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Wet Cement
kelly
8/1/2001
Well, Chris, if Watts Bros. is the problem why did you stiff the Israel's? You know they will get paid don't you? Why are you waiting for a suit is what I want to know? And yes I'm Wesleys wife never hid it, they said you would send the check I knew you were a punk from the getgo buddy and make no mistake you will pay up cause that is what I will make sure of. I have your bounced check and record of the stop payments so it's inevitable and I'm not worried a bit. Shame to start a company and stiff the only decent guys there. Anyone who knows em knows I speak true. You were lucky to even have em. They not smoke enough dope for you or what?
MM
8/1/2001
WHITFIELD Thats the man.............. There ain't no better in the buisness. Your story is just one of dozens I've heard about the man. He has slowed over the years but not much, has a couple of kids, and as you know is a good GOD fearin man, just dont piss him off. Whats wrong with the world ...... were still talking about shit that happened 10 years ago. These NEWBYS dont even have any good tales to tell, just how they keep getting screwed. Seems to me if they could stand on thier own two feet, work for a living they might get some respect.. thanks for the blast from the past Mike Meinders
Harpoon
8/1/2001
About those "Blackball Lists". There are certainly people out there who deserve to be on a list warning other companies about their "creative" ways of billing for work that they haven't done and do not intend to do. Maybe a person is a thief, or likes to fudge his E.O.L.'s. Maybe this person is a Project Manager who likes to sleep in the afternoon when there are node books to be put together, or likes stealing from the company by turning in books, that aren't completed, to the customer and claiming the fake footage on his production for the week. Maybe this person is an alcoholic who thinks that anytime is "Miller Time", even in the company vehicle during work hours or in rush hour traffic when there is plenty of time to mix one or two. Those are the kinds of people who are giving the industry and the CATV Brotherhood a bad name because unfortunately they are flushed out too late or have already been paid for their fraudulent activities, and by the time they are fired, there is a sizeable amount of Bull S--t to be shoveled. By the time you pay the labor it takes to get it straight, you are out so much money that you could take this person to court and sue, but then you would be wasting even MORE money on the pathetic loser. All of this could have been avoided with a well kept, well researched, Blackball list. I'm not talking about a list where I could put someone on there just because I saw him checking out my wife's ass and it hacked me off, i'm talking about a list where a person would have to come up with some hard facts and documentation proving that this person did not deserve to ever be involved with CATV, ever again, except to change the channels on his bootleg cable box to watch the cable that he would be stealing. Sorry to go on so long, but it happens every day and there are people out there who want nothing more than to make a fast buck and move on to the next unsuspecting victim, and that is what we are, VICTIMS.
CableTired
8/1/2001
10 STEPS TO HELP YOU MAINTAIN YOUR STATUS AS A PRIME CONTRACTOR · 1. Tell them what they want to hear: When trying to get contractors to work for you, always tell them that the work is better than the average, tell them there is no end in sight, and that the work is great, materials are easily accessible, and that the paperwork is minimal. No matter what it takes, just get them there. Sweet-talking is a good example for this idea. Step 2 can be implied if needed in all cases. · 2. Remember to lie: No matter how close the truth is, never let the contractors that work for you hear the truth or they may leave. Tell them the moon and stars are theirs if they keep working. EXAMPLE: If you know that all there is left in all of your nodes to splice is small or bad footage, tell the contractor that if they finish it, you will give them a good area afterward, even if you know there is none to give. · 3. Never admit to mistakes: Even if you or your supervisors, project managers, or Crew leaders say something that could cost your company later. Resort to STEP 2 to help get you through this step. EXAMPLE: If your project manager made a mistake in paperwork, lost records or told one of your contractors that they would get paid a certain amount for special work, hourly, etc., but it will cost you more than you would have intended on paying, be sure and deny any of it and back your Employee through and through regardless of the action that could result. Usually STEPS2 and 3 combined will see you through this case. · 4. Don’t answer the phone: If things start falling apart due to the steps used so far (If not implied correctly), then above everything avoid all calls that you do not wish to take. Caller ID comes in very handy in this situation. Make sure that every # that is seen is one that you recognize. Avoiding the contractors that work for you will ward them off long enough to draw up an excuse for the problem at hand. EXAMPLE: You promised to pay a certain amount of money for a specific task and even wrote an e-mail confirming this. The contractor is mad because this money has not yet been paid due to the fact your supervisor for that site has not kept good track of the work done there, thereby costing you more money. Don’t answer that contractors call, and tell your supervisor to tell them they can’ get a hold of you. Continue this until the phone calls stop. If your supervisor is good enough at STEP 2, you will not receive a call from a lawyer. · 5. Don’t read their e-mail: The contractor might check the status of the e-mail that they sent you, and that would mean you know there is a problem. Use STEP 4’s example. · 6. Hold the last check and all retainage: No matter if the work is free and clear, hold the invoice and retainage. You can profit greatly from picking apart a contractors work. By using Steps 1-5, you can buy enough time to greatly increase your company’s pocketbook by feeding your in-house employees from this money. · 7. Blame the Cable System: If avoiding the contractors about their money is not enough, blame all the back charges, unpaid work and loss of retainages due to the system you work for. As a prime contractor, you can ride the excuse train all the way to the next stop for next to nothing. This counter-measure can be used to throw off all opposing contractors since they work for you under a covenant not to communicate direct. · 8. Keep the Cable System in your pocket: Let the Cable System you work for think that you have it all together, thereby keeping a good reputation, so when the lawsuits start coming, you appear as a reputable form of a business player. · 9. Keep at least 1 contractor paid: No matter what, at least have 1 favorite contractor that is paid on time and in complete form. This will have a major impact on your defense in case you get sued for using any of the steps listed. This will also help in event you get spammed on the Cable Bar for not paying out. Those contractors will more than likely defend your honor. If you have trouble paying even the 1 favorite you may have in mind, use STEPS 2 and 3 to keep them on your side, but if that doesn’t work, resort to STEPS 4 and 5, and STEP 6 will keep keep them in a good position, which might require you having your supervisor mildly threaten to follow through with 6. · 10. Last Resort-Change your company name: If everything else in these steps failed, it was due to incompetence, so you must start from scratch. You may need to use STEPS 4 and 5 for a while or change your Phone # in order to be clear of any debts. Hopefully, you have implied STEPS 7 and 8, and that will mean you can probably start another Prime Contract with that same Cable System, using Step 1 to help bring in contractors to start all over again. Please note: That these steps should not be used, and that this is just a comical look at actual things that transpire in the cable world. I have personally been on the other side of this board being lied to, losing money without explanation, and pushed aside. If this is what being a Prime contractor is about, I want no part. Some may read this and realize this is you. You know who you are, and continue to go on thinking that it won’t bite you, but it someday will. I have a total of 3 lawsuits pending, and plan to follow through with each. I am not sue happy, in fact I have never filed a lawsuit in my life, but I am however tired of lying down and getting stomped and pushed aside by every Prime my company has worked for. I have lost 50,000 due to these line expressed and feel I should not be the only one not stepping up. I hope you find humor in this, but also a good frame of mind. Good luck in cable, try to keep your morality throughout. There are many sharks in these waters.
CableTired
8/1/2001
10 STEPS TO HELP YOU MAINTAIN YOUR STATUS AS A PRIME CONTRACTOR · 1. Tell them what they want to hear: When trying to get contractors to work for you, always tell them that the work is better than the average, tell them there is no end in sight, and that the work is great, materials are easily accessible, and that the paperwork is minimal. No matter what it takes, just get them there. Sweet-talking is a good example for this idea. Step 2 can be implied if needed in all cases. · 2. Remember to lie: No matter how close the truth is, never let the contractors that work for you hear the truth or they may leave. Tell them the moon and stars are theirs if they keep working. EXAMPLE: If you know that all there is left in all of your nodes to splice is small or bad footage, tell the contractor that if they finish it, you will give them a good area afterward, even if you know there is none to give. · 3. Never admit to mistakes: Even if you or your supervisors, project managers, or Crew leaders say something that could cost your company later. Resort to STEP 2 to help get you through this step. EXAMPLE: If your project manager made a mistake in paperwork, lost records or told one of your contractors that they would get paid a certain amount for special work, hourly, etc., but it will cost you more than you would have intended on paying, be sure and deny any of it and back your Employee through and through regardless of the action that could result. Usually STEPS2 and 3 combined will see you through this case. · 4. Don’t answer the phone: If things start falling apart due to the steps used so far (If not implied correctly), then above everything avoid all calls that you do not wish to take. Caller ID comes in very handy in this situation. Make sure that every # that is seen is one that you recognize. Avoiding the contractors that work for you will ward them off long enough to draw up an excuse for the problem at hand. EXAMPLE: You promised to pay a certain amount of money for a specific task and even wrote an e-mail confirming this. The contractor is mad because this money has not yet been paid due to the fact your supervisor for that site has not kept good track of the work done there, thereby costing you more money. Don’t answer that contractors call, and tell your supervisor to tell them they can’ get a hold of you. Continue this until the phone calls stop. If your supervisor is good enough at STEP 2, you will not receive a call from a lawyer. · 5. Don’t read their e-mail: The contractor might check the status of the e-mail that they sent you, and that would mean you know there is a problem. Use STEP 4’s example. · 6. Hold the last check and all retainage: No matter if the work is free and clear, hold the invoice and retainage. You can profit greatly from picking apart a contractors work. By using Steps 1-5, you can buy enough time to greatly increase your company’s pocketbook by feeding your in-house employees from this money. · 7. Blame the Cable System: If avoiding the contractors about their money is not enough, blame all the back charges, unpaid work and loss of retainages due to the system you work for. As a prime contractor, you can ride the excuse train all the way to the next stop for next to nothing. This counter-measure can be used to throw off all opposing contractors since they work for you under a covenant not to communicate direct. · 8. Keep the Cable System in your pocket: Let the Cable System you work for think that you have it all together, thereby keeping a good reputation, so when the lawsuits start coming, you appear as a reputable form of a business player. · 9. Keep at least 1 contractor paid: No matter what, at least have 1 favorite contractor that is paid on time and in complete form. This will have a major impact on your defense in case you get sued for using any of the steps listed. This will also help in event you get spammed on the Cable Bar for not paying out. Those contractors will more than likely defend your honor. If you have trouble paying even the 1 favorite you may have in mind, use STEPS 2 and 3 to keep them on your side, but if that doesn’t work, resort to STEPS 4 and 5, and STEP 6 will keep keep them in a good position, which might require you having your supervisor mildly threaten to follow through with 6. · 10. Last Resort-Change your company name: If everything else in these steps failed, it was due to incompetence, so you must start from scratch. You may need to use STEPS 4 and 5 for a while or change your Phone # in order to be clear of any debts. Hopefully, you have implied STEPS 7 and 8, and that will mean you can probably start another Prime Contract with that same Cable System, using Step 1 to help bring in contractors to start all over again. Please note: That these steps should not be used, and that this is just a comical look at actual things that transpire in the cable world. I have personally been on the other side of this board being lied to, losing money without explanation, and pushed aside. If this is what being a Prime contractor is about, I want no part. Some may read this and realize this is you. You know who you are, and continue to go on thinking that it won’t bite you, but it someday will. I have a total of 3 lawsuits pending, and plan to follow through with each. I am not sue happy, in fact I have never filed a lawsuit in my life, but I am however tired of lying down and getting stomped and pushed aside by every Prime my company has worked for. I have lost 50,000 due to these line expressed and feel I should not be the only one not stepping up. I hope you find humor in this, but also a good frame of mind. Good luck in cable, try to keep your morality throughout. There are many sharks in these waters.
"CableGod"
8/1/2001
Well for one Kelly, I'm not Chris. You need to tell your Hick Hubby and his Brothers to stop playing Butt Legos in the bucket. As for $ owed to your hack husband and brothers, I think they need to learn how to splice. Maybe they just don't like their work to look very good, the work is kinda, well, UGLY!! Just like them. Hence the nickname "UGLY BROTHERS"
The One & Only Brett
8/1/2001
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, what is this I read. Larry Davis getting married? No way, I've obviously been into the Bud's too hard tonight. Well if the rumors true, congradulations LD, I mean it, bout time someone settled your crazy ass down. And yes I am still angry, sometimes you just think about the rumors you heard, drink a couple of brews and turn up the Metallica, and all of your thoughts turn into angry messages on Wet Cement. So Doug what the hell is up, yeah Im subbing for the Mountian, the place a certain Dot 05 manager said was going under. What you got for work Doug, I hear Eustiss is busy. Cable whore here, always going to the highest price. Take care all.
kelly
8/1/2001
Well since you are not who I thought you were it makes you insignificant. Which was my first impression, which also makes me correct in my second, that you are a dick and a wuss, as a real man could say who he was and take his ass whoopin LIKE a man, so hide little man since you aren't the welcher I thought you were, just another punk who blows better than he splices.
"WHITFIELD"
8/1/2001
Good evening all,I don't have enough info to post on the thefts as of yet,the theives stole too much!! To who ever wrote Cable Tired,you nailed it!!DAMN GOOD!! WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS!! THERE ARE SOME GOOD CO's IN THE BIZ!! To Cable God, I'd hate to go where you just went.If anyboy has info that will lead the men to their tools stolen in eastern N.C.,contact me at252-###-#### or-###-#### (24/7) there is a generous bounty,no law involved!
"WHITFIELD"
8/1/2001
Hey Cable God I didn't know she was coming back with that,I was messing around with the youngins before I posted to the earlier message.Since I read what she wrote, its your fight ,sorry for the intrusion.You'all have a good night.