Employer owes me alot of money

Hello fellow geeks :)

Here it goes..
I've been working for this web development company for 3 years now, and they've always been late with the salaries. Always. By late I mean between 15-25 days and at times of crisis 2-3 months. (Not to mention they don't pay well enough).
Why nag when you could have quit you ask?
Well, there's a lot of things to consider. Mainly the atmosphere. It's a friendly place, I got used to the people and the whole work process. Most importantly, they appreciate me and my work a lot. I'm pampered there. When the boss likes you that much, you worry if you go somewhere else it might not be the same.

But anyway, that's not the point. I recently quit. They owed me too much money (around $4,000) and I figured life is too short to work for free.

What I'm asking is, how can I make sure I eventually get what they owe me? This is months of extra hour projects, that I've sacrificed time with my family and friends for. It makes me furious to think I might not get it or I might get it in very little payments over a long period of time (like everyone else before me did). I talked to them and they were said don't worry (ma mnekol 7a2 7ada) BUT they refused to sign a paper that acknowledges what they owe me. Why the hell?

Do I have to get a lawyer for this or can it be solved any other way?

P.S I have a contract with them that only states that I started working for them and how much my salary is, plus NSSF (daman)

I don't know any lawyers so I figured I'd ask here if someone has any experience with this.

rolf wroteThere is a discrepancy here: appreciating, pampering you and not paying you.
Good luck. I hope you'll get your dues.
Why they are not signing the paper is because they dont need to (nor should you need it to prove your dues).
Another discrepancy is you liking them so much and wanting to sue them.

By pampering me I mean making me a priority when money is short, they make sure I'm one of the first people who get paid. In other words compared to others, they took a little bit more care of me.

Also, I don't WANT to sue them. This is why I'm asking actually, because I'd rather keep things on a peaceful level.

Hope I cleared things up !


Oh and to whom exactly should I prove my dues other than a court that would make them give me my right fastest way possible? That's what I'm wondering about.