Furious about GCs Stiffing Us on Framing Jobs - What Counts as 'Carpentry'?

Saw this thread on r/Carpentry debating what even counts as a carpenter anymore, from rough framing like stick-built walls to fine stuff like custom cabinets, and it got me thinking about all the times I've been screwed on payments. Been in the Chicago area my whole career doing mostly residential remodels and additions, installing joists and sheathing with my Festool tracksaw, and just last month a GC owed me $4,800 for a full deck frame using pressure-treated 2x10s. They pulled that 'change order' BS claiming the scope was 'beyond basic carpentry' even though we quoted T&M at $85/hr plus materials. Meanwhile, some guys in The Contractor Fight Facebook group are saying to file liens immediately, but by the time you do, the project's half-done and you're chasing shadows. It's collective rage fuel when you're out here busting your ass on precise miter cuts for trim work and they treat it like hobby woodworking. Anyone else dealing with this crap in framing gigs? FML.

Haha, 'beyond basic carpentry'? Tell that to the Essential Craftsman video I watched on proper joist hangers - that's pro work!

This pisses me off too, spent two weeks on a roof truss job and the check bounced.

Proud of the time I hit 'em with a mechanics lien on a barn build before they ghosted.

How do you even define the scope when quoting? Like, does trim count as fine woodwork or just add-on?

Man, same here, feels like every job.

GCs are the worst, always reclassifying work to dodge paying full rate.

These GCs need to be called out publicly, name and shame in groups.

Saw a post in Carpenters of America FB group about a similar rip-off on cabinet installs.

Totally, and it spreads - one bad GC ruins the whole network.

SharkBite for plumbing is controversial, but for carpentry, skip GCs altogether, go direct to owners.

Lol, imagine if we treated their electrical subs the same way.

File that lien day one, and get everything in writing with photos of the sheathing and joists.

Agreed, photos saved my ass on a remodel addition payment.

Shitty GCs banding together to lowball us all.

Lost a whole month's pay on a deck project last year, knees still hurt from the stress.

Haha, my buddy did a custom bookshelf and the client called it 'not real carpentry' to negotiate down.

What software do you guys use for tracking these payments? Jobber?

We've all been there, brother.

Solidarity, these GCs are vampires.

Can't stand it, feels personal after all the sweat on those rafters.

Yeah, man.

Us against them.

GCs screwing framers is the real epidemic here.

Been burned twice, now I demand 50% upfront on any sub work.

Hate these stories, but they keep happening.

What's your go-to for proving scope? Blueprints?

Blueprints and daily logs, essential for collections.

GCs are trash, especially the ones who 'forget' the final draw on trim packages.

Fight me, but walking off mid-job sometimes works better than liens.