Q: I sold a puppy from my litter to a guy at work on a payment plan with no paperwork. Just his word now he’s not paying me
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
In Ohio, if you sold a puppy on a payment plan without any written agreement, and the buyer is now not making payments, your options for recourse can be limited due to the lack of formal documentation. However, the verbal agreement you had is still a contract, albeit harder to prove in court.
Your first step should be to communicate with the buyer, reminding him of the agreement and requesting the due payments. Sometimes, a written reminder or a direct conversation can resolve such issues.
If he still does not pay, you can consider small claims court as an option for recovering the money owed. In small claims court, you can present your case without needing an attorney, and the informal setting might be more suitable for disputes involving verbal agreements.
Before filing a claim, gather any evidence you have of the agreement and the sale, such as text messages, emails, witness testimonies, or any other communication that can support your claim.
Keep in mind that going to court can be a time-consuming process and may affect your relationship with the individual. Weighing the value of the unpaid amount against the potential hassle and time commitment of a legal action is important.
In the future, for any such transactions, consider creating a written agreement, even a simple one, to clearly outline the terms and protect both parties. This can help avoid similar situations.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
