MLK Community Mural Project Kyle Holbrook Did not pay for the work provided to the company as an independent contractor under a verbal agreement Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Alexander M, and this summer I have completed some work for the MLK Community Mural Project, a non-profit organization in Pittsburgh. I worked as an independent contractor under a verbal agreement with my employer, providing creative and artistic support with developing and producing murals for Youth Places locations at 711 West Commons, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Kyle Holbrook was representing MLK and would find and hire workers
for a particular project.
The artists, who were working under Holbrooks supervision, including myself, never registered their hours, and would only verbally report them to get paid. We mostly communicated over text messages regarding obtaining checks and payments. The payment we agreed on was $15 an hour.
I worked 10 hours adding up to $150 dollars, and several weeks later, when I demanded my payment for the amount of
hours I worked, I was given unfulfilled promises, and after a month and a half of trying I finally got a check in the mail. It had a hundred dollars written out to me. When I messaged back asking what happened to the remaining $50,
Holbrook seemed in disbelieve that I have worked enough hours to be claiming $150, although I have repeatedly reported logged hours to him. He promised to get that payment to me a number of times. Three and a half months later the check was never sent out, moreover, it was never written.
My attempts to reach anyone in charge of the company were of no avail, as their website does not provide any phone numbers, and the last time I tried to write on their webpage directly, as well as sending an email to the address on their page, I ended up receiving an email from Holbrook. I am not sure what to do in this situation. Would you be so kind
to give me your advice as to what I should do? Thanks in advance.
Sincerely,
Alexander M
1 Updates & Rebuttals
dee
Pennsylvania,merit of verbal
#2Consumer Suggestion
Wed, April 03, 2013
Alexander, the mistake you made, unfortunately, was not getting a written contract. Verbal agreements are not what the used to be these days. It says a lot about a person who doesn't say what they mean and mean what they say...it doesn't show good business practices when someone uses texting as a means of recording hours...a written contract protects you and the company if a problem arises such that it did for you....it is your word against him and legally you have the burden of proof...in the future always insist on a written agreement regardless how well you know the person or even if everyone else don't ask for a contract, or how big or small the job is...that is your livelihood and your time is just as valuable as the person who hired you...it is slim shady on his part to dismiss you as he did...a character of a person is a trail that will always follow them and if others see how he conducts his business because you rightly spoke up then people will be leery and it will affect his business in the long run. Doesn't matter if it is $50 you were owed or $500...it is your hard work and if he knew you and worked with you before then he shouldn't have challenged you on the validity of what you were trying to say to him....it reflects on him and his company..not you....I would report also to BBB....put it out there in print....cause consumers are a lot more savvy and check behind people these days to see if they are legit and trustworthy....I wish you the best....