Trading following company dissolution

[The Dog House (Watford)]

Hi all, I'm hoping for some guidance/advice. I employed a company to perform some work on my property. Unfortunately, it didn't go to plan and we are now heading to court as we are unable to resolve our differences. However, as part of the court application it advises to perform "due diligence" to understand if the defendant is financially able to pay any awarded monies. Whilst doing this I found his company was compulsory struck off from Companies House in 2022. I'm obviously now concerned as to if/how he can still be trading this company under the same name? Any insights would be welcomed. Many thanks.

 

[Mark T Jones]

We'd need a lot more detail, but for starters

When was the work agreed/undertaken?

What are the LEGAL company details given on contracts & subsequent correspondence


It's likely that they are using the name as a trading style, but you need to be clear on who 'they' are

 

[The Dog House (Watford)]

We'd need a lot more detail, but for starters

When was the work agreed/undertaken?

What are the LEGAL company details given on contracts & subsequent correspondence


It's likely that they are using the name as a trading style, but you need to be clear on who 'they' are

Hi Mark, thanks for your reply. The work was done for me in 2023. It was a garden patio project with a verbal quote given, backed up by a phone message. No paperwork was exchanged at this point. As we entered a dispute and the project was not completed, I have received no written invoice or correspondence from the company so I have nothing as a reference. The company is run by one person, with "subbies" brought in for certain jobs. The company operates under this person's name and according to companies house, it was solely registered to them with no other interested parties.

 

[Mark T Jones]

Hi Mark, thanks for your reply. The work was done for me in 2023. It was a garden patio project with a verbal quote given, backed up by a phone message. No paperwork was exchanged at this point. As we entered a dispute and the project was not completed, I have received no written invoice or correspondence from the company so I have nothing as a reference. The company is run by one person, with "subbies" brought in for certain jobs. The company operates under this person's name and according to companies house, it was solely registered to them with no other interested parties.

How did you pay?

There is a strong argument that you contracted with them as an individual (and a suspicion that they won't want their financial affairs made public)

 

[DontAsk]

Hi Mark, thanks for your reply. The work was done for me in 2023. It was a garden patio project with a verbal quote given, backed up by a phone message. No paperwork was exchanged at this point. As we entered a dispute and the project was not completed, I have received no written invoice or correspondence from the company so I have nothing as a reference.

So they never represented themselves as a company? How did you contact them in the first place, e.g., through company contact details, or...?

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

So,. You employed a company that doesn't exists to do some work without a contract or paperwork.....

Were the payments in cash?

Doesn't sound great.

If the person was trading under the company name after it was closed, that could be conceived as fraud.

Go after the person as an individual, however, the purpose of that initial question is for you to understand that if you win, you might not get anything, but a legal bill!