Legal Question in Business Law in Florida

Re: Collecting Payment for services already completed

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If you charge the final payment on AMEX without authorization, your customer can dispute the charge and have it removed from their account. It would be charged back to you.

Depending on the time frame, you should file a Claim of Lien against the property and then proceed to perfect your claim under Florida's mechanic lien laws. You should consult an attorney as any error can invalidate your claim or right to proceed.

Scott R. Jay, Esq.

Re: Collecting Payment for services already completed

There is probably not a problem charging the credit card for services rendered if the services were actually rendered in accordance with the contract (some of the terms of the contract you listed in your question (e.g. price and payment schedule). I'm assuming your agreement requires payment to you from the credit card be conditioned on permission from the customer prior to charging it. There may be an issue if the reason the customer has not paid is that the work either was not completed or the work was done incorrectly. You could, instead of charging the credit card, bring suit on the contract for breach and/or account stated, obtain a judgment against the customer and then attempt to collect on the judgment.