I’m in a pickle. I’m sure I will have to consult an attorney, but hoping for some potential guidance from you all before I have to spend $$$ on legal advice.
I have a small farm in Virginia. I like to cater to high maintenance retirees, so I do have a few owners who are absentee, and it’s not uncommon to receive retirement inquiries from people out of state.
In mid-October I received an inquiry from a man, looking for retirement board for his girlfriend’s horse. He lives in Maryland, the horse is in Northern Virginia (close to the MD/VA line) but with a trainer. The girlfriend is not going to be able to ride for some time due to an accident, and due to the horse’s age they would like to move horse into a retirement facility where he special needs can be catered to. OK that’s fine. I get in touch with training facility, ask the normal questions, included “Does he pay on time.” “Yep, pays on time.” Stories match up. Trainer needs to move horse to make room for a new training horse. Horse moves to my farm on October 31st. Man pays me with a credit card (authorized for one use). No issues.
On November 20th, I send out December 1 invoices. He confirms receipt via email. And says that girlfriend’s health has taken a downward turn. Riding is not in the forseeable future. He wants to find someone to lease the horse. I start asking questions and get a bad gut feeling…
This mare was supposed to be retired. She’s 20. Wasn’t the plan for her to stay here long term to be retired?
December 1 rolls around. No check in the mail. No new credit card authorization. I email. No response. $25 late fee. Send a new invoice. December 5th rolls around. Still no payment. No communication. I call. No answer. I try girlfriend. No answer. I finally email trainer. She tells me the entire story…
They did this to her too. She gives me the contact information for the girlfriend’s mother. I contact mother. Mother is apologetic, but has no money to pay for horse. I keep in contact with mother.
December 7th rolls around. Late fee #2. Another $25. Email invoice. I email, call, text. No response. December 13th rolls around. I email, call, text. Finally I threaten warrant in debt on boyfriend. He calls back 5 minutes later.
Meanwhile, I have been communicating with mother. I offer escape from debt by having ownership of horse transferred to me. HOWEVER- girlfriend has to sign the transfer since girlfriend owns the horse. Girlfriend refuses.
Boyfriend finally pays me on December 15th. We talk this over. He has spoken to girlfriend. They want to keep the horse. I agree to keep horse for them but I need a credit card authorization, authorizing recurring payments SIGNED. After much harassing, he signs on December 23rd. OK. Maybe drama is over.
WRONG. I ran credit card provided yesterday. DECLINED.
I email, no response. Text, no response. I pick up the phone to call at 10am. One ring, then right to voicemail. I call him multiple times through out the day. Same thing. I called him at 8am this morning, straight to voicemail.
I texted, emailed, called girlfriend. No response.
I have emailed Mother. No response.
I emailed him new invoice with late fee #1. No response. Put a read receipt on it. Hasn’t been read yet.
It appears that he has blocked my phone number. My text messages (imessages) are not marked “delivered” either.
So it appears they have dumped the horse. Virginia has a wonderful law protecting me, which provides a lien on the animal. I believe I can send them notice via USPS with return receipt, that I intend on selling horse. But I’m not sure how this works.
Any words of wisdom?
