Posted on 04/17/2026 7:21:06 PM PDT by lowbridge
A payment dispute between a San Pablo, California resident and a local dumpster rental company ended with a load of debris being dumped back onto the customer's property, an incident caught on a neighbor's surveillance camera and now circulating widely online.
Martin Perez, owner of Express Rental Dumpster, said he felt he had "no other option" after a customer repeatedly promised to settle the bill but moved out of the home without paying a $700 balance.
"We don't want to do it, but I'm tired," Perez said.
Perez told ABC San Francisco affiliate KGO that attempts to collect payment failed.
"We tried to collect the payment. The payment declined," he said.
He added that hauling the debris away anyway would have cost him another $1,000 out of pocket to dispose of. The debris, he pointed out, included appliances.
Perez said what frustrated him most was what he found left behind: two $1 bills and a smiley face drawn on the receipt.
"He leave me an invoice, $2 and happy face," Perez said. "You think that 'it's like that,' right?"
Perez said that's when he decided to return the debris to the property.
-snip
San Pablo police confirmed they received reports of illegal dumping but determined no crime was committed. The case is now in the hands of city code enforcement, and the violation notice was addressed to a name listed as the property owner.
Perez said his team cleaned up around the home to ensure no debris was left in the street or on the sidewalk.
(Excerpt) Read more at abc7chicago.com ...
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I used to do stuff like this in old America, like cutting out all your material and taking it with you, but today it is probably lawsuit city.
A little "waste management required."
“illegal dumping”
LOL...just returning the owner’s belongings to him. The dumpster company deserves kudos for being so honest.
““illegal dumping””
Not in article.
Second sentence from bottom: “San Pablo police confirmed they received reports of illegal dumping but determined no crime was committed.”
Police made a good decision!
Correct. There was no illegal dumping as you earlier post stated.
Cops say the guy did nothing wrong.
When I was 8 years old I would shovel sidewalks for cash.
A neighbor said she didn’t want the sidewalk done, just the driveway. I said fine, but it still was $5 as the driveway was the largest and most difficult (it was a little over 18” of snow.)
When I finished, I went to the door to get paid. She opened the door, handed me $2, and quickly slammed the door. She refused to answer the door.
I was practically in tears dragging my shovel back home when I had a thought.
I went back and began shoveling the snow back onto the driveway.
Quick as a flash, she was outside with the balance in her hand.
Decades later a similar thing happened when I was shoeing a horse. When I went to pull the shoes off for lack of payment. I got my money.
To be fair, Tony Soprano was incensed by Richie Aprile's actions.
It was Richie who dumped the garbage back onto the sidewalk, in an act of provocation.
Am glad that Janice did a little "housekeeping."
Regards,
My uncle used to trap Nunsense skunks.
He took one away didn’t get paid brought back two.
Got paid.
Seems reasonable...
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