7/12/2008
2:13:58 AM 

I finished my , weak, weeks work on Thursday. I went to my
favorite health food cafe on Friday to have lunch, and write two
reports.

On the way home, I get this call. It is a dealer from an inspection
I had done 6 weeks ago. Laminate installed over non compliance
concrete substrate.

He asked when I could meet with him, the installer, the dealer
and homeowner for a meeting about my report. He gave me the
claim number and the homeowner's name. The homeowner
name is not a common "Southern" name so I remembered it.

I told him I would have to have permission of the commissioning
party before I could agree to attend and permission to "talk"
before any further conservations with him.

In addition, I told him, I would need to be paid. In advance. By
cashiers check. In full. And the check cleared the bank. Before I
would make any comments or attend any meeting. Furthermore,
I told him, any arguments and I would walk. And keep the
money. He said he understood.

Now, before I go to the "amount", let me explain this. I know the
policy of this manufacturer is that they do not "set up" meetings
like this and always tell the retailer, homeowner or home
contractor to hire their own inspector if they disagree. So, I
knew, permission would not be granted but, I also knew, from a
telephone call about an hour before, from the claims analyst,
that the retailer already knew that. He had called the
manufacturer to get my telephone number, and demand I attend
the meeting so they could "discuss" my report. The
manufacturer had said, "NO". So, he called me thinking I was
"dumb" and "stupid" and would agree to a meeting without the
permission of the commissioning party.

So, I told him the price of me attending the meeting, paid in full,
up front, cashiers check, cleared the bank, was 750. One hour.

He went quiet, then said, well, he now had a number to tell the
building contractor, he then said other inspectors always
"discuss" reports and respond to his comments, and never
asked commissioning parties for permission,,,well now,,,,do I
believe him? He said he would discuss price later after I got
permission,,, I told him the price never goes down, only goes
up! (See Ray, I did learn something from you! )he hung up.

I have not heard back from him.
I called the manufacturer and informed the analyst of the
conversation....she laughed, and thanked me.....this was a good
way to go into a quiet weekend.