I still don't understand why abstractors are doing work for small companies before getting paid.  Everything this day and age is cash and carry, appraisals etc. Even title companies that receive orders for research require payments upfront. The abstract industry is still operating like this is 1980. This has happened too many times, by now we should all be on one accord. All money isn't good money. Set-up your business to take credit cards, if a company doesn't want to pay upfront, so be it.

This happened to me many years ago.

Good luck getting your money.