If my paperboy tells me he will keep leaving my paper in a puddle unless I tip him, can I sue for extortion?

Judy

No you can't sue. How ever you can report unacceptable behavior to the Paperboys supervisor, I am sure that tipping is acceptable but demanding money over and above the price of the paper is not tipping.......
In all professions that tipping is a part of the service persons salary the size of the is a suggesed amount so that the better service the better the tip. A paperboy should only expect a tip if he has to walk your paper up to the door because you asked him to, or if he goes out of his way to be sure the paper is always on time and DRY, he can hope for but should not expect a gauranteed tip. Many people only give a gift at Christmas that covers their thanks for the whole year. Unless when you signed up for the paper there was a gratuity guideline attached to the purchase contract to tip or not to tip is still a choice....expecting his payments to be exactly on time is with in is expectation and if you are ever late a tip makes a good apology. and that you do have some moral obligation to since if you are late with other bills a service charge is attached. Unless you want to drive to town for your morning paper I would suggest you come to some resolution of this problem....it is stupid on both of your parts to continue with a conflict that can be resolved in some manner.....

bestaimee2151

It would more of a small claims court thing, but you could pursue action w/his boss. The tricky part is proving that he said that to you. (wear a mic?)

I'd call his boss first; if he's saying that to you, he's probably using it w/all his customers, so with enough complaints he'd probably get axed anyway.

Good luck!

1st Buzie

Cancel your paper. When they call to find out why tell them.

hddiddle

no but couldnt u call the newspaper that he works for. or you could go ghetto and threaten to call his momma. good luck

nihilistninja

Golfer....stop it with this paperboy stuff.....report him to his boss and get your news online.

Give the $30 a month you save to Charity or sit in a coffee bar and Read the News....

Newspapers are a waste of time and trees.

RX8 MATE

Collect the paper yourself and pocket his tip

Darby

Do what you like. I'd cancel my subscription and tell the newspaper why you did it. Then neither of you would have anything to worry about. Newspapers are lucky we still read them, especially us who still get home delivery because we always have. We can get more current info on the radio, computer, tv.

StephenWeinstein

You're kidding right? Felony? Over a wet newspaper?

Tell the newspaper company that you are unwilling to pay for the papers because he is intentionally leaving them in puddles and is extorting money from you. If they fire him, which seems likely, your problem is solved. Otherwise, stop having the newspapers delivered, and buy them at a newstand or store or vending machine instead.

John M.

Ha ha! No you cannot charge your paperboy with felony extortion! (Felony extortion is when you attempt to extract money from a person under threat of bodily injury. Blackmail is when the intimidation is accomplished under threat of libel or malicious prosecution).

This case does not meet the criteria for extortion for several reasons:

(1) you are not being threatened with bodily harm, or libel, or malicious prosecution.

(2) the newspaper delivery is inherantly a voluntary agreement. You cannot claim that you are being forced to pay money while you voluntarily continue the contract!

If your paper boy threatens to put your paper in a puddle unless you tip him, it is not a cause to charge him with extortion. You are completely at liberty to find another paperboy. If you are obligated under contract to receive papers from this paperboy, then the threat gives you legal grounds to cancel the contract. Nothing more. Why don't you just tell his boss what he is doing?

P. S. You really should go down to your district attorney's office with your claims of extortion. It will be sure to keep the DA in stitches for months! Don't forget to demand that he also charge the shoe-shine boy with racketeering!

samy

Yes you can. But it is more fun to pour oil on him,

Patrick G

Wouldn't it be easier and more cost effective to tip him.... not to mention nicer.

But the answer to your question is, "No". Extortion is the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through physical force or threats of imminent danger.

Unless your paper being went is somehow going to physically harm or kill you... then you do not have enough to make extortion stick.

spraynwalls

yes probably. Take a break and put the shoe on the other foot. Wouldn't you rather someone tip you for making an extra effort? and if they did that, and regular like, wouldn't you want to go out of your way to give a better service than the type that would happen if someone were to snub you?

As newspaper deliverers don't make anything anyway, why not make a gift of a buck or two.

Sure, you could make a stink of the whole bit, but if you want service, you have to pay for it. enough tips at the local pub or restaurant causes the service staff to take notice of you whenever you come around. Once they know that you'll give them a little extra, likely you'll have a better seat, and better personal attendant service that others not so 'distinguished'.

as a paper boy (or girl, as the case may be), their only demand is that the newpaper be in the front yard. If you want to snub the kid and make war, his end is a whole lot better than yours because he can viably throw the paper on the roof, in the tree, the planter, or make you look for it.

The newspaper, tired of your calls and complaints, may very well tell you to bug off and weighing in with your flak, decide that the $4 or so a week or month doesn't justify serving you, or haraguing the local kid who's only trying to help you out by bringing the paper early in the morning, when he could be sleeping in or doing something else.

Hazel

Don't be silly, just tell his boss

twyla c

Call the paper's main office and complain.

no maam

just tip him cheapo

gale1

I would complain to the paper. Take some pictures of your paper laying in the puddle and send them into customer service. You are not required to tip the paperboy although most people do. I would never tip him now after his dirty tactics. Give the paper all the information including the date he made the treat.

Stewie Griffin

Just say "I've got your tip" and as he comes closer, whip out your shotgun and blast away.

onepriviti

Anyone can file a lawsuit . . . whether you will win is the better question, I believe. I think you should phone the newspaper's customer service and complain . . . your paperboy obviously needs to learn about quality customer service, and you are just the customer to make sure he gets that lesson. @;~)

PS If you are afraid of repercussions . . . and he makes anymore threats . . . I would just talk to my local police department . . . he sounds like a thug in the making.

oka_niabar

i know y dont you film him doing it/saying it and then go to his employer or something .

Robino

Time when he usually arrives, then back out the car really fast as he's passing. Problem solved.

amber s

What are you worried about.? Just go out there and take his bike. That little bit of personal satisfaction would be so much better than a paper anyway. When you push him off his bike and he starts crying, you say, "don't bother coming back, I will be reading the paper online from now on. Thanks for the bicycle"

Cindy B

Probably not, but you can cancel.

Or just make sure there is no puddle in your yard.

Just tip him cheapo

SuckitUp

You can shoot him in the butt with a BB, just don't get caught

Willow

You epitomise what is so wrong in todays society. Tell this little piece of s**t that you will kick his b***s in if he does not behave, you are the adult, he is paid to do a job, why do we all look to the ineffectual law to right what is wrong? Kids will always take the p***s, it is the nature of kids, where we have lost it is in looking to some other authority to put it right, get your priorities right my friend, you seek to sue rather than stand up for yourself? No wonder kids think they rule the world. Then again it is much easier to sue than to be an adult, and right the wrongs that exist in our communities.

Papaerboy

I am a paperboy and boy I have to say. if you ask for your paper other then in your mail box there should be a tip givin. i delv. all 130 of my customers papers either at there door step or inside the screen door. I make 0.4575 per paper i delv. minus supplys like bags and rubber bands and then there are charges for the customers that say they did not get there paper when i know they did so they just dont have to pay for it but i always write something nice like good morning to each cust. I dont get a hell of a lot of tips but every person should tip at least .50 to 1.00 a week for a job well done. 1.00 x 130 cust is 130 bucks.. now thats making about min. wage.. comon. i applyed for the customer service office for the press and they pay them 11.00 an hr to sit on there ass.. i dont think its fair for the hard workers to get shit on.. just not right..

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: