Customer owes money & UPS chargebacks

[diskullman]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NJ

We're having trouble collecting from a customer. He avaoided us for several months. When we finally spoke to us, he told us that his business did not exist anymore. We have not recieved annotice of bankruptcy, and he is a registered as a corporation in AL. This customer claims he has no responsability for the bills because he is out of business, we claim he still owes unless he shows proof of legal bankruptcy. Can he just weasel out of his bills this way? Or should I have him arrested for theft of goods?

As a side note, UPS has back-charged us for all of HIS freight collect shipments. I guess in their fine print, they reserve the right to back charge if the original consignee does not pay. We contend that once the consignee RECIEVED the package, and SIGNED for the material, that they assumed all legal responsabilities for payment. We informed UPS that we would gladly pay when we recieve our product back.
We don't especially enjoy getting stiffed for the product AND the freight as well.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[Mass_Shyster]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NJ

We're having trouble collecting from a customer. He avaoided us for several months. When we finally spoke to us, he told us that his business did not exist anymore. We have not recieved annotice of bankruptcy, and he is a registered as a corporation in AL. This customer claims he has no responsability for the bills because he is out of business, we claim he still owes unless he shows proof of legal bankruptcy. Can he just weasel out of his bills this way? Or should I have him arrested for theft of goods?

As a side note, UPS has back-charged us for all of HIS freight collect shipments. I guess in their fine print, they reserve the right to back charge if the original consignee does not pay. We contend that once the consignee RECIEVED the package, and SIGNED for the material, that they assumed all legal responsabilities for payment. We informed UPS that we would gladly pay when we recieve our product back.
We don't especially enjoy getting stiffed for the product AND the freight as well.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

You don't get to have him arrested. Debtor's prison went out with Charles Dickens. You can sue him.

You can also let UPS know that unless they remove the charges from your statement you will be moving ALL of your freight to other carriers.

 

[Zigner]

You can also let UPS know that unless they remove the charges from your statement you will be moving ALL of your freight to other carriers.

While I agree with this, the legal reality is that our OP did agree to the terms for shipping freight collect...if he DID move his business to another carrier, he would STILL owe UPS for the charges.

 

[Mass_Shyster]

While I agree with this, the legal reality is that our OP did agree to the terms for shipping freight collect...if he DID move his business to another carrier, he would STILL owe UPS for the charges.

Sorry, I was unclear. I did not mean to imply that the OP should not pay UPS.