some point in the future, I may have to pay the back money. I would however NOT pay any interest on the debt. It is not the OP's fault the guy didn't show up to collect. If the OP is not trading in his box, I think an escrow account (wouldn't have to be official IMO, just dedicated to that debt) would be wise. If down the road a year or so, and no contact, I wouldn't sweat it and spend the money. Note, I would write down my plan and have it notarized just so you have a legit record of your intentions with a date stamp.

My personal opinion, the dealer jumped ship to SK, doesn't owe Cornwell enough for them to be bothered and is off to new life and forgetting the Cornwell gig and money owed. The Cornwell gig may have been so horrific in his mind that he is just glad to be gone, and screw what is owed.

 

[Brownsfan]

He only has to pay his driver until told otherwise get and keep a receipt for future payments
if the driver sold his debt he is doing somthing wrong by taking the $

Yes it was sold to the new guy. But then old one gets out and comes looking for money. Box was not financed through Cornwell. My point is make sure the guy is still in business and the right person to pay money to. Was a mess because old guy claims his debt was not sold to new guy. Meanwhile new guy goes out of biz and old guy comes back again asking for money. Who is the money supposed to go to?

 

[jnyost]

Don't forget that there is technically still a lien on the box. If you try to sell it, it could get repo'd from the recipient. I always call and check serial numbers before I buy a used box to make sure there isn't any money owed on it.

 

[Skin]

Don't forget that there is technically still a lien on the box. If you try to sell it, it could get repo'd from the recipient. I always call and check serial numbers before I buy a used box to make sure there isn't any money owed on it.

If he has previous payments documented and the remaining balance in hand ready for who ever comes to collect hes in the clear to do whatever he wants with the box in my opinion.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Attempt to track the guy down. Meanwhile put money aside (I like the escrow idea). For all you know the guy is dead or paralyzed in a hospital somewhere. Or could be in jail. Sure, his job to collect. But you also have a responsibility as a man to pay your debts.

You've got a debt somewhere that someone will try to collect on at some point. Protect yourself.

 

[SKAutomotive]

You track him down and pay him because YOU bought the box. He didn't just roll a tool box into your shop and tell you to pay up or else. YOU went on to his truck and YOU bought the box that YOU wanted to purchase. If you have to track him down and blow his phone up then that's what it takes, pay him off and dont do business with him anymore. For Christs sake, its no wonder tools cost so damn much off a tool truck!

They cost "so damn much" because we are paying the premium for American made tools in which Americans are paid livable wages. Plus the cost of the warranty. All of which I am okay with. Stop blaming it on a guy who, at this point, has done nothing wrong.

 

[mmack66]

They cost "so damn much" because we are paying the premium for American made tools in which Americans are paid livable wages. Plus the cost of the warranty. All of which I am okay with. Stop blaming it on a guy who, at this point, has done nothing wrong.

Part of it is the service as well, which usually doesn't involve chasing someone down to make a payment.

 

[pfhWJ]

I have one tool truck payment to Matco, this Friday I had to go on a tow and forgot to leave money in my box for him. I got his number from a Co worker called him up and gave him my cc #. Even though I know he will be back next week, its about integrity doing the right thing.

 

[Givl Reggin]

hes in the clear to do whatever he wants with the box in my opinion.

He was free to do whatever he wants with the toolbox the first day he took delivery of it. Unless the contract he signed states otherwise, the toolbox is not collateral (secured debt) and cannot be repossed. He owns it outright.

Think of it this way; if you buy a refrigerator on a credit card and fail to make payments, does the credit card company come looking for the refrigerator?

The fact the he owes the tool truck driver money is totally irrelevant.

Since it was fianaced through the tool truck and not Cornwell Credit, in this situation Cornwell has already been paid for the box in full by tool truck driver. The tool truck driver made a deal to accept payments from the purchaser to recover his cost, which may have already been met
(or close enough) from the payments made that he does not feel the need to collect anymore on it.

There is a finite time limit collectors have to sue to collect on the unpaid loan amount - often this is 2-years - once that time limit has past you can safety assume the debt has been discharged and have no further obligations to pay it.

 

[OutsideMachinist]

I would say put your feelings and emotions aside. Do whatever you can to attempt and track him down and pay the debt. Whether you should have to do that or not doesn't really matter. It will burn you later on your credit if you don't pay it.

 

[Zedexseven]

Props to the OP for wanting to look after it, this is the tool guy's pay check, you wouldn't want to have to chase your employer for your pay check, he probably doesn't want to either. The best thing you could do is get in touch with him, maybe he's not on the road because he can't afford to put fuel in his truck or is dealing with a sick family member. I'm certain that if you were in his shoes you would appreciate getting the money you were owed. Or maybe he won the lottery and doesn't care about a few bucks that he's owed.

 

[Davefr]

Once again, the OP needs to ensure the CORRECT LEGAL PARTY gets paid. That MAY OR MAY NOT BE the original dealer at this point in time.

Why's this so hard to comprehend??

If he pays the original dealer but that dealer has transferred the loan/business to a new dealer or other party then the OP could be liable for huge legal expenses to get all this mess resolved.

Let the correct owner of the loan come forward and once that's 100% confirmed then make the payment. (ie don't be overly eager to throw out your hard earned money unless it's to the correct party)

 

[nehog]

This is governed by the state's statute of limitations. For debts in Washington state it is 3 to 6 years.

Caution: even if he's not there to collect, the debt still accrues interest! I'd suggest pulling out your paperwork and reading it and contacting whoever holds the debt and getting it paid off.

 

[jfcasey]

This is governed by the state's statute of limitations. For debts in Washington state it is 3 to 6 years.

Caution: even if he's not there to collect, the debt still accrues interest! I'd suggest pulling out your paperwork and reading it and contacting whoever holds the debt and getting it paid off.

The beauty of a truck account is there is no interest, unless the old drivers accounts have been taken over by a bank I doubt he's gonna get nailed with anything more than he owes.

 

[sonvolt]

Call cornwell and track him down.

 

[ex-x-fire]

Anybody who's in that type of business is gonna leave a paper trail. So make an effort to contact someone & start up the (monthly-bi-monthly)payments again.

 

[BlksnshN]

Yes, he owes money but to whom?? The old dealer? The replacement dealer? To Cornwell Corp?? Or other?? It could be up to the bankruptcy court if the old dealer went **** up.

I wouldn't stick my neck out paying the debt until I was 100% sure it is to the correct legal entity in this situation.

(ex: if he pays the old dealer and later finds out the legal owner of the debt has been transferred to someone different then he's screwed!!)

If I were the OP I would assume the debt is owed but I'd lay low until the legal owner of the debt comes forward with all the legal documents. This should not be a guessing game!!!

^
Pretty much this. I've witnessed guys get burned by paying the wrong person.


I'm also interested to know what people mean by "track the dealer down."?
The extent of "Tracking" I would be willing to do is a phone call to the dealer and a phone call to Cornwell (with no mention of the debt) to see if he's still a dealer. The truck account has NOTHING to do with Cornwell, it is a contract between the purchaser and the dealer. Cornwell has already been paid in full for that box.

I think it is a good idea to put the money away just in case the dealer resurfaces or if the debt is sold to a new dealer.

I wouldn't hesitate to trade the box in as long as you remember at some point you will probably have to pay off that $1300.

 

[Farmall 1066]

Had this happen with a MAC dealer. He was a good, dependable guy for 3-4 years. I had just bought a new impact and something else, but can't remember what now, owed him about $375 total on a truck account.
A month or so went by without him coming by, then one day he stopped by with his car. Told me he got canned, like every MAC dealer does around here, and was just going to collect weekly. Think I saw him 2 more times after that.
About a year later, new dealer walks in with some guy from corporate. I asked about what I owed, they gave me some balance around the $500 mark. Told them no way, and that I had made payments to old dealer personally.
Showed them some receipts, and corporate guy gets on the phone.
Came back and told me my balance was now $0, and all was good.
I didn't argue, but would like to have known WTF went on.

All our MAC drivers have just been employees, not owners, and every single one of them has ended up getting fired by MAC corporate. Not sure why...every single one of them was good to deal with.

 

[Farmall 1066]

Oh yeah.... The corporate dude also got me back my 3/8" Super Duty impact that had been sent in for a rebuild, and had been MIA for over a year!
I sure didn't have anything to complain about!

 

[nti06]

Its likely the Cornwell guy couldn't make the $7000 a week inventory purchases they require to stay a dealer.
When you bought the box you were also buying the dealers service and support. He failed on those points. They have district managers to ensure continuity of service who also failed to do their job. If you feel you have made a reasonable attempt to make contact and settle the debt, then you should not lose any sleep over it.

 

[mikeceli]

i would agree that you should pay up. That said, i would be sure that you pay whoever officially owns your debt and document it well. If someone can't show you documentation that they own the debt, you should not pay it because the real owner of your debt may show up later.

correct awnser.

 

[dmftoy1]

I agree with the folks telling you to figure out how to pay and/or escrowing it. Eventually that debt will be sold for pennies on the dollar to a scumbag collection agency and your credit report will be dinged. You don't want to deal with that mess when you and your pretty wife are trying to buy a house, sell a house, etc

 

[MattPersman]

I have the attitude if I am not there that day (vacation or sick) or the driver doesn't show up that week then there is no money changing hands. If you want the money come by and collect it. That is the drivers entire job sell tools and collect money owed on them. You pay the interest up front when you buy the stuff really, a 500$ impact is really just $250 +/- with a bunch of interest and convenience wrapped up in it.

If you are dying to pay him just call him and ask for him to send you a paper bill, send him a paper check and once he cashes it you should be clear with a paper trail.

 

[rsanter]

Did you make any paperwork with him over the debt?
Did he enter it into his system in any way?
Does he have your SS number or DL to positively,identify you?

If the answer is yes then he can actually sell or pass that debt on and you can be dealing with someone else that you may not like.

If it was me I would be setting a little money aside like a payment and if and when you see him you will have cash to,work,with

Bob

 

[Tinner]

I've never heard of an arrangement where a dealer agreed to take a payment whenever the buyer felt like paying. The agreement is always for weekly payments. If he doesn't show, or you're not there you still owe him the payment. Whether the arrangement is written or oral makes no difference. You should discuss what to do when you don't meet at weekly intervals in advance.

Tool dealers have to hustle to make a living. They depend on a predictable cash flow to make their business work. Depending on a dealer's route and territory, weather and other factors, they may not be able to show up like clockwork.

Making timely payments is important in building a relationship with a dealer. If you're a weasel who is always looking for an excuse to miss payments, don't expect him to go out of his way to offer you deals or special service. It's a business, money talks and ******** walks.

Regarding the OP's situation, I think he should be in a position to settle his bill in full, right now. I agree with those who said he should contact corporate and see that the correct person gets paid. Of course, you want any transactions properly documented.

 

[Eagle Point]

As a former Snap-on Dealer I am curious if the OP has ever tried to contact the dealer to see what the situation is? I'll bet you have his phone# and address to contact him. I had customers that were in jail that made sure I received their payment weekly or close to it because I took care of them and they figured they would need me again down the road. Either contact the dealer or corporate and proceed from there. All the stories about the dealer that does not follow through for one reason or another are all over the place but the sad part is the worst part of the mobile tool business is the amount of time wasted chasing deadbeats and getting burned buy the customer. This is what leads to many of the dealers throwing in the towel with the business and moving on to another job. The decent customers will pay what is owed no matter what. Put yourself in their shoes.

 

[Skin]

You pay the interest up front when you buy the stuff really, a 500$ impact is really just $250 +/- with a bunch of interest and convenience wrapped up in it.

No. First of all truck credit is a kindness considering its a 0% high risk loan on the dealers part.

Second, no tool dealer i know has anywhere close to a 100% markup, its more like 25% on tools so you're actually not paying your interest up front, at least not to the tool man.

 

[MattPersman]

It was an exaggeration, sorry I don't have my % correct on every single line of each tool truck. Time payment is profit and interest, you can work a better cash price many times.

But I forget I am on garage journal where everything stated needs to be 100% accurate with pictures and proof, no possible sarcasm or opinions that are not proven