Benny-Boy,

  People are funny that way.  They sometimes think *their* time is worth a
lot and your time is worth nothing.  Keep the van until the wanna-be
deadbeat pays up, and don't cut any slack.  Why should you 'support' a
stranger by giving away your time, skill, labor and parts?  You probably had
paying customers waiting for work while you did the job for the person who
"can't" pay..
  I know, it sounds "harsh".  But your time is all you have, really.  When
you agree to trade some of your time for some money, by taking on a
job..you've made a deal.  Finish the work, get the dough..or keep the van
and sell it for the dough..simple..Excuses and sob-stories are simply an
attempt to sleeze out without paying the bill ontime.  If you let a customer
"owe you" for the work you may wait forever..If that customer owes YOU, he
or she probably owes many others, too..
  Dead-beat customers are very bad people..That's why there are laws like a
"mechanic's lien" giving you the right to keep the repaired vehicle till the
customer pays for the repairs.  Don't feel like a mean guy for expecting
honesty..when someone doesn't pay, they deserve nothing...

  Don Hanson