Customer wont pay labour bill

jasonkurtsdad

My customer wont pay her labour bill. it has been a long job and and i Havent been paid since mid november. I have bills to pay and without this money she is owe me i cant pay them. Is there any forms to fill in for small claims court or do i see a solicitor? Shes always says next week...then the next week. Just seems to be excuse after excuse....its not only my bill that hasn`t been paid but the brickies, sparkie and plumber also not been paid. Any advice?

Mistral001

You need to keep asking for the money. Do it every week. Do it in person as well.

Do not cry poverty. That does not work with people in financial trouble as they feel that they are the one with the most problems usually. In fact you need to give the impression that you have money and are in a strong position.

One thing that sometimes work is if you turn up at their doorstep with your wife or business partner if you have one. Never be threatening and always be businesslike.

pitkin2020

As above really.

You can start small claims proceedings online now IIRC. Ensure you have a paper trail, you need to prove you have asked for the invoice to be paid, you have given them ample time to pay it.

When you go to small claims you can ask for reasonable interest to be added onto the late payment. I can't recall the current rate for interest.

Conrad

I took a couple of customers to small claims court and won both - it's very easy to do.

Miss_Beaumont

I'd suggest a formal letter stating you'll use the Small Claims Court if the full amount isn't paid by x date?

(Note the Small Claims Court are for claims under £5,000...)

Other than that, a formal letter, requesting payment by x date (a month's time?) or they arrange a payment plan with you. Or the full debt (and fees) will be passed to a debt collection agency...

I've worked for a small(ish) firm before, the letters are usually enough to obtain a response... and usually full payment.

Harsh, but... if it's what you need to do?

chalkie99

Park your van outside with a temporary sign on it saying;

"Work here suspended due to non payment"

podperson

Would agree with trying the formal letter first - make sure it has a set date to pay by and state if nothing received by then you will be taking legal action. I send a lot of these in my job role and works about 90% of the time - people will fob you off over the phone but when they see 'legal action' written down they tend to pay up.

Gothicfairy

There is a small plumbers shop in Leicester that has a sign outside his building with the names of none payers and their address, I think he got into trouble for it but it doesn't seem to stop him.
The problem with that though is that it makes him look bad as well as the none payer.

Go through the courts as that is what they are there for..

heathcote123

jasonkurtsdad wrote: »

My customer wont pay her labour bill. it has been a long job and and i Havent been paid since mid november. I have bills to pay and without this money she is owe me i cant pay them. Is there any forms to fill in for small claims court or do i see a solicitor? Shes always says next week...then the next week. Just seems to be excuse after excuse....its not only my bill that hasn`t been paid but the brickies, sparkie and plumber also not been paid. Any advice?

How about a horses head on the doorstep? You're local abatoir can probably sell you them quite cheaply.

I'd tell her straight you are not there to listen to excuses or promises, and that you'll happily escort her to the bank, now.