Hit with a huge bill - need advice

[mediah01]

Hi everyone.
We produced a job for a client on a very tight deadline. The order left us on time but was delayed by the couriers. The client received the job on the next working day that we originally agreed. They needed to send the items to the US for an exhibition. They used their own carrier for export of the goods to the US. This client is an account customer. After 30 days passed and the bill was not paid, we started chasing the invoice. When the invoice was at 56 days and we finally spoke to someone responsible for paying the bills, they mentioned that they were disputing the invoice because the goods were late. They faxed us a bill for £850 from their carrier for sending the goods to the US, deducted it from our invoice and feel the matter is closed. We usually send items around the world for this client and I know that the cost for sending to their destination in the US would be £220 maximum. What should be our next course of action? I know that the exhibition was more than a week later, so the fact that the goods were a day late did not mean that they missed the event.

[Antonia @limeone.com]

Their grounds for charging this against your invoice to them will depend on your terms of business, is there anything in there regarding responsibility for late delivery of goods and subsequent loss?

[mediah01]

Yes, we do say in our terms that we are not held liable for any losses due to late delivery. What I find really annoying about this case, is that we were not consulted about the costs at all at the time of delivery. Nothing was mentioned until the invoice was almost 30 days overdue.

[Moneyman]

You are certainly not allowed to do this without your agreement. Considering they have not even told you in advance that they were going to do it means you do not have to pay. they also have not proved that this was necessary. i presume the goods would have been sent to the states anyway so why the extra cost to you? demand full payment and if they refuse. go straight to the small claims court. dont sit about waiting for them to mess you about. it will cost £100. they can fight all they like but it wont be worth their while to even send a lawyer.

[deniser]

I agree with Moneyman. Just follow your normal procedures for unpaid bills and let them bring it up formally and then fight it. It's not really for you to take the initiative in sorting it out when they haven't even bothered to make a formal complaint and given you the chance to reply to it.

[Antonia @limeone.com]

Yes just treat it as a normal debt and move it forward with interest and penalties if a B2B client.

[Calibre Designs]

Highly recommend Limeone's services/advice!

[mediah01]

Thanks for the advice!