10/09/2025
I rebuilt my SIL's house after a hailstorm — she stiffed me for $18,800 and laughed in my face. But I got the last word.
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I’m 35, settled in Michigan with Sarah and two kids, and new to running my own contracting business. Finances are tight between materials, payroll, and credit cards, but doing right by people matters to me.
After a hailstorm hit, my SIL Tanya called, weeping:
"My roof's leaking! My garage is wrecked! I can't live like this!"
She’s family, so I agreed to help. She PROMISED repayment when the insurance arrived.
Three weeks of labor with my crew: new roof, siding, garage door, window frames, custom gutters. Sweltering 90° days. Family time sacrificed. $18.8k out on my credit cards.
Tanya thanked me with hugs, delivered cookies for my kids, and told everyone I was her "hero."
Work wrapped up in June.
By July? "Still waiting on the check."
August? "The adjuster messed up."
September? "They mailed it wrong, don’t stress!"
Next, Tanya pulls up in a sparkling new SUV, leather everything. Meanwhile, we scraped together dinner from canned ravioli.
"Tanya, did your insurance come in?" I ask.
"Oh yeah. Couple weeks ago," she replies, Starbucks cup in hand.
"Where’s my payment?"
She bursts out laughing,
"I thought since you're starting your business, it'd be good PORTFOLIO CASE. Besides, I babysat your kids for two hours — that counts, right?"
Couldn’t sleep that night; stewing in frustration.
For the housewarming, I phoned my team.
Next day, two of them swung by for a "warranty inspection." Their purpose wasn’t shingles. It was another "TASK." ⬇️