Customer Will Not Pay An Invoice

[LawyerWantToBe]

Jurisdiction

North Carolina

Hello,

Thank you for assisting me with a small problem that I have.

I did a 1 - hour electrical service call for at a rental home back in December. I replaced a burnt receptacle in a bedroom. I replaced the receptacle with a GFCI receptacle because it was not grounded. I also replaced 4 - oversized fuses. I charged a fair price for the work that I did. $95 for labor, and $47.23 for material plus tax.
For some reason the customer (owner) will not pay me. I sent him numerous emails and texts. My wife called and spoke with him and he assured her that he would pay the invoice. I even sent him a paper invoice via certified mail through the USPS. All of this but still no payment.
Wondering, should I just let it go as a lesson learned?
I do not like getting paid on the spot. I would prefer to let the dust settle on the job and invoice the customer at a later time. This method has worked for me 99.99% of the 35 - years that I have been in business.
I have developed a good feel of whether or not a customer is going to pay. And I have to admit that I had a bad feeling about this customer. Now that It's all said and done and he has proven to be a rotten egg is there anything that I can do? Would a letter from an attorney do the trick? I know that I will be in the red by hiring an attorney to write a letter but if it teaches this jerk a lesson it might be a good investment.

Thank you for your input.

LWB

 

[adjusterjack]

You'll pay more for the attorney letter than the cost of the job.

Small claims court is your recourse. But what I would do first is fill out the small claims complaint form and attach a copy to a demand letter for the money giving a deadline date to pay, after which you will file in court.

Attaching the complaint form will appear more daunting than just another letter.

But don't bluff. If you do that be prepared to follow through with the lawsuit, otherwise don't bother.

 

[army judge]

Thank you for assisting me with a small problem that I have.

I did a 1 - hour electrical service call for at a rental home back in December. I replaced a burnt receptacle in a bedroom. I replaced the receptacle with a GFCI receptacle because it was not grounded. I also replaced 4 - oversized fuses. I charged a fair price for the work that I did. $95 for labor, and $47.23 for material plus tax.
For some reason the customer (owner) will not pay me. I sent him numerous emails and texts. My wife called and spoke with him and he assured her that he would pay the invoice. I even sent him a paper invoice via certified mail through the USPS. All of this but still no payment.
Wondering, should I just let it go as a lesson learned?

You can employ a very clever legal method, created for mechanics, plumbers, electricians, etc...

You can use a "mechanics lien" which usually makes the DEADBEAT pay a skilled tradesperson for the job well done, along with they tradesperson's costs!!!!

Even if you've allowed the clock to exceed the allocated time, you can educate yourself, which means IF a deadbeat tries to stiff you again, you'll know EXACTLY what you can do to squeeze your MOOLA out of the deadbeat's greedy paws!!!!

North Carolina Mechanics Lien Guide and FAQs

Fact-checked by the Levelset Legal Team
Last updated February 24, 2026
If contractors and suppliers don't get paid on a construction project in North Carolina, they can file a mechanics lien to secure payment. A mechanics lien is a legal tool that provides the unpaid party with a security interest in the property. This page breaks down the rules, requirements, and deadlines you need to follow to file a North Carolina mechanics lien.

Quicklinks

North Carolina lien law FAQs
Best GCs in North Carolina
Essential things to know about North Carolina mechanics liens

Preliminary notice deadlines
15 days
Notice to Lien Agent required within 15 days from first furnishing labor and/or materials. Notice of Subcontract if Notice of Contract Filed by Prime Contractor.


However, you snooze, therefore you might lose this option.


Mechanics lien deadlines
120 days
Lien filed and served within 120 days from last furnishing labor or materials.


Enforcement deadlines
180 days
An action to enforce a North Carolina mechanics lien must be initiated within 180 days after the claimant's last furnishing of labor or materials.

Note that this deadline runs from last furnishing, so it is possible that the deadline could be as short as 60 days from the filing of the lien itself. This deadline may not be extended, and missing the deadline invalidates the lien.

North Carolina Mechanics Lien FAQs

All you need to know about North Carolina mechanics liens and notice laws for private North Carolina projects. Created by construction lawyers. Includes free forms.

www.levelset.com

 

[adjusterjack]

Statute number?

 

[army judge]

Lien FAQs

Who can file a North Carolina Mechanics Lien?

In North Carolina, "any person who performs or furnishes labor or professional design or surveying services or furnishes materials or furnishes rental equipment pursuant to a contract . . . with the owner of real property for the making of an improvement thereon" has a right to file a claim of lien on real property. However, lien rights in North Carolina are tricky for subcontractors.

Parties that may file a lien against the real property are: 1) party contracting directly with the owner; 2) first tier sub [provided all necessary steps are followed]; 3) first, second, or third tier sub provided the requirements for a claim against funds are complied with, and b) the owner pays the general or higher-tiered sub anyway and does not hold out enough to cover liens; 4) second or third tier subs (and suppliers) through subrogation of the GC's lien even if the first-tier sub has been paid, when the owner still owes money to the GC and the GC has lien rights – this can be limited if the general files a notice of contract and second or third tier sub does not serve a notice of subcontract; or unless, if both notices are given, the general serves written notice of payment with 5 days of receiving payment. A recent case also just confirmed expansive mechanics lien rights for design professionals.

Parties that may file a claim on funds: a subcontractor may claim a lien against funds owed to their hiring party (the party on the tier above) and may also be subrogated to that party's claim.

Parties more remote than a second tier sub may not be subrogated to higher subs' interest.

Parties may not file a claim against funds when no funds are owed to the higher tier party at the time the lower tier party files the claim of lien.

Another nuance about who can file a mechanics lien was recently analyzed by the North Carolina Court of Appeals in a controversial decision that invalidated a mechanics lien because the parties contracted with a party to do the work who at the time work began was not the actual owner of the property, but only later became an owner. To qualify for a lien pursuant to the law of this case, therefore, you must contract with someone who has an immediate interest in the property being improved. See discussion of this case, John Conner Construction, Inc. et al v. Grandfather Holding Company, Inc., et al in our blog article: North Carolina Mechanics Lien Invalidated Because Court Confused About Term "Owner"

When is the deadline to file a North Carolina Mechanics Lien?

In North Carolina, a mechanics lien must be filed after the debt becomes due, but within 120 days from the date of last furnishing labor or materials to the project.

If the claim is upon funds, there isn't a hard "deadline" for making a claim. However, it's a good idea to send a claim of lien upon funds earlier rather than later. A claim of lien upon funds requires the obligor to withhold funds for the claimant's benefit. But, if there are no funds left to be withheld on the project, the claimant might not be able to recover.

North Carolina Mechanics Lien FAQs

All you need to know about North Carolina mechanics liens and notice laws for private North Carolina projects. Created by construction lawyers. Includes free forms.

www.levelset.com

North Carolina Mechanics Lien FAQs

All you need to know about North Carolina mechanics liens and notice laws for private North Carolina projects. Created by construction lawyers. Includes free forms.

www.levelset.com

04_22_26_NC_Lien_LAW_Step_by_Step_Guide

 

[army judge]

Statute number?

North Carolina Mechanics Lien FAQs

All you need to know about North Carolina mechanics liens and notice laws for private North Carolina projects. Created by construction lawyers. Includes free forms.

www.levelset.com

 

[zddoodah]

should I just let it go as a lesson learned?

Your options are to file a small claims suit or let it go. Only you can decide whether your time is more valuable suing or doing something else.

I do not like getting paid on the spot. I would prefer to let the dust settle on the job and invoice the customer at a later time.

That's an objectively bad business practice. If $142.23 is representative of your typical project cost, then you're living in a world where you may have to make this choice more and more. On the other hand, if your past success using this method is such that you're willing to risk the rare deadbeat, that's entirely your call.

Would a letter from an attorney do the trick?

We have no way of knowing what might be persuasive to your customer who is unknown to anyone who posts here. That said, how much do you think a lawyer will charge to write a letter? Why throw good money after bad?

if it teaches this jerk a lesson it might be a good investment.

If you want to teach lessons, become a teacher. If you want to make money, adopt modern business practices and don't throw good money after bad.