Plumber threatening debt collection agency

mallen

I have recently had a dispute with a plumber who didn’t complete work and ghosted me for 7 weeks. 

I resolved the leak and repaired my property myself, he found out and sent me the invoice the same day after weeks on no comms. 

I have paid him and take away my costs for time and materials and he is now threatening a debt collection agency. There is about £300 outstanding. 

If he sends this to a debt collection agency with it show up on my credit file? I am looking to move house in 3 months and get a new mortgage. 

molerat

The only thing that would show up on your credit file would be a CCJ that you didn't pay within 28? days.

mallen

So if he passes to a debt collector it would not show? Sorry for asking again I just need to 100% that this is the case.

CliveOfIndia

mallen said:

So if he passes to a debt collector it would not show? Sorry for asking again I just need to 100% that this is the case.

That's right.  As per the previous poster's comment, he'd have to make a claim against you in court, and the court would have to find in his favour, and they'd have to issue a CCJ against you, and you'd have to fail to pay the CCJ within a month.  That's the only thing that could impact your credit history.

To be honest I very much doubt he'd attempt to engage a debt-collection agency anyway, I suspect he's just trying to intimidate you.

sourcrates

Debt collectors don`t deal with individual debts, unless he regularly sends his overdue accounts to a DCA to collect for him, he`s talking nonsense.

mallen

So I have received an email from Beaumont Recoveries asking for the remaining amount to be paid. 

Can this be ignored?

they state:

Failure to make this payment will leave our client with no option than to issue court proceedings against you for the full amount.

Further costs may be added and you may receive a County Court Judgement.

sourcrates

mallen said:

So I have received an email from Beaumont Recoveries asking for the remaining amount to be paid. 

Can this be ignored?

they state:

Failure to make this payment will leave our client with no option than to issue court proceedings against you for the full amount.

Further costs may be added and you may receive a County Court Judgement.

Ah, so it appears he does have regular bad debts then.

You can ignore the DCA, as any legal action will be taken by the plumber, not them.

Keep an eye out for a letter before action, or a claim form, if that happens, you may have to provide a defence to his claim.

DE_612183

Have you kept evidence of the work that he carried out and the work you had to carry out? This will form your defence IF it gets to a court.

For £300 he'd have to go to small claims - did you contract with him as an individual or as a company - I think this may make a difference.

Have you got a copy of correspondence that you sent to the plumber which reads something like:

Your Original Quote ( itemised ) £1000
Your work completed ( itemised ) £700
Your work not completed ( itemised ) £300

Payment Made xx/xx/xxxx £700

mallen

Yep I took pictures and a video of my works and also have an itemised account of materials and time for each section completed. 

I do not have a contract he was asked to attend site by a builder doing my loft but billed me directly