Something Unexpected In The Mail Today
By vikingswest
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
United States
March 16, 2022 2:37pm CST
About ten years ago, I helped out a couple I knew.
They bought a house and it needed flooring work done.
They wanted to move in as quickly as possible.
I spent three days installing new carpet, refinishing the vinyl floors and installing kitchen counters with a tile backsplash.
I did not leave the house once in the three days.
I worked all day and all night. I slept on a cot. I ordered pizza.
I helped them move their things in after I had finished the work.
They were to pay me for my work with their tax return.
A few weeks later, the husband was caught cheating and they divorced. The house was sold. I wasn't aware of this until tax time rolled around. He moved out of state and she moved in with a friend. When I finally talked to her, she said she didn't have the money and she gave me his number.
I called many times, left messages but never heard back.
I would call him every so often but he never responded.
After several years, I just gave up. I gave up hope of ever getting paid.
I went to the mailbox today and saw a letter from him.
There was a short note of apology and a check for 200 dollars more than he owed me.
I immediately wrote a note thanking him and sent it off.
I can't tell you how surprised I was to get something unexpected in the mail.
Have you ever got something unexpected in the mail?
22 people like this
23 responses
@thislittlepennyearns (62529)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
17 Mar 22
Yeah. I have. Nothing that exciting, but close.
I wish people that owed me money would send me checks for two hundred more than what they owed me lol
2 people like this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
17 Mar 22
He felt bad and wanted to make it right I guess.
I have been stiffed a few times because I trusted clients. This made up for some of them.
He owed me 2k for the work I did ten years ago. I think the bonus was enough to make us even.
2 people like this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
17 Mar 22
@thislittlepennyearns
It's nice now to be able to choose jobs I want to do.
Most of my earlier years, I was forced to take every job that I could find. Not only did I get stiffed several times, it took it's toll on my knees and hands.
@thislittlepennyearns (62529)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
17 Mar 22
@Vikingswest1 Oh, yeah I feel your pain. I own/operate two different small businessses. One is construction centered, and we've been stifffed before too
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37569)
•
18 Mar 22
This is wonderful. I am so glad for you, to know they paid you at last. Good unexpected things are wonderful.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
18 Mar 22
It was such a nice surprise. I read the letter standing by my mailbox.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
18 Mar 22
@MarieCoyle
I actually did lol. Right in the middle of the street!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37569)
•
18 Mar 22
@Vikingswest1
I probably would have done a little dance right in front of the mailbox!
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (69824)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Mar 22
I have, mostly junk. Usually nothing good. I am glad you finally got paid.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (69824)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Mar 22
@Vikingswest1 Same here. Now that our house is paid off (and even before) we started getting letters from so-called flippers that want us to sell our home.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
16 Mar 22
@kaylachan
I get realtors wanting me to sell, and service companies wanting me to buy.
And of course, car warranty solicitations.
I have had a few flippers send me things too.
Once the house was paid for, the offers come a couple of times a week.
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
16 Mar 22
It was a nice surprise. All I get in the mail is junk or people wanting my money usually.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41444)
• United States
17 Mar 22
I just remembered a time I got a surprise in the mail. It was about 45 years ago, my husband and I were separated at the time and even though finances were tight, I knew I should be tithing my income. So I started and trusted God to take care of us. A week later I got a refund check in the mail after overpaying a doctor's office.
Now first of all, how often does a doctor give you money back? And second, the check was the exact amount of the tithes I had just paid.
God is faithful and He sure has a good sense of humor! PS Dale and I soon reunited and I'm so thankful.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
17 Mar 22
I have a story very similar to yours. It happened twice.
Once it was a doctor's office and once an attorney that sent money back. Both times, it was right after I had given a donation that I couldn't really afford.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
17 Mar 22
@1creekgirl
I believe that too. It's amazing that both times, the amount sent back equalled what I paid out.
That wasn't just random. It's all part of His plan for us.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41444)
• United States
17 Mar 22
@Vikingswest1 That's so cool! God really cares about everything in our lives.
1 person likes this
@porwest (90937)
• United States
16 Mar 22
Perhaps it has happened, but I don't recall anything specific. But man, I have to applaud this guy for at least making good on his promise with a little bonus to boot, especially after several years. I am sure you'd probably have already just written the whole affair (pardon the pun) off.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
16 Mar 22
The pun made it better.
I went from disliking this guy to respecting him in an instant.
He could have just sent the money but he added the bonus. I know now that the debt bothered him too. If he ever asked for help again, I wouldn't hesitate to help out.
1 person likes this
@porwest (90937)
• United States
16 Mar 22
@Vikingswest1 Yeah. I'd do the same. He'd have a newfound place in my perception of him. Now if he calls you next week for a bigger job, though, you might just want to ask for the money upfront. He might just be paying you now a discounted price. lol
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
16 Mar 22
@porwest
He lives in Texas now.
I always ask for half my fee upfront because of him. I will continue to do it that way.
I don't do a lot of that work anymore. I can pick and choose jobs now that I'm retired.
My daughter and her husband flip houses. They are the only ones that don't have to pay me half up front.
They always make good after the sale. Truth is, I work pretty cheap for them lol.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
16 Mar 22
It made me feel better about people in general too. There is still good people out there
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
16 Mar 22
@CarolDM
My faith in people has been restored.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
16 Mar 22
@Vikingswest1 That is so true. A great reminder.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (37355)
• Toccoa, Georgia
18 Mar 22
This past Christmas my Mom sent us a little bit more money than she usually does for the holidays. It was surprising and appreciated.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (37355)
• Toccoa, Georgia
18 Mar 22
@Vikingswest1 Yes, I love chocolate covered cherries.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
18 Mar 22
Isn't it fun to get something unexpected?
This past Christmas both my kids sent me 5 boxes of chocolate covered cherries. I think I was as happy with their gifts as I was to get the unexpected money lol.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
16 Mar 22
Not that I can think of... but I'm glad he finally paid you.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
16 Mar 22
Me too. I was pretty surprised to get that check today.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
16 Mar 22
@Vikingswest1 I have no doubt of that!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79892)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Mar 22
I am so glad for you and happy you got your money, Yes, in December my friend sent me some Christmas money and also some money for my birthday this year, I was not expecting anything so it is a great feeling,
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
17 Mar 22
Isn't it fun to get money in the mail when you aren't expecting it?
It erased all the bad things that I was thinking about that guy.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
18 Mar 22
It's such a nice surprise to have someone make good on an old debt. It's good that you get the money back plus you get rid of the bad feelings you carry about the person that owed it to you.
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
17 Mar 22
Why thank you. It was a nice surprise. He mentioned in his letter that he felt guilty the whole time. It's all good now.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340200)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 22
@Vikingswest1 For someone like him, it probably weighed very heavily on him. As you say, it's all good now.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35615)
•
17 Mar 22
I guess the guy's conscience finally made him do the right thing. Now you will have some gas/food money. Of course, it won't last a week with our inflation issues. 
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
17 Mar 22
I was very surprised. I'm depositing the check tomorrow.
I will send each of my kids a little something too so they can have something unexpected in the mail.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
17 Mar 22
It sure was a nice surprise. I had several clients cheat me over the years and it forced me to change the way I did business.
Loans are another story but I think it was worth the money so I didn't have to see those people anymore.
@GardenGerty (160696)
• United States
17 Mar 22
I have never gotten anything like that in the mail, such a nice surprise. Would you like to come work on my house? I would give you better food than pizza!
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
17 Mar 22
Anything but carpet. It's too hard on my body to install it lol.
I still do the odd job every now and then.
It was a nice surprise to get that letter in the mail.
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
17 Mar 22
It was a surprise. I hadn't even talked to the guy in many years.
It must have been bothering him to send a check. I'm happy he did.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
17 Mar 22
It really was. The best part was the short letter he wrote. It changed the way I thought of the man and people in general.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
17 Mar 22
I was angry and disappointed with him. As the years passed by, I slowly forgot about it. I would see her every so often (I live in a very small town) and it would remind me. She would ask if I ever got paid and tried to give me money but I said the debt wasn't hers, my deal was with him. I felt sorry for her. She is now married again and has two kids.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
17 Mar 22
It was a nice surprise. Ten years late, but the bonus makes it worth the wait.
