What to do when your not paid..

[ebevington]

Hello,

It looks like I have a problem. I have done some work for someone who is a member on this forum and I made contact with them on here first as they where located in Liverpool. So I asked them if they had any jobs available and then we talked on the phone arranged for me to go into the office the following week.

Before going into the office I was asked to do some work on a website, I was told I would get £80 for this and sent them an invoice which they said they would pass to their accountant and I would be paid straight into my bank the next day. A week later and I still haven't been paid and it's the day that I go into the office. So I am on my way there when I get a text saying that he is stuck in traffic so I wait around in Liverpool for nearly 2 hours without any response to my texts and calls, I decide to call it a day and head home.

The next day I ring the office, ask for my money to be paid in and can we rearrange a day for me to go in. So now i will be going in a few days later. The next day I complain again that my money isn't there and that alarm bells are ringing and I would like to be paid. He reassures me I will be paid and if it's not in by Friday I will be paid in cash when I get to the office, then I am asked to do some work on their website (which isn't up yet!). So he has installed a Wordpress theme and I organise the pages and add some images etc. I am thanked for this and I send over another invoice. Couple of days later, I am still not paid even from the first job and it is the day I am supposed to go into the office....again.

So I am waiting around for a call which I was told I would get around 11-12. Nothing until 3 when he says his mum has just woke him because he was working late and could we do it tomorrow. Of course now I am getting frustrated, this has happened twice and I need to know what is going on. Have a got a job or not and am I getting paid! I told him I wanted to meet today and that there was still enough time in the day so he says he will get ready and let me know when to set off. 2 hours go by and I have text a few times and called, no reply and his phone goes straight to voicemail.

So now I am sat here typing this, his phone still goes to voicemail and I have taken down all my work that I did on his website. The company is Spark Media Industries who apparently do web design and they asked me to do their website...

Anyway the reason I am posting this thread is because I need some advice. What should I do so that I get the money that I am owed. Is there any one I can go to legally to get my money? Also I am sure Phillip will see this and maybe this will make him cough up because it is obviously not good publicity for his business.

Oh and also, for 2 weeks now I have been asking for the office address and been told it would be sent over and over and got nothing. I see why now.

 

[HungryHorse]

Look into getting your money (I'm not sure where to start) and then run like the wind.

Perhaps use this as experience in future, for example ask for a 25 - 50% deposit upfront.

They asked you to come into the mysterious office but didn't give you an address before hand? What's his excuse there, why did you have to (presumably) meet somewhere else before going to the office? I wouldn't leave my house without knowing the address of the office to punch into my satnav!

If this company does web design, then presumably they would design and probably also develop their own website. Why have they asked you to do it? Something's up!!

& the whole Mum waking him up at 3 PM thing?? That's not how running a business works. Especially not when an agreement is in place to discuss something on the phone 3 - 4 hours earlier.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

That said,airing the problem in a public forum will not help your case.
Try and resolve it in private.There may be a good reason for the non-payment and lack of contact.
There are also two sides to every story.
Maybe re-edit your first post to remove names and see what happens?

 

[ebevington]

Look into getting your money (I'm not sure where to start) and then run like the wind.

Perhaps use this as experience in future, for example ask for a 25 - 50% deposit upfront.

They asked you to come into the mysterious office but didn't give you an address before hand? What's his excuse there, why did you have to (presumably) meet somewhere else before going to the office? I wouldn't leave my house without knowing the address of the office to punch into my satnav!

If this company does web design, then presumably they would design and probably also develop their own website. Why have they asked you to do it? Something's up!!

& the whole Mum waking him up at 3 PM thing?? That's not how running a business works. Especially not when an agreement is in place to discuss something on the phone 3 - 4 hours earlier.

Oh I will be doing. I don't want to be working for someone like this I would be on the edge of my seat constantly wondering will I get paid this month and will one morning the office of vanished. aha.

I will be using it as experience indeed. With clients I would ask for a deposit but as I saw this as part of the start of my job I wanted to look willing and not ask lots of questions about money. Bad move on my part!

The office situation I don't understand either. Even when he asked me to put info into the contact page for the website he gave me some address in Speke which I google mapped and it looks like his home address. Or a randoms, god knows! I was very wary when I went to meet him on the monday not knowing the address, I am only 19 so I was thinking it might be a bit dodgy.

Yes they would, also when I asked for him to send me some screens of websites he has done to put on the website he said his laptop was broke so he couldn't send them. Although if he had done sites they would be on the web!

Ah yes possibly the worst part. I read the text in utter astonishment
I could run a business more professionally and like I said I am 19. Leaving a client, meeting or whatever twice is just unacceptable.

 

[ebevington]

That said,airing the problem in a public forum will not help your case.
Try and resolve it in private.There may be a good reason for the non-payment and lack of contact.
There are also two sides to every story.
Maybe re-edit your first post to remove names and see what happens?

Maybe not but I thought it might. If it was me I would resolve it quickly because I wouldn't want people to think badly of my business.
I have tried resolving it in private for 2 weeks now with no outcome at all.

Looks like it is too late to edit it now anyway.

 

[GeorgeStrait]

I agree with vvaannmmaann (it does happen sometimes!), but also it's fool hardy to take people at their word just because they are a member here - no accusations intended by the way.

Be aware that there a lot of "pretenders" on this forum, and you should always check them out before dealing with them, just as you would with any other business.

Disclaimer - I have no knowledge of the OP of Sparkmedia - it's just a general observation and as vvaannmmaann says there are two side to every story.

 

[ebevington]

I agree with vvaannmmaann (it does happen sometimes!), but also it's fool hardy to just take people at their word because they are a member here - no accusations intended by the way.

Be aware that there a lot of "pretenders" on this forum, and you should always check them out before dealing with them, just as you would with any other business.

I am sure it does but not even giving me the office address is a bit weird in my opinion.

Yes well I have learnt a lesson!

 

[vvaannmmaann]

I am sure it does but not even giving me the office address is a bit weird in my opinion.

Yes well I have learnt a lesson!

The Head Office address ( assuming it is in the Speke area) and an aerial photograph are on the website!

 

[ebevington]

The Head Office address ( assuming it is in the Speke area) and an aerial photograph are on the website!

That isn't the office. I was told the office address was by central station in Liverpool and if you go on street view it is clear that address is a house.

 

[Remote Resources]

Hello,

It looks like I have a problem. I have done some work for someone who is a member on this forum and I made contact with them on here first as they where located in Liverpool. So I asked them if they had any jobs available and then we talked on the phone arranged for me to go into the office the following week.

Before going into the office I was asked to do some work on a website, I was told I would get £80 for this and sent them an invoice which they said they would pass to their accountant and I would be paid straight into my bank the next day. A week later and I still haven't been paid and it's the day that I go into the office. So I am on my way there when I get a text saying that he is stuck in traffic so I wait around in Liverpool for nearly 2 hours without any response to my texts and calls, I decide to call it a day and head home.

The next day I ring the office, ask for my money to be paid in and can we rearrange a day for me to go in. So now i will be going in a few days later. The next day I complain again that my money isn't there and that alarm bells are ringing and I would like to be paid. He reassures me I will be paid and if it's not in by Friday I will be paid in cash when I get to the office, then I am asked to do some work on their website (which isn't up yet!). So he has installed a Wordpress theme and I organise the pages and add some images etc. I am thanked for this and I send over another invoice. Couple of days later, I am still not paid even from the first job and it is the day I am supposed to go into the office....again.

So I am waiting around for a call which I was told I would get around 11-12. Nothing until 3 when he says his mum has just woke him because he was working late and could we do it tomorrow. Of course now I am getting frustrated, this has happened twice and I need to know what is going on. Have a got a job or not and am I getting paid! I told him I wanted to meet today and that there was still enough time in the day so he says he will get ready and let me know when to set off. 2 hours go by and I have text a few times and called, no reply and his phone goes straight to voicemail.

So now I am sat here typing this, his phone still goes to voicemail and I have taken down all my work that I did on his website. The company is Spark Media Industries who apparently do web design and they asked me to do their website...

Anyway the reason I am posting this thread is because I need some advice. What should I do so that I get the money that I am owed. Is there any one I can go to legally to get my money? Also I am sure Phillip will see this and maybe this will make him cough up because it is obviously not good publicity for his business.

Oh and also, for 2 weeks now I have been asking for the office address and been told it would be sent over and over and got nothing. I see why now.

If no payment is forthcoming, you can use money claim online. It's a small claims, civil court, and they can order the client to pay.

Is the client company limited or a sole trader? If ltd, you can get the address from the websearch on Companies House website.

Also check the whois info on Nominet for domain registrants details. If he is operating as a business, the domain should not be registered to a private individual and if it is, is also breaking the law in that respect (although so many people do it!!)

 

[ebevington]

If no payment is forthcoming, you can use money claim online. It's a small claims, civil court, and they can order the client to pay.

Is the client company limited or a sole trader? If ltd, you can get the address from the websearch on Companies House website.

Also check the whois info on Nominet for domain registrants details. If he is operating as a business, the domain should not be registered to a private individual and if it is, is also breaking the law in that respect (although so many people do it!!)

Thank you so much for the advice.

I will have a look at this money claim.

He has said to me that it is a limited company but if that is true I have no idea.

I will check nominet now thank you!

 

[ebevington]

The address is still the one in speke on Nominet.

Thanks though!

 

[vvaannmmaann]

That isn't the office. I was told the office address was by central station in Liverpool and if you go on street view it is clear that address is a house.

So I see.Seems like this is going to be a headache for you. It is not a nice feeling,I know,as I was caught out sometime ago.
Maybe forget about it and move onto the next project?

 

[ebevington]

So I see.Seems like this is going to be a headache for you. It is not a nice feeling,I know,as I was caught out sometime ago.
Maybe forget about it and move onto the next project?

Yeah it looks like it. If I have to I will use money claim and see if that gets me anywhere.

I wish it was that simple. I don't have another project to go on to at the moment, I have just set up my design business online and I am still trying to get it out there.

Money is very very tight that's why I really need this sorting.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

OK I wish you luck.

 

[owas]

you not the only whos has bother with this company, they have promised for weeks on end now that the website will be sorted,

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=216758

 

[ebevington]

Thank you vvaannmmaann

@owas

Yes I saw your thread yesterday when I was looking into if anyone else had problems with him!

So they took your website down?

 

[cmcp]

Sounds like you're dealing with a daft wee kid. I'd cut loose, let him and his mum get on with their life.

 

[HungryHorse]

Is a landline number listed at Nominet or anything?

Perhaps a chat with his mother would help In fact just go around to his home in Speke and ask for the money, I'm presuming you've never met him before and he'd have a bit of a shock.. nor would his mother be too impressed

 

[Palms]

If you have done work on his wordpress etc, have you not got the passwords?

If yes, take all the work down that you have done immediately before he changes them.

I have come accross a payment dispute before but it was for £600 so it was worth getting a debt collecting agency in for, but for that amount they would probably not touch it. They considered my amount small.

If you wish you could go to google, yahoo, bing etc and leave bad reviews everywhere.

 

[GeorgeStrait]

Perhaps a chat with his mother would help

Right, enough is enough - spluttered beer all over my laptop thanks to that, cheers mate!

 

[CompactCleaning]

I guess as soon as I saw the 'member of this forum' that it would be these, I also asked them to set my hosting up, design me some logos etc, luckily I only paid £5 upfront and when they didn't come through time and time again.

Avoid Spark Media Industries at all cost's.

Howard

 

[ebevington]

If you have done work on his wordpress etc, have you not got the passwords?

If yes, take all the work down that you have done immediately before he changes them.

I have come accross a payment dispute before but it was for £600 so it was worth getting a debt collecting agency in for, but for that amount they would probably not touch it. They considered my amount small.

If you wish you could go to google, yahoo, bing etc and leave bad reviews everywhere.

I took the work down as soon as on Friday after not hearing from him.
Still not heard from him but looks like the website is down!

Yeah I know it's way too small an amount to get them involved but to me it's a decent amount of money

I could do yes, we will see if I hear from him this week, if not I will be reviewing...badly.

 

[ebevington]

I guess as soon as I saw the 'member of this forum' that it would be these, I also asked them to set my hosting up, design me some logos etc, luckily I only paid £5 upfront and when they didn't come through time and time again.

Avoid Spark Media Industries at all cost's.

Howard

Wow that is rubbish.
When was this?

 

[CompactCleaning]

Wow that is rubbish.
When was this?

If by rubbish you are referring to their service then indeed so.
This was about 2-3 weeks ago.

Howard

 

[Deleted member 61074]

I have seen alot of SparkMedia's post recently, in my opinion they didn't add up. I'm glad my internal radar is still working!

Maybe worth listing all their posts to see a summary of their claims.

 

[ebevington]

If by rubbish you are referring to their service then indeed so.
This was about 2-3 weeks ago.

Howard

@Howard

Yes I was referring to their service
Have you not heard from them since? Also did you go into their 'office'?

@Dunerider

Can you explain what you mean by 'didn't add up'? I wish I had seen these before hand!

 

[Deleted member 61074]

@Dunerider

Can you explain what you mean by 'didn't add up'? I wish I had seen these before hand!

in response to someone asking about freight

If you can PM me over the Weight and Dimentions also the total value of the good(s) I can put a quote together, also can quote on door to door inc duty, vat. or email me on [email protected] would be happy to help you quote you and answer any questions.

in reply to someone asking about packaging design

We do send an email to [email protected] with requirements and ideas.

in response to someone asking for a business partner for ecommerce

I am interested just depends on what you are thinking drop me a pm sometime

in response to someone asking about virtual office services

We are Liverpool based and can offer this service from £7.50 per month (Inc VAT). Pm me for details if you would like to hear more.

and now he does servers

We do Servers with easy upgrade options, If you would like some options pm over to you then drop me a pm yourself or give me a call on 0151 486 8036.

in response to someone asking about a website

I have sent you a pm

also

Hi Gavan,

My names Phillip I own/run Spark Media Group and I do this from home. I have also had the idea of taking out Serviced Office Space in my local area.

My offer is similar to your's as I am needing 2 desks. mine included

2 Desks, Filing Cabinets, Phones, Internet, All business rates for £201 + VAT in a very good location.

My mother at the moment is a clearner as she wouldnt accept £50 i thought about just keeping her free. My brother also the data entry wizard so that paper factory I havent seen for a while.

It may be me being cynical but for a one man operation working from home he seems to be into a lot of things.

 

[ebevington]

in response to someone asking about freight



in reply to someone asking about packaging design




in response to someone asking for a business partner for ecommerce



in response to someone asking about virtual office services



and now he does servers



in response to someone asking about a website



also




It may be me being cynical but for a one man operation working from home he seems to be into a lot of things.

Thanks for that post.

Yes when he told me he was only 22 and had 4 or 5 businesses and then I saw him respond to someone looking for a business partner I was slightly confused to how that was possible!

 

[Faevilangel]

It may be me being cynical but for a one man operation working from home he seems to be into a lot of things.

It should be said when using someone from a forum, check their previous posts and do research on the person as anyone can pretend to be something there not.

I could start telling people I am a qualified electrician but there is no way anyone from the forums would know that.

Seen it a few times on this forum and others, new members sign up, try to sell their offerings then take a few clients money with them.

You wouldn't buy a car without seeing it, you will research the history and get it checked out, so do the same for business jobs, research the potential candidate.

 

[Maxi Cleaning Services]

.. luckily I only paid £5 upfront..

Interesting

 

[thebiznizdotcom]

Sorry to say it but I'm afraid its you who is in the wrong. You never had a process...let me explain..
1. Before even doing any work what so ever do you homework.
2. Are they a limited or private company?
3. Where is their office address.
4. Once you get the office address google it so you know exactly where
they are.
5. If they have a web site check whether they have good contact
details and test them.
6. Do a credit check before you do anything. Some are expensive but we
use TextCheck. You just text "check" the "+company name" and "the
address" to 80039. They'll come back to you with a suggested credit
limit and it's only £1.50 per text!
7. Once you've got that in place e mail them for a signed confirmation
including your pricing and terms & conditions.
Now I know that seems all of a ball ache but if their still coming out ok after this you "should" be ok. But as always its the suppliers risk.

If you do the work and he does'nt pay then there's another reply on this thread that's pretty good expalining a process, but the best thing is to get the first bit done as it makes it so much easier.

Hope this helps in future and hope you get paid.
Good Luck

 

[DannyGillen]

Sorry to say it but I'm afraid its you who is in the wrong. You never had a process...let me explain..
1. Before even doing any work what so ever do you homework.
2. Are they a limited or private company?
3. Where is their office address.
4. Once you get the office address google it so you know exactly where
they are.
5. If they have a web site check whether they have good contact
details and test them.
6. Do a credit check before you do anything. Some are expensive but we
use TextCheck. You just text "check" the "+company name" and "the
address" to 80039. They'll come back to you with a suggested credit
limit and it's only £1.50 per text!
7. Once you've got that in place e mail them for a signed confirmation
including your pricing and terms & conditions.
Now I know that seems all of a ball ache but if their still coming out ok after this you "should" be ok. But as always its the suppliers risk.

If you do the work and he does'nt pay then there's another reply on this thread that's pretty good expalining a process, but the best thing is to get the first bit done as it makes it so much easier.

Hope this helps in future and hope you get paid.
Good Luck

This is rubbish. He is not 'in the wrong' for trusting someone to pay the agreed price on work he carried out.

 

[thebiznizdotcom]

Sorry Danny you are quite right. I missed rule one of good business....
Trust nobody!

 

[ebevington]

@thebiznizdotcom

Thanks for your post, you have a very good process there.
The reason I didn't ask for money up front is because I was told I would be working for this company starting the following week and that this was just some work that needed doing and to invoice the hours I had done.
So as I am in need of a job and this looks like I have one I don't want to be fussy and ask for money upfront incase they think I am being cheeky and tell me where to go.
Although now I know that I should always ask for some sort of payment up front.

Of course if this had been a client I wouldn't of even opened Photoshop without a deposit.

@DannyGillen

Thanks for sticking up for me there. I did trust them and I shouldn't of.
Also I am not a he haha.

 

[KateCB]

Also I am not a he haha.

Oops, see, we are gender assuming....tut tut!!!

 

[makeusvisible]

Stupidly we have also been caught up in this!

I was contacted by Phillip Booker of Spark Media Industries and Spotlight XS Management, who has at least 4 other companies and usernames on UKBF.

He asked if we could produce a website for his event management company. We did all the work and got the first months payment, of £15, during which discussion was made about several web design and SEO jobs he wished to pass our way. He seemed genuine and I took him on his word.

He then said they need a new website for their web design business, and one for their web hosting business (alarm bells should have rang), and again we went ahead.

During this process he asked me to quote for a job from one of his contacts who had a £60k budget for a website, another who had a £6k budget for a website, and someone else who had a monthly SEO budget of £600 per month.

In total we have created him 2 websites, spent several hours in email communication, spent a significant amount of money on taking his constant calls to our freephone number and wasted time quoting for what I believe were imaginary projects.

When it came to asking Mr Booker to sign our hosting agreements and begin payments, he had a broken telephone line, a broken fax machine, a new fax machine not yet delivered, a bad memory and no time.

If anyone has the time or inclination, you will find Phillip Booker has had accounts at UKBF for the past few years, in a variety of names and aliases. Searching his "business address" on Google you will find a large number of companies he has apparantly started in recent years, and a constant trail of destruction.

I would add that this person does not appear organized enough to actually be making any money from what he is doing, and I have no idea what his goals or motivation is, but he is wasting a lot of genuine business time and money, and this needs to be highlighted. In all I would estimate it has cost us around £3k in time spent dealing/working for him. NEVER AGAIN!

I've passed the matter onto our solicitor, so we shall see, but I am not holding my breath.

 

[PenfoldRepair]

It seems all of the companies/websites associated with this individual have now gone down

 

[woodss]

Hold up - one person paid £5 deposit.
Another person received a payment, for a months work, of £15.

Are we talking websites, or burgers here?

How do you guys eat? Do you have families? Or any type of lifestyle?

I just don't get it.

 

[AndyAndy]

Hello,

It looks like I have a problem. I have done some work for someone who is a member on this forum and I made contact with them on here first as they where located in Liverpool. So I asked them if they had any jobs available and then we talked on the phone arranged for me to go into the office the following week.

Before going into the office I was asked to do some work on a website, I was told I would get £80 for this and sent them an invoice which they said they would pass to their accountant and I would be paid straight into my bank the next day. A week later and I still haven't been paid and it's the day that I go into the office. So I am on my way there when I get a text saying that he is stuck in traffic so I wait around in Liverpool for nearly 2 hours without any response to my texts and calls, I decide to call it a day and head home.

The next day I ring the office, ask for my money to be paid in and can we rearrange a day for me to go in. So now i will be going in a few days later. The next day I complain again that my money isn't there and that alarm bells are ringing and I would like to be paid. He reassures me I will be paid and if it's not in by Friday I will be paid in cash when I get to the office, then I am asked to do some work on their website (which isn't up yet!). So he has installed a Wordpress theme and I organise the pages and add some images etc. I am thanked for this and I send over another invoice. Couple of days later, I am still not paid even from the first job and it is the day I am supposed to go into the office....again.

So I am waiting around for a call which I was told I would get around 11-12. Nothing until 3 when he says his mum has just woke him because he was working late and could we do it tomorrow. Of course now I am getting frustrated, this has happened twice and I need to know what is going on. Have a got a job or not and am I getting paid! I told him I wanted to meet today and that there was still enough time in the day so he says he will get ready and let me know when to set off. 2 hours go by and I have text a few times and called, no reply and his phone goes straight to voicemail.

So now I am sat here typing this, his phone still goes to voicemail and I have taken down all my work that I did on his website. The company is Spark Media Industries who apparently do web design and they asked me to do their website...

Anyway the reason I am posting this thread is because I need some advice. What should I do so that I get the money that I am owed. Is there any one I can go to legally to get my money? Also I am sure Phillip will see this and maybe this will make him cough up because it is obviously not good publicity for his business.

Oh and also, for 2 weeks now I have been asking for the office address and been told it would be sent over and over and got nothing. I see why now.

Sorry to hear this.

I have just looked at your work and your websites look fantastic