Customer's CQ bounced - what can I do?

mum2one

https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money

If you use the money online link through the site it will cost you £25 -

I used small claims court process a few years ago for credit card charges, and I found it better to do the claim online as if there is any problems with the form filling it rejects it there and then.

If you show her your prepared to go down that route, it may do the trick xx

bundly

mum2one

A rough example

Dear XX

Letter before Action

MANY THANKS FOR THIS!

I will do it in the morning!

johnmcga

Yep, send a stern-as-anything letter to try and frighten her into action.

If that fails then it's the Small Claims Court or just living with the loss. For £24 I'd chalk it up to experience and learn for future cheque payments (the time spent chasing it would probably outweigh the money involved) — but obviously the way you handle it depends on the nature of your business.

bundly

johnmcga wrote: »

Yep, send a stern-as-anything letter to try and frighten her into action.

If that fails then it's the Small Claims Court or just living with the loss. For £24 I'd chalk it up to experience and learn for future cheque payments

Thanks John.

I know a few people on here are telling me off for accepting cheques at all, but why not, when 99 out of 100 transactions go smoothly? My only "error" was to allow myself to be rushed in sending the book before the cq cleared. When you have banked many dozens of cheques without any of them bouncing, it's human nature to be a bit more generous and accede to ONE request for a quick shipment. Especially around Christmastime.

Do not forget that Paypal payments can be reversed by the buyer - that message is plastered over Paypal. And also don't forget that Paypal takes over £1 for every payment I get in... so I lose at least £24 for every 24 transactions. Cheques cost me nothing - the bank even gives me prepaid envelopes to post them to themselves.

Yeah I can just chalk it down to experience, but it makes me angry that someone thinks it's OK to rob a small, home-based, struggling, one-woman business. I don't want them to get away with it.

B.

paddyrg

I don't think there's any difference between robbing a struggling one woman business and a successful larger one - theft is theft, detrimental to the overall economy, and means we all pay/pay more to support the selfish few.

I was only half-joking about the garden ;-)

Atidi

bundly wrote: »

mum2one

A rough example

Dear XX

Letter before Action

MANY THANKS FOR THIS!

I will do it in the morning!

... and not by email please.

This really needs a formal letter sent recorded delivery. You may need to rely upon proof of delivery with this scammer should this matter end up in court.
(else you may end up paying the court fees which will be more than the amount you are claiming)

bigjoe

Phone her up - that usually does the trick.

Could be she is on holiday / not receiving emails.

johnmcga

bundly wrote: »

Thanks John.

I know a few people on here are telling me off for accepting cheques at all, but why not, when 99 out of 100 transactions go smoothly? My only "error" was to allow myself to be rushed in sending the book before the cq cleared. When you have banked many dozens of cheques without any of them bouncing, it's human nature to be a bit more generous and accede to ONE request for a quick shipment. Especially around Christmastime.

Do not forget that Paypal payments can be reversed by the buyer - that message is plastered over Paypal. And also don't forget that Paypal takes over £1 for every payment I get in... so I lose at least £24 for every 24 transactions. Cheques cost me nothing - the bank even gives me prepaid envelopes to post them to themselves.

Yeah I can just chalk it down to experience, but it makes me angry that someone thinks it's OK to rob a small, home-based, struggling, one-woman business. I don't want them to get away with it.

B.

Sure, I completely understand your situation and you have every right to be angry. I didn't mean to suggest otherwise. £1 or £1,000 — it's still money you have a right to!

Incidentally, I don't know if it might suit your situation, but there are lots of options for taking card payments these days, like Intuit Pay. Obviously there's still a small cost there (unlike with cheques), but maybe something like that would be worth considering?

Buzby

Represent the cheque - it might be paid on the second presentation.....

bundly

Buzby wrote: »

Represent the cheque - it might be paid on the second presentation.....

I never thought of that, Busby! Thanks. And thanks for the further replies.

Right, I tried one last time to get her to pay by sending her a Paypal invoice. I've sent two before, both were ignored, but this time I put FINAL WARNING BEFORE DEBT COLLECTION AGENCY ENGAGED in the subject line of the invoice. It was paid within hours!

Glad to be spared the legal fight!

Cheers!