Rogue Customers!

Aquatronixjenny

Thank you all for your support and advice, as a small business - it's idiots like this that really affect us as we cannot afford to just 'write off' £384.10!

I've filed a claim using money claim online, and will also be popping into his bank with the cheque, and into the police station to file a complaint.

So many TV shows about Rogue Traders, plumbers and builders that rip you off etc... We get such a bad reputation but the vast majority of us are honest and put in a good days work for not much money. I would say there are more rogue customers than rogue trader lately.

arcon5

Just as a side note, you should really issue a 'Letter Before Action' before issuing a small claims action. Failing to do so may be the difference between being awarded fees or not. It is seen as reasonable to give the debtor the final opportunity to complete payment and therefore potentially mitigate further losses. In this case however, since it's clear not only will he not be paying but that he never intended to pay it's unlikely to be the case.


I used to offer credit terms to business clients, however after a while even the best clients payments become later and later then when you finally add late charges to the account they get arsy with you (deppite reminders). You should only operate this way if a) your cashflow is not tight b) you can afford to write off debts without bringing the company down.

It would be worth looking at how you operate and re-evaluating to see if there is a better way. For example, demand upfront payment of 10% + cost of material. Or 50% upfront 50% post-work. Depending on the value of the job and type of work that is. If the job is a long task, payment by installments at set dates or intervals as work progresses.
It doesn't guarantee you won't be in a similar situation in the fuuture, but it does at the very least minimise your losses.

jess1974

I'd wait a few months then drive by his house and throw a brick through his front window, puncture his tyres, superglue in locks etc etc, but then i hold a grudge and would feel better if i got my own back........

QuackQuack_2

Aquatronixjenny wrote: »

Urgh, why do some people think it's ok to book a tradesman (boiler not working), give us the go ahead to order the part needed, let us fit the part and get it working... with no intention of paying. :mad:

Dude, you're CORGI/GAS SAFE registered? Meter external? Go cap them off and put a note through the door saying the part you have fitted is subject to a recall and you cannot knowingly leave the installation faulty.

Job done.

Aquatronixjenny

QuackQuack wrote: »

Dude, you're CORGI/GAS SAFE registered? Meter external? Go cap them off and put a note through the door saying the part you have fitted is subject to a recall and you cannot knowingly leave the installation faulty.

Job done.

Quack Quack, you're a genius...

:T:T:j:beer:

QuackQuack_2

Aquatronixjenny wrote: »

Quack Quack, you're a genius...

:T:T:j:beer:

Thank you - it makes a pleasant change to what I'm normally called around these parts for being blunt and honest.

Jo_F

Slightly different, but I had a friend who ordered a piece of jewellery, agreed the price, and he asked if he could pay at the end of the month (we are not talking a lot of money here), but could I send it in time for the recipient's birthday.

As he was a friend, I agreed, this was in May. I have asked a few times, and have had half assed excuses for not paying, in October I had enough (I had posts from him on FB about winning a few hundred on an accumulator, and such sort of things), so I sent him a LBA, he ignored that, so I filed at small claims court, he ignored that, so I went for judgement, he now has a lovely shiny CCJ and still hasn't paid, next step is up to court tomorrow to see what would be the most feasible option to take. With the court costs incurred for just filing at court, his orginal bill has doubled, and is no doubt going to get bigger.

It's gone beyond being about the money anymore.

But, as a result of this, I now insist on a 50% non refundable deposit, and full payment has to be paid before any goods are dispatched out.