customer not paying for goods ordered fro my catalogue

dopher

Hi all hope you are all keeping well
I need help with a problem that is very close to home, my boyfriends sister ordered three mobiles at the beggining of December which came to just over £450, I don't normally let anyone order from my catalogue but she was family (more fool me lol). The first payment was due in February and she had had some trouble with her car and because she was such a good mate I told her she could miss that month as I was well in credit with the catalogue and she could make her first payment the next month. Well along came March and my boyfriend told her the payment was due and she said she was a bit strapped for cash but would drop some money in the next week which didn't please me but I thought she's family so I left it. Last week there was still no sign of any payment and my boyfriend went to see her and explained that on the 5th of this month 2 payments would be due and it erupted into a blazing row and now they're not speaking but she said she'd have the money to me by yesterday and yes you've guessed it I still haven't received a penny she sent a message via her dad that she couldn't afford anything this week but would pay £30 next week and a further £28 the week after. What do I do? I didn't tell littlewoods that the phones were for a customer so I don't think I can ask them to chase her for the money. Any advice would be really appreciated.
Thanks
Dawn

lynzpower

really dont know what to suggest, but sending hugs.

Lesson learned for a few of us there though I think...

Pigeongirl

Well the only thing I can think of is to pursue her through the county court. Not a great option when it's family though; mind you, she's obviously not being straight with you.

sunflower_2

i really sympathise with you on this one - i know how it feels.

a relative ordered a large item out of my friends catalogue but on my account.
whenever i ask for the money she kicks off with me saying I know she doesnt have much money, so i end up having to make the payment.

its a shame u didnt add her as a new customer, but you could always ring the catalogue and say that you did? worth a shot - then maybe they can chase her...?

Broken_hearted

Tell her you have passed her details to littlewoods and if payment is not made they will chase her for the debt. Warn her that this could effect her credit rating and lead to court action.

MrsTinks

tell her she can return the phones to you (Why on earth did she need 3???) and you will dispose of them on Ebay and she can pay you the difference. If she's given them away as presents then she's just not quite right... I mean I love my friends and famiy and sure I give them my old discarded phones but I sure don't go out and buy them new ones...

Ultimately the phones are your property (bought in your name) meaning if you ask for them back then she SHOULD legally hand them back. Would your BFs and her parents help out here and take over the debt (pay you and SHE pay them?)

Otherwise unless you are willing to accept the money as lost then the only option I can see is to risk severe family upset and go the legal route and take her to small claims.

electron_3

Broken_hearted wrote:

Tell her you have passed her details to littlewoods and if payment is not made they will chase her for the debt. Warn her that this could effect her credit rating and lead to court action.

If there is no signature of hers on any form of agreement then littlewoods
can do what they like but wont get a penny as no contract is present.

kar

The only way you are going to see any of this money i if you tell her dad that - either the payments reach you by x date, she returns the phones to you and pays the difference once they are sold on OR you will take her to the small claims court. Give her the three options.

Explain that you don't have £450 to give her and that you let her use the catalogue as a friend - Explain you cannot afford to loose the money (or your credit rating) and will therefore have no choice but to go to court if she does not pay you.

You will have to get tough or you will never see a penny. Take this as a lesson learnt. NEVER EVER let people borrow money in your name.

Bunnyinthelights

Im in a same situation with a firend that owes me £60 since December. She knows Im in dire straits for money and yet after repeated requests, I still have yet to see it!
It is theft and you can call the police and tell them and they will go around (not a nice option, but maybe your only choice!)
Good luck, I sympathise completely.
Bunny

tyllwyd

How about drafting a very formal letter threatening to take her to the small claims court?

Just a thought, but as someone else said why did she need three phones worth £450? Do you think there is something else going on - did she sell the phones to raise cash? Could there be an issue with something like drugs or gambling, where she had to sell or give away the phones to keep someone else happy? It seems very dodgy to me.

dopher

Result :j I phoned littlewoods prepared for a fight and they asked for all her details and said they'd deal with it. Just have to hope she accepts responsibility now but her dad assures me she will. In reply to a few of the previous posts she ordered 3 phones one for herself and the other two were christmas presents for her kids
Thank You so much to everyone who replied I'm off to enjoy my day with a very valuable lesson learned.
Thank you once again
Take care
Dawn