My employer (now ex-employer) rented my equipment...FOGger's thoughts welcomed

I'm not sure how much scaffolding you loaned them, but would the rental cost at 50% of the going rate be more than what the scaffolding is worth? If so, your old employer is probably mad at himself that he didn't just buy scaffolding.

Rather than writing a letter, I'd call or go out for beers to discuss the matter.

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Pnw painter said:
I'm not sure how much scaffolding you loaned them, but would the rental cost at 50% of the going rate be more than what the scaffolding is worth? If so, your old employer is probably mad at himself that he didn't just buy scaffolding.
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I don't have a definite answer, but I do know that when I started acquiring scaffolding in 2005, the full rental cost (100%) for a six month term equated to slightly less than the cost of purchasing used equipment.

Very few contractors own scaffolding unless it is used daily. The only trade that I can think of that tends to own are the masonry trades. Most others rent.  Storing scaffolding can use up a lot of space.

In this case I don't think the company has any regrets.
 
What Peter said with a little extra ,

Make sure you check it out ad its not damaged, take the $500 at least its something but tell them you are ging to make them responsible for paying any of the cost to repair/replace  damaged equipment.

Go on a learn from this. I dont loan my stuff out.
 
I would get any of my stuff they still have, take the money they are willing to give freely - then (after after loading my gear and pocketing the money) ask them kindly if they want to spend some hours on the next small claims court to be found lieable to fork over the rest or if they want to spare that time and hand it over now to be done and even.

In case they fold: take the money, say goodby and never look (and come) back.
In case they don't: file at your local small claims court for exactly what is open, show up at the court date - good chance they're idiots and don't show (then you'll win by default).
 
SRSemenza said:
Peter Halle said:
Take the $500 and your equipment and chalk the rest up to doing a favor that turned into a learning experience.  You are lucky to get your equipment back and you are lucky that nobody got hurt using it and you being sued.  Rental businesses have legal contracts to protect themselves.

Peter
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This ^^^

    And in my opinion any further involvement or pursuance just opens you up to risk.  EX- maybe someone on the crew did  bang their knee and just didn't bother. But if you go to court ????  Plus you really have nothing enforceable unless there were witnesses that will be on your side but I am betting ...... not. Do you have the scaffold in your possession yet? If not go get it before anything further happens.

Seth
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Peter Halle said:
Take the $500 and your equipment and chalk the rest up to doing a favor that turned into a learning experience.  You are lucky to get your equipment back and you are lucky that nobody got hurt using it and you being sued.  Rental businesses have legal contracts to protect themselves.

Peter
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I think Peter and Seth have shown why they are such excellent moderators. 

Many other suggested solutions are so contentious that nobody would win.
Tinker
 
I issued a counter request this past Tuesday and have heard nothing since. I'm planning on retrieving my equipment this weekend. Lesson learned...no more mister nice guy and no more loaning of my equipment for free or pay.
 
Naildrivingman said:
no more mister nice guy and no more loaning of my equipment for free or pay.
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My solution is to collect a collateral sized to the actual current worth of the items (not what's in my books but what I would have to shell out when replacing them) the moment of handing out the gear. For most stuff I simply use list prices, having a 'congratulations to buying the stuff with your collateral' clause (should they fail to return the stuff as agreed or trying to return damaged goods) helps with a reliable return date and vastly improves the way in with the gear is handled.

That with a little papertrail (creative use of SCalc or Excel can easily create the dead tree sheet needed for this) where the borrower signs for when they got what, for how long, at what rates (for lending the stuff and the rates should the gear return defective, not in time or not at all) and I sign for the collateral - on return the same but with swapped roles. Not all humans these days are like your ex-employer, but sadly enough are which ruins the fun for everyone. The non-your-ex-employer types I simply inform that, as of past experiences, this is sadly needed and usually they get (and accept) it without being angry (as my lending rates are fair, similar to the level to what you initially agreed on).
 
I took my truck into the shop for minor repairs on Tueesday morning, expecting to be returned that evening.

They ran into other problems and i ended up renting a truck for one day>>> ending up renting three different days.
The rental company, from the information i gave them, gave me an estimate of cost which I signed each time. When I returned the truck > each day< with expectations i would not need it the next day, they refigured the cost.  Each time, the cost came to much less than the estimate had been.

Each time, i had returned the truck with more gas n the tank than when i had picked it up.  The truck was cleaned inside and out to as clean as when I picked it up.  Each time, I returned the truck within my estimated mileage (I gave an estimate of 10 miles between low and high estimate) Each time, i returned the truck much earlier than promised.  All of those factors I am sure influenced to some extent, the final charges.

I was not so fortunate, expense wise, with the repairs to my own truck, but that is not what this conversation is about.
Tinker
 
Some advice has value no matter how old.

...Beware
Of entrance to a quarrel, but being in,
Bear't that the opposed may beware of thee.
Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice;
Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment.
...
Neither a borrower nor a lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
This above all: to thine ownself be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
 
HarveyWildes said:
Some advice has value no matter how old.

...Beware
Of entrance to a quarrel, but being in,
Bear't that the opposed may beware of thee.
Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice;
Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment.
...
Neither a borrower nor a lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
This above all: to thine ownself be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Click to expand...

If only we could be as wise as Hamlet...
 
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