Apr 14, 2025
Running a small business isn’t easy, especially when it’s a restaurant. A number of things could go wrong on any day that could upend your entire operation.
That’s what happened to Jesse Sanders, the operations manager at Thai Bistro & Bar in Evansville, Indiana.
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According to a report by local television station WFIE, when the restaurant’s grease trap started to overflow, they called Heavrin Plumbing Company to help fix it. Three days later, Sanders called the company again because the same issue was happening.
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However, Sanders was shocked that the bill for the second job was 66% higher for the same work at $390. The explanation for the increase was that the plumber returned the second time to unclog the grease trap during what was considered overtime hours.
Sanders refused to pay the second bill, and the next morning he received a text message saying that the plumber had returned to the restaurant.
“He put a balloon into our grease trap,” said Sanders. The plumber said he would not remove it until the bill was paid. The restaurant was given around an hour to pay their bill before the plumber left for the weekend.
Why the police got involved
Sanders told reporters if the balloon was left in the grease trap, it would have overflowed and the restaurant would have been flooded with dirty water. “Basically, we would’ve had to shut down,” he said. He called the police to help mediate.
The police told WFIE that matters where there are disputes over work done and invoice payments would normally be settled in small claims court.
However, Joel Heavrin, the owner of the plumbing company, decided going that route wasn’t worth his time. He also defended his actions to WFIE by saying that his business offers no warranty for drain cleaning.
“I don’t have a magic wand I can wave and remove all the garbage and debris from the drain line,” he said. “What we can do is we can snake it, we can verify that it’s open and working correctly. Which is what we did.”
He added that Thai Bistro & Bar has a history of being slow to make payments.
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After the police arrived, Thai Bistro & Bar ended up paying the invoice, which was marked “paid under protest,” and Heavrin Plumbing removed the blockage.
“It’s ridiculous that it had to come down to this,” Sanders said.
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How you can avoid similar issues
Property owners or operators who need to hire other businesses for services like plumbing may be able to avoid these issues by taking a few precautions.
For one, do your research before you need to call any business. Check to see if the business is reputable and read any reviews from third-party organizations like the Better Business Bureau. Consider looking at how the business has handled any disputes in the past.
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When you do engage with a company, ask the representative about specific fees for any work you may need done.
It could be the case that a service provider may not be able to give you an exact quote until the worker shows up. Still, you may be able to at least get a price range so you know what to expect.
Asking about potential add-ons like extra surcharges for rush jobs or work outside of business hours could help you prepare for increased costs. Whatever answers you get, be sure to document them, including the name of the person you spoke with.
When you do hire a company, be sure to double check the fees before any work is done. If possible, get a copy of the invoice and resolve any issues before the service person leaves.
Worst case scenario, you may have to go through small claims court to settle the matter. Each state will have its own rules around how it handles minor legal disputes, such as the dollar amount involved.
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Sarah Li-Cain, AFC is a finance and small business writer with over a decade of experience.
