Company gone bust: I haven't paid!

LolaDee

Hi

I had some dampproofing done and I think the company has ceased trading in that name.

I was disputing their work, and refused to pay while I waited for them to fix it. They didn't as they stopped trading shortly after.

My query is:
a) Who and do I pay? The company who installed the damp proofing no longer exist
b) As I haven't paid they haven't sent me a guarantee for the work - but is the guarantee useless anyway?

Help:cool:

paddedjohn

If its not been fixed then why do you want to pay?

Evilm

1) Do you know if it was a limited company or an individual? If a Limited company put the company name in the search here and see if there is a "administrators appointed" notice in the list that comes up. However you should get a letter from any administrators involved relatively quickly if they realise you owe money to the company. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/

If an individual/sole trader then most likely you won't hear anything. You could still try the trading name or owner name in that site though.


2) I suspect the guarantee is useless if it is in their own name. I'd still ask for it. Not sure if you also need a completion certificate for the work as well for when you sell the house?

fluffnutter

Um, you refused payment until the work was fixed. Which it hasn't been as they've gone bust. And now you want to pay them.... Why?

InsideInsurance

Unless the guarantee is insurance backed then its also gone with the company. Check any paperwork you had and it should clarify this.

Depending on the legal entity behind the company and if the company has become insolvent or simply ceased trading then an administrator may be appointed and part of their job will be to get as much of the owed money back into the company to distribute out to the companies creditors. You may find you end up having to retake up your debate with the administrators but the chances are relatively slim