HAPPY BIRTHDAY, VORTEX!!!!! I wish I could be there to help you celebrate!

me, too *sniff* Have a shot for me tonight?

Your reply is good, Aimee. I would be painfully explicit in a few spots: 1) make it clear that you expect him to use email to communicate with you. 2) Clean up the last paragraph a bit -- you state the invoice total as both $400+ and as $200+ which shouldn't confuse him, but gods forbid you have to go to small claims court, you want to make it easy on them.

Happy birthday, Vortex!!

And, happy anniversary Daisy and Mr. Jane!!!

It's a good Buffista day.

Happy birthday, Vortex!!

And, happy anniversary Daisy and Mr. Jane!!!

eta: eh, I was going to delete this, but I'll keep the extras happies!

2) Clean up the last paragraph a bit -- you state the invoice total as both $400+ and as $200+ which shouldn't confuse him, but gods forbid you have to go to small claims court, you want to make it easy on them.

Any chance I can ask for your magnificent help in rewording it?

Also, an invoice for $402.50 would be an invoice coming from him - I think I'd rather specify that you want to see the actual $800 and change invoice that he paid.

In fact, I might go about it a little differently. I think I'd not get into arguments about what who is charging - just rescind the payment, request all invoices/cc statements backing up what he paid, and let him know you'll pay him immediately for your half of the charges less the money for transport and Joe's time.

I received your phone message and email on May 16, 2007. From this point on, any and all communication regarding this matter will be done via email.

Is this better?

Aimee, I think that the email is a little, um, hostile in tone. I know that he's an asshat and you ARE hostile, but since he's already been a weasel, you might want to dial it back a little in hopes of cooperation, maybe something like this instead:

I received your phone message and email on May 16, 2007. Since there's been so much confusion, I think that we should use email for all communications to avoid any other misunderstandings.

I'm really liking brenda's straight to it approach.

eta: Given that this seems all to be his 'fault', you don't need to 'splain anything to him. It just gives him weasel room he doesn't deserve.

I'd be explicit (restate stuff you've already stated in other messages).

List the Date and amount you paid him.

Explain why you paid him that amount (that it was 50% of estimated total cost).

List the amount of the actual total cost.

List what 50% of what the actual total cost is.

Then, in detail, do all of the math for him again.

Then add in whatever that extra money is that I'm not quite following you on for Joe's labor and for moving some other thing from one point to another. Be as overly-specific as you can possibly be.