Customer took £2000 off a builder price after the job was done with talking to the builder

WIAWSNB

Willy, you've been told what to do. And keep it simple. Follow the step-by-step process. 

Do not engage any further in discussions, haggling, anything. This is as simple as; you quoted for a job, you carried out the job, they haven't complained about the job, and they've erroneously taken £2k off the amount owned.

And you can evidence all of this.

Look, don't listen to us - ask that cove on t'net called Al.

Steps to make a claim for an owed sum:

1. 1. Informal Resolution:

   Your first step should be to contact the person or business who owes you money and ask for repayment. This could involve a simple phone call or email, and you might even propose an instalment plan. NO. And you've already carried out this stage. It's the FULL £2k going forwards. 

• Evidence: Before starting a court claim, ensure you have sufficient evidence to prove the debt is owed, such as invoices, contracts, or bank statements. YES. Make sure t'ducks are in 'row.

2. Formal Written Demand (Letter Before Claim):

If informal attempts fail, send a formal written demand, often headed "Final Demand" or "Letter Before Claim". This letter should clearly state the amount owed, what it's for, provide relevant supporting documents like invoices, and set a deadline for payment (usually 14 days). It should also state your intention to pursue court proceedings if payment isn't received. Find examples on t'net. Keep it as short and succinct as you can. No flannel.

3. Mediation:

If the debt is disputed or you want to avoid court, consider mediation. A mediator can help you and the debtor reach an agreement. I wouldn't bother in this case - there is simply nothing to mediate - no compromise from now on. That moment has passed for the other party. 

4. County Court Claim (Small Claims Court):

If other methods fail, you can initiate a court claim, often called a "small claim" if the amount is within the small claims limit. You can usually do this online or by post. I'd probably consider MoneyClaim.org for this. 

Pre-Action Protocol: For court claims, there are pre-action protocols that outline what you need to do before issuing a claim, and following these are important to avoid penalties regarding legal costs. 
Enforcement: If you win a court judgment, and the debtor still doesn't pay, you can then take enforcement action, which may involve asking the court to order the debtor to provide evidence of their income or spending. 

masonic

WIAWSNB said:

4. County Court Claim (Small Claims Court):

If other methods fail, you can initiate a court claim, often called a "small claim" if the amount is within the small claims limit. You can usually do this online or by post. I'd probably consider MoneyClaim.org for this. 

What is this moneyclaim.org you speak of? An AI hallucination? It doesn't seem to exist, but even if it did, it would likely be a scam or service that charges an additional unnecessary fee. The official site would be at gov.uk.

Here is the official site: https://www.moneyclaims.service.gov.uk/make-claim

and here is the guidance: https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money

WIAWSNB

masonic said:

WIAWSNB said:

4. County Court Claim (Small Claims Court):

If other methods fail, you can initiate a court claim, often called a "small claim" if the amount is within the small claims limit. You can usually do this online or by post. I'd probably consider MoneyClaim.org for this. 

What is this moneyclaim.org you speak of? An AI hallucination? It doesn't seem to exist, but even if it did, it would likely be a scam or service that charges an additional unnecessary fee. The official site would be at gov.uk.

Here is the official site: https://www.moneyclaims.service.gov.uk/make-claim

and here is the guidance: https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money

Oops, I've been referring to it as Moneyclaim.org for ages! Yes, it's what you linked to. 

willywonka1

Hi thank you so much.
Could I claim the 8% per and maybe claim more for compensation. Hes trying this not to pay thing, and all the other things hes saying, but funny the last time we were talking in his hallway there was nothing like this, just telling me how he was changing jobs, and being nice, which both of them are, as his wife helped me so much with a heartbreak I had, with talks and E-Mails.

If you have time, how does this work, I send in my side of the story, then they mail him and he send his side in.
Thgx.

WIAWSNB

willywonka1 said:

Hi thank you so much.
Could I claim the 8% per and maybe claim more for compensation. Hes trying this not to pay thing, and all the other things hes saying, but funny the last time we were talking in his hallway there was nothing like this, just telling me how he was changing jobs, and being nice, which both of them are, as his wife helped me so much with a heartbreak I had, with talks and E-Mails.

If you have time, how does this work, I send in my side of the story, then they mail him and he send his side in.
Thgx.

Masonic has linked to the guidance.
Personally, if I had been as lax and sluggish to act as you have, I wouldn't try and add interest. You just want the full amount agreed and billed.
KEEP IT SIMPLE.
Outline as briefly and succinctly as possible what took place, dates and times. Refer to the documentation as required - quote, acceptance, work carried out, billing, payment received, and balance due.
Refer to the comms that took place.
Read what you've said - can you follow it easily? Does it make sense? 

elsien

I agree. Charging interest over a prolonged period during which time you’ve done nothing to try and get the matter sorted, is probably just not going to fly.

masonic

willywonka1 said:

Hi thank you so much.
Could I claim the 8% per and maybe claim more for compensation. Hes trying this not to pay thing, and all the other things hes saying, but funny the last time we were talking in his hallway there was nothing like this, just telling me how he was changing jobs, and being nice, which both of them are, as his wife helped me so much with a heartbreak I had, with talks and E-Mails.

If you have time, how does this work, I send in my side of the story, then they mail him and he send his side in.
Thgx.

I don't think it would be a good idea to ask for the 8% interest, given how slow you have been in pursuing this claim. Could be reasonably seen as mostly your fault it has taken so long.

The bit in bold suggests these people are more than just customers. Which is likely to make this process a bit more difficult for you emotionally.

You can find a detailed guide to the process at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/money-claim-online-user-guide/money-claim-online-mcol-user-guide