My SIL Promised to Pay Me for Her New Roof – I Never Got a Dime Out of the $18,800 She Owed, but She Got What Was Coming to Her

I rebuilt my sister-in-law’s house after a hailstorm.
She stiffed me for $18,800 and laughed in my face.

I’m 35, run a small contracting business, and money is tight. When a storm destroyed my SIL Tanya’s roof and garage, she called crying. I agreed to help because she’s family — and she promised to pay once insurance cleared.

For three weeks, my crew and I worked in brutal heat. Full roof, siding, garage door, gutters. I fronted every dollar on my own credit cards.

When I finished, she hugged me and called me her “hero.”

Then the excuses started.

July: “Still waiting on insurance.”
August: “The adjuster messed up.”
September: she rolled up in a brand-new SUV.

When I asked about my payment, she laughed.
“I figured it was good exposure for your business. And I babysat your kids once — that counts, right?”

I was furious.

So when she threw a big housewarming party, I made one call.

The next day, my crew showed up in uniform during the party to collect the unpaid balance — loud enough for her neighbors to hear. They explained the debt and the mechanic’s lien we were filing.

The party died instantly. Guests whispered. Her husband stared at her. People left.

Two weeks later, a check arrived.
Full amount. No apology.

The best part? Neighbors started calling me for work after seeing what happened. My business booked out for months.

She tried to humiliate me.
Instead, she built my reputation.