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Small Claim Court advice

My friends got married in a well known venue but the service he received was very different than what he was expecting.

On the day, there was an issue with the management, with the food, ventilation, the stage and much more.

There are things that we can prove, for example the stage was not set the way we agreed, in fact was not set at all and they have audio recordings of the agreement

Not all guests received the food and it was boiling in the hall

He asked for a partial refund but got no response so I decided to help by doing the followings:

Sent them a formal email explaining the issue and how they'd like to resolve it - No response from them

Search for the company and it seems like on the same address they dissolved their company and opened again with a new name, so I used that one to send them a letter before action

Sending a letter before action was difficult, it looks like that they're a registered company but royal mail doesn't have their address on the system (only one other business address in that postcode)
Eventually, after a few failed attempts and contacting royal mail, they managed to deliver the letter
It's been over 14 days and no response from them

Now, I'd like to start a small claim court process but not sure if there are other steps I should be taking before hand in order to increase my chances of getting this right and winning the case.

Any advice will be appreciated

«1

Comments

  • Which company was dissolved?  The one you contracted with?

    If it was then I'd forget it.  Blood out of a stone and all that.
  • Cpu2007
    Cpu2007 Posts: 724 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    y3sitsm3 said:
    Which company was dissolved?  The one you contracted with?

    If it was then I'd forget it.  Blood out of a stone and all that.
    No I did contact the new company 

    Basically when I searched for the company in that postcode, two similar names came out on the same addresss
    One dissolved and the other still active

    I suspect is a tax avoidance tactic but the business is still active in that address so I send the letter before action to them
  • sheramber
    sheramber Posts: 23,216 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped! Name Dropper
    If the contract was with the dissolved company you have no claim against the new one, despite the fact it is the same people.
  • Cpu2007
    Cpu2007 Posts: 724 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 18 September 2021 at 8:57PM
    the contract it self doesn't state the name of the company(as registered on the gov site)

    A company marketing name might be different than the one in the registry

    The wedding was in august 2021 
    The dissolved company ceases in 2016 and the new one(currently active) started in 2017
    so technically my claim is against the right company?
  • sheramber
    sheramber Posts: 23,216 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped! Name Dropper
    Do you have proof that the company named on  the contract   is the same  company as the registered company. apart from them using the same address?
  • y3sitsm3
    y3sitsm3 Posts: 399 Forumite
    100 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 18 September 2021 at 10:24PM
    Cpu2007 said:
    the contract it self doesn't state the name of the company(as registered on the gov site)

    A company marketing name might be different than the one in the registry

    The wedding was in august 2021 
    The dissolved company ceases in 2016 and the new one(currently active) started in 2017
    so technically my claim is against the right company?
    When did you contract with the company?  And what was their official company name?
  • sheramber said:
    Do you have proof that the company named on  the contract   is the same  company as the registered company. apart from them using the same address?
    how can i establish that?

    The contract was in 2021 
    the company has been operating since 2017 and it's still active

    how can I confirm that's the same company?
  • Cpu2007 said:
    sheramber said:
    Do you have proof that the company named on  the contract   is the same  company as the registered company. apart from them using the same address?
    how can i establish that?

    The contract was in 2021 
    the company has been operating since 2017 and it's still active

    how can I confirm that's the same company?
    What was the legal name of the company you signed the contract with?
    When did you sign the contract?
    What is the legal name of the new company?
  • bris
    bris Posts: 10,548 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Read your invoice, the name and number on the contract is who you sue.

    Every name and number is unique, similar doesn't make it the same as the old company.
  • sheramber
    sheramber Posts: 23,216 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped! Name Dropper
     Give is the company names and someone may be able to ferret out some information.
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