Another broker gets bond canceled

Hello folks. So today I get a call from my factoring company saying that King Heaven, MC #1368706 has not paid the $3300 they owe. It's been about 40 days, give or take. She also told me that we filed on their bond, and that the bond is due for cancelation on 7/16/23.

Why would a bond company wait additional time to cancel a bond? So the broker can ring up more deadbeat claims? The only thing I can think of is maybe they are switching bond companies? How should I know?

Anyway, I wrote King Heaven a short and direct email stating that if they don't pay by the end of business TOMORROW, I will be going after their shipper. Thankfully, the shipper is Amazon. I also informed King Heaven that I was going to let Amazon know that their bond is being canceled.

The thing that gets my goat is that I saw a couple of loads posted by King Heaven on DAT just two days ago! WTF!

Now, I'm not gonna sit and wait and get maybe 10% back, so my factoring company gave me the number to a good collection agency out of Olive Branch, MS. I'm going after Amazon.

Can some of you guys that have experience in this chime in? Am I going about it the right way or is there something else I should do?

As always, thank you guys.

 

Thank you. I was hoping you would chime in.

 

I was wondering...don't shippers have to have bonds also? Would it be better to go after Amazon's bond instead of getting a collection agency after them?

@PPDCT
@Avrakotos

 

Thank you, Jimmy. So I am getting a little more clarity, but hopefully you and some of the other guys can add to that. Here is what's going on at the moment. I just spoke to the potential collection agency, Alexander, Winton and Associates, out of Olive Branch, MS. They have stellar reviews on Google, and they were referred to me by my factoring company, Steelhead Finance. I told them that Amazon is at the end of the picket line. They said that they are currently settling claims with Amazon at 50%.

So now I have a question or two about the factoring company. I have a NON-RECOURSE agreement with them. So why are they trying to pass the buck to me? My factoring rep insinuated yesterday that if agreed by me, they would be taking 30% of my future settlements as a charge-back. So I dug up my original agreement with them and it specifically says, NON-RECOURSE. Now, I'm not a debt-beat. I haven't been late on any payment for anything in over 20 years. I have honor. But this is a big-boy's game with big-boy's rules. Everyone has to adhere by their agreements. If indeed, my factoring company is on the hook, then I will not be the one being dangled. They did their due-diligence and concluded that the broker was solvent enough to advance payment on their behalf. That's part of the game.

Am I correct on this non-recourse thing? Or am I misinformed?

So now my stance is this: I would rather get 100% of NOTHING than 50% of something. I'm a stubborn SOB who doesn't mind a fight. Amazon is the richest company in the world. Why the hell would I settle for 50%? Why do people continue to allow bullies have their way? I'm thinking of getting a real lawyer on this. My thinking is that Amazon can be sued for breach of contract as well as non-payment if they truly want to fight. But why would they risk having to pay exemplary, punitive, and court costs when they can just do the right thing and pay the pittance they owe me?

I'm sorry for the rant. I'm just pissed right now. I'm supposed to be on a small vacation here in Denver with my sis, but instead I have to deal with this BS.

@Avrakotos
@PPDCT
@Ridgeline
@JimmyTwoTimes

 

Thanks for your input. I called the broker at both their numbers, but no answer. That was to be expected. And good luck to anyone who tries to contact Amazon. That is just a Sisyphean endeavor. By design. It is my belief that Amazon makes things as difficult as they can because they are banking on the fact that people will just give up, instead of having to run the endless gauntlet of emails and phone calls.

I have a question about your first situation. Is it really kosher that a claim can be filed 3 weeks after a product was signed for and received? I mean, once the carrier delivers and things are signed for, doesn't the onus shift to the receiver now?