Location: North Carolina and Virginia.
Hello. I am a screen printer in North Carolina, and I’ll often take side jobs and print them on the equipment at work and make a little money. I am not a business, just a person with a skill that I can sell. So no llc or tax ID number or anything legit.
About 6 months ago, I printed $1700 worth of sweatshirts for a restaurant I used to work at in Virginia and shipped them from NC.
I took a $500 deposit before shipping them. The customer received them, and is refusing to pay me.
I have all of the email correspondence of his employee placing the order with me, and the UPS shipping confirmation with the time and date it was delivered, and spoke to the person that signed for the package.
I guess my question is, since I willingly shipped them based on our agreement, does this constitute as stealing? I’m owed over $1000 and would like to get paid. And if I do have to take legal action to get my money, can I take him to small claims court even though I’m in NC and he’s in Virginia?
The business owner is also the county court clerk, so surely he’s more familiar with the law than I am. I’m not sure what to do next, and would appreciate any advice.
Comments
It’s not stealing, it’s breach of contract. You’d need to sue them in their county in Virginia. Yes, small claims court.