Small claims victory - Advise needed - When to send the Bailiffs

Z_EX73

Hi All

My first post.

I recently made a successful online small claim against a sizeable car hire company. They failed to offer a defence and a CCJ has been issued against them by the County Court stating that they must pay me the full amount. This was 10 weeks ago and nothing has been acknowledged or any money yet received.

How long should I wait before instructing Bailiffs to go and get my money? 

As my mother lives very close to their head office, I had considered going to see them in person to see if this can be resolved amicably, but I would guess that might be a bad idea?

The claim is for less than £1500 but as a point of principle I want to get this wrapped up.

Any advice would be appreciated.

pinkshoes

Z_EX73 said:

Hi All

My first post.

I recently made a successful online small claim against a sizeable car hire company. They failed to offer a defence and a CCJ has been issued against them by the County Court stating that they must pay me the full amount. This was 10 weeks ago and nothing has been acknowledged or any money yet received.

How long should I wait before instructing Bailiffs to go and get my money? 

As my mother lives very close to their head office, I had considered going to see them in person to see if this can be resolved amicably, but I would guess that might be a bad idea?

The claim is for less than £1500 but as a point of principle I want to get this wrapped up.

Any advice would be appreciated.

It's not a bad idea. You could tell them you're trying to mitigate your losses and come and see them in person to give them the opportunity to pay the £1500 plus court cost, otherwise the next step will be bailiffs which will add quite a lot on to their debt. (so it's in their best interests to pay now!)

eskbanker

Do you have the relevant contact details of the right person to deal with there (assuming they don't work from home....)?

Z_EX73

Thank you for the replies.

I didn't make a claim against an individual just the company as a whole.

Next time I'm up seeing my mother, I might pop in and have a civil chat with them. Chances are they'll throw me out but at least then I'll know where I stand and my next course of action will be clear.

eskbanker

Z_EX73 said:

I didn't make a claim against an individual just the company as a whole.

Sure, but the point is that you can't have a conversation with "a sizeable car hire company" as such, you'd need to find out who would deal with such matters and make an appointment, rather than expecting to "pop in" and find someone both available and empowered to have a meaningful conversation about the subject.

user1977

You do realise the normal way they pay creditors isn't by waiting for them to randomly rock up to their head office in person? It sounds like a time-consuming and potentially fruitless way of going about things.

DullGreyGuy

Z_EX73 said:

Thank you for the replies.

I didn't make a claim against an individual just the company as a whole.

Next time I'm up seeing my mother, I might pop in and have a civil chat with them. Chances are they'll throw me out but at least then I'll know where I stand and my next course of action will be clear.

But you cannot talk to a company but have to talk to an individual... how do you know if the relevant person works in that building? Are they going to be in a meeting that day or not? 

Are you sure you got the details of the company correct on the claim form? There are countless cases on here where people have issued against the incorrect name (eg a trading style or incomplete name etc) which in part explains why there was no response to the claim forms and means when the bailiffs go they come back empty handed other than a bill for the claimant.