As Tonawanda Coke begins the process of shutting down — one small business owner is telling the company to pay up. 

David Farinacci is the President of Skilled Services International which provided skilled labor to the plant.

Farinacci says he sent several texts, letters, emails and made calls to get a payment of nearly $5,000. He says all methods of communication were ignored.

"I know they owe millions, I know I'm a small pod," said Farinacci. "But it still doesn't make it right. Regardless of whether it's $5,000 dollars or $500,000 -- it doesn't make it right!"

Farinacci shared all documentation of services by his company, invoices and payments by Tonawanda Coke up until May of this year with Spectrum News. He believes his is not the only business having the same problem. 

Now that the plant is closing, he believes it will be harder to get balances paid.

"I think it's cowardly what they're doing with regards to owning up to what they owe businesses that have given them services or product," Farinacci said. "Pay the piper!"

Attorney John Elmore says that as long as Tonawanda Coke has yet to file bankruptcy — it's still possible for vendors to collect. 

"If they [Tonawanda Coke] have filed for bankruptcy then it's really going tough to collect a debt because in bankruptcy court a lot of debts get wiped out or are severely discounted," said Elmore. 

Elmore suggested the following options for vendors to pursue including:

    — Sending a certified letter to Tonawanda Coke to demand immediate payment. 

    — Filing a claim in small claims court if it is equal to or less than $5,000.

    — Contacting a commercial litigator if the claim is more than $5,000. 

    — Filing a claim with the New York State Attorney General's Office Consumer Complaint Bureau. 

Sunday, the state Department of Environment Conservation were on site as the plant began cleaning and beginning the shut down process. 

Tonawanda Coke is expected to close for good on Tuesday.