Small Claims - Taking A School Council To Court

[rubberdubber]

Hi
Advice needed

I am really getting fed up with councils / schools not paying

I have an outstanding bill from a school (sent 6/11/2007)
re-faxed 21/01/08

My terms were 30 days net - Im still waiting !!

What do I do - can I use the small claims court to take the school / council just so I get my money

Thanks
Ron

 

[Janeeb]

Have you phoned the school? If you sent the invoice to the person who ordered the goods, rather than the bursar then the problem could lie here. I've had to chase up many an invoice from a teacher who has received it and not passed it on for payment. Once it gets into their 'filing system' you've had it!

The problem may lie with the LEA - most delays are from schools who have not had payment processing delegated to them. It's worth checking this out and taking up with the LEA.

Whatever the reason, it's wrong and I can understand your frustration but I would have one last go at getting to the bottom of it.

We're not all bad payers - I'm mortified if I get chased up for a payment:redface:

 

[redwall]

don't the councl pay every 12 weeks, as do the NHS

 

[Jenni384]

I used to work with a client who invoices a lot of Schools / LEAs.
Make sure the invoice goes to the right department, and chase them up by phone once you've sent the invoice.

They often have set cheque-runs, so if they run off cheques, say, every Friday and you phone on a Monday, you'll have to wait til the next Friday for them to raise the cheque. worth bearing in mind.

 

[rubberdubber]

i did phone, and the woman in the accounts said - send a fax, so i did - she promised it would be sorted out immediatly - that was over a month ago

how many chances do i give ?

 

[Fuzzy]

Fax through a copy of the claim form you are about to submit, that will move her

 

[Jenni384]

i did phone, and the woman in the accounts said - send a fax, so i did - she promised it would be sorted out immediatly - that was over a month ago

how many chances do i give ?

Stern letter asap

 

[An Oasis]

Ditto Jenny

We are about to send loads of final warnings with a time/payment stipulation and then if the invoices aren't paid the debts will either be shipped off to debt collection or the small claims as all of them are under £3K.

 

[Jenni384]

Stern letter asap

I really should follow my own advice in some cases, too!!

 

[Alice3537]

They've probably overspent on this years budget and are trying to stall anyone they can at the moment. Frantic for them and a nightmare for you (OP).

 

[rubberdubber]

thanks
its annoying when i put 30 day terms, i don't stick to them normally, as i usually get paid eventually, and fortunatly i don't have that many sales through schools.

i guess im going to have to be stricter !!

 

[Janeeb]

Schools are expected to work within strict financial regulations laid down by their governing body - failure to pay debts within the required timescale is not acceptable and over spending on budget incurs the full wrath of the auditors - an experience to be avoided at all costs.

I don't believe this situation is 'typical' of schools. I still think a phone call wouldn't go amiss. At this time of the year schools are closing down their accounts in readiness for year-end. Having outstanding invoices on the system is just going to make the job more complicated - there really is nothing to be gained from putting off payment.

Put it this way, I'm a school bursar and currently chasing up suppliers saying 'please can I have your invoice'!

 

[Ashley]

I deal with Schools and NHS daylily and I find them the best payers around, but I have to get invoices in on time and with purchase order, my local NHS for eg will pay all invoices within 10 days if faxed by 4pm on a Tuesday. I also bet it is a blip, I would try a call first also, it may just be the women got fax and then got sidetracked.

Also got images of a debt collector being put in the back of a paddy van, for trying top enter a school, pmsl.

 

[Janeeb]

it may just be the women got fax and then got sidetracked.

....... I think you just hit the nail on the head

 

[maxine]

Did you get a Purchase Order Number as sometimes this will help when you send your invoices off quoting this reference as it basically shows that it has already been authorised for payment. I would suggest getting this in future if you can so save the run-around after invoicing.

Also, I would treat the school like any other non paying debtor and phone and phone and phone until it was paid. Depending on how many calls and letters you have already made then send in your debt claim