Client Owes me money

[adamuk18]

Hi,

We carried out work on a persons home, we was paid a small deposit and a balance of around 2.5k remains outstanding.

The work is complete, we have a signed contract that states materials etc are owned by us until payment is made in full.

The customer is playing silly buggers on the phone, not responding to emails and not replying to text messages.

What are my options guys? Quite happy to take this legal.

We tried taking the payment from the card used for deposit but not enough funds. I have a gut feeling the person wants to knock us for the money. (despite facebook photos with a glowing report of the work)

thanks for any advice.

 

[bodgitt&scarperLTD]

First thing I'd be doing is a recorded delivery letter stating that if payment is not received withing 7 days you'll be persuing them through the small claims court. The threat of a CCJ might focus their mind.

 

[Mark T Jones]

First thing I'd be doing is a recorded delivery letter stating that if payment is not received withing 7 days you'll be persuing them through the small claims court. The threat of a CCJ might focus their mind.

This ^^^^

Act swiftly & professionally

 

[Newchodge]

If you're not sure about doing it yourself, ask a professional debt collector to start the process.

 

[Mark T Jones]

If you're not sure about doing it yourself, ask a professional debt collector to start the process.

A professional debt collector might add value - however it is a relatively small sum and (on the face of it) fairly clear-cut case (assuming there are no issues omitted) - from experience the small claims system is straightforward and fair - often the LBA is all that is needed.

 

[DavidWH]

Take a read of the pre-action protocol for recovering money from an individual... you have to be a little more fluffy and caring, than you do with a business.

Have a read of the before court action section on this page:

https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW...-protocol-for-debt/county-court-protocol.aspx

 

[Paul Norman]

As above, the key is to take decisive, polite, but firm and swift action. Do not let debts linger.

Document the opportunities you have already given them to pay. But give them a date upon which formal collection will begin, and be ready to go legal.

Fresher debts collect more easily than old ones.

 

[MBE2017]

Copy the glowing endorsement and photos from Facebook, if you go to small claims court they will be very good evidence for your case.

 

[paulears]

MAKE COPIES OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA POSITIVE COMMENTS BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING.
This will be very useful proving the job was a decent one.

 

[adamuk18]

thanks guys. One of the first things I did was screenshot everything. Have given a deadline of a few days.

Im 99% sure it wont be paid.

I have been speaking to a certain tv famous debt collectors - just in 2 minds wether to use them or go the money claim online route...

 

[The Byre]

I would look no further than getting @smallclaimsassistance to hold my hand and make sure that you jump through all the right hoops to getting a judgement and therefore 'title' to the debt.

After that, you can get 'a certain famous TV debt collector' (who is also a member of this parish) to 'door-step' them!

 

[Darkterror]

From what I read here ? Is it really makes sense in reality ? Does these small claims court even work in some way ? Like the person stated he claims there is 99% possibility that he will not receive his money anyway !!! That's very sad, so what to do in such cases ?

 

[The Byre]

That's very sad, so what to do in such cases?

You cannot enforce the collection of a debt to which you do not have absolute title. That means you have to get a judgement and the judgement has to be final.

 

[adamuk18]

payment has not been made so I am going to get the ball rolling

 

[Mark T Jones]

payment has not been made so I am going to get the ball rolling

Good luck!

 

[adamuk18]

Thanks! claim gone in! they have until 3rd June to reply