Trucking: $1000 deposit not returned, small claims court, reefers

Question
Hello and thanks in advance for any help you can give.  My husband and I recently purchased 4 trucks and 4 reefers.  During the initial process of buying, we were going to buy from Drivers4hire.com.  We had our bank wire $1000.00 to them on the very day they requested it.  For various reasons the deal fell through.  My husband and the owner/controller had words.  It has been over three months now and Drivers4hire.com still will not refund our money.  I spoke with the owner on numerous occasions and he always said (when he would get on the phone), that he had mailed it just today, or was going to mail it today.  Once he even said he had mailed it and it had returned because he had the wrong address.  Please help, this guy is miffed because of harsh words exchanged between my husband and him (he even told me my husband was a jerk) and is now PUNISHING us by not returning our money.  With all the costs of our new business, we really don't have the money to hire an attorney just for this.  Any help is greatly appreciated!

Answer
Hi Kat.

I have no simple answer for you.  Without hiring a lawyer, you options are limited.  You can do one of two other things.  First, you can take Drivers4hire.com to small claims court.  This would mean you would have to go to whatever city that they're in for court.  Not bad if you can arrange a load there to make it to court.  

The second option would be to have someone call the d4hire and talk rationally.  Not you, or your husband, but a third party.  I would find someone who, you could say, is an "investor" in your company.  He has to keep his cool, but be firm.  "As an investor, I need my $1000 back.  I really don't want to call my lawyer, but I will if payment is not received by (pick a date)."  Keep it simple but firm.  Don't overtalk, but demand action.  If they have any common sense, they'll pay up.  Sure, it's not a great method, but if they thought that your investors are now involved, serious and ready to go to court, they'll pay up.  Again, make it an outside third party that is very well spoken and keeps his cool.  Also, keep your husband far away so they don't hear him yelling!  :)

Past that, you'll either have to go to court or find a local Congressman in their state and try to appeal to them.

Good luck!

Bob Stephens