Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: david_claxton on October 20, 2005, 04:34:50 pm
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Hello,
In early August I did various jobs for a chap who has frequently subbed his carpet cleaning out to me. It's mainly asylum places and takes some doing. The problem is he still owes me approximately £500 from these jobs and when he answers the phone says blah blah, in the post etc etc. It's now late October and I want that money.
What have other members of the forum done to resolve issues like this before???
Thanks,
Dave
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www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk its dead easy, a person on here who thinks they got away with it is getting a county court summons via me soon
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C'mon 31 views at 6pm, only one reply......................?
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A seven day warning letter, followed by cort action is the way forward, these people are scum.
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A customer who was a debt collector told me of a Statuary Demand. This is a legal document that anyone can serve with no professional advice i.e. cheap!
It applies to debts over £750 ( no help here but..). Basically it gives the person 21 days to clear the debt or you apply to the Official Receiver for liquidation or bankcruptcy.
The form is of a particular layout and has to be served in person to whoever. It usually scares them so much that the money is there on the dot. I tried it on once but it was for £650 and the scumbag ripped it up in front of me, so it was to the county court.
If any one wants a copy let me know.
Trevor
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David
Send him a seven day warning letter, if nothing is received send a final demand, payment by xx/xx/xx or you will pass the debt to a debt collection agency, make sure you state that they will pay all costs for the collection of bad debt.
Then pass the debt on to a debt collection agency if payment has not been received.
If you need any help then email me.
Next time, over price and discount for early payment.
Chris
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Phone your local county court office, they will send you out a info pack plus a form to fill in, you put down the debt and the customers details, you need to then send it back with a £30 cheque, they then send the customer a letter asking them to pay or face court action 30days. I am at this stage at moment, it has been easy upto now, lets see if he pays me and the extra costs which can be claimed back, hope this helps.
Kind regards Phil
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I would Go and see him face too face 1st you will be suprised how they soon tend to pay up, go and knock on his door until he pays,if he doesnt pay after that then i suppose take it too the small courts etc.
Daniel
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David
Same advice as Jason and Phil. Here is a more direct link to filling in a county court claim online.
https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/csmco2/index.jsp
Do it today then sit back and wait for the cheque.
Good luck
Nigel
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I had a similar situation where I was owed over £1000 with jobs stacking up for the same company rang them to let them know no more work could be carried out until payment was received then he spat the dummy out ranting how all the other ccs did not mind waiting 60 days.I just turned up at his office and demanded immediate payment but to be awkward he made me wait for 1/2 hour and wrote individual cheques out for each invoice but I got paid. ;D I don't do work for them anymore ::)
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Thanks everyone for your help and incidentally Steve G, great animation. Something you benefit from or something you found???? lol
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If I benefited from something like that do you think I would be on here as much ::)
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how did you find it Steve?
Shaun
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Shaun sent you pm
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Hi Guys
This is one very good reason to keep records of all contact with customers on a program like "ACT" Every time you camm or talk or do a job you record it in the program, plus keeping your phone bills, this all will be useful in court.
The most important item is a customer satifaction form that has been signed at the end of the job. as They will claim that the job was not up to standard and then it down to who to court belives. This can be done in a cleaver way by using a reconmendation form that just has a question on it "Are you happy with the work carried out today" get them to sign it and this will prove that they where happy at the time of the clean and that there is no reason not to pay you.
We have had problems in the past with customers that use our maid service, they get a call after every clean. When they want to stop using us they normally say that the cleaning has not been right for some time. when we remind them that they have had a call after every clean we get the real reason why they want to stop and that normally is they dont have the spare money any more.
Customers dont alway tell the truth -) so I think that we all need to protect ourselfs and the standard of work we do by having systems in place that prove that we have done a great job. How can you go back after some time and prove this if you dont have it in writting from them at the time.
One other little thing we do is we have a tape recorder that we can record phone calls, so when you chase money you have it in there words what they said. Dont think you could use this in court but you can play it back to them, or send them a copy.
Good Luck Steve
Respect
Ian Harper
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Ian,
Good post.
I've always found the direct approach best , i.e face to face.
Be polite but firm and just give a no nonsense , straightforward response.
If they don't use you anymore then it's no loss.
Cheers,
Doug
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Hi Doug
I have problems with the direct approach, you not meet me yet! not nice -)
Cant get them to answer the door -)
Respect
Ian Harper
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If you have problems, dump them. I have just done this with a longstanding 'customer', I always had to chase payment.
The good customer even if small pays, a big cust who doesn't pay is not worth having.
Trevor
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Hi ,
I've also had th same problem and I find the face to face tactic very good, I am 6ft 2" 18 stone and no hair and can be quite demanding,.
If you do not match that discription then take someone who is.
Once you get your money dump them.
Nick
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Tell the guy if he doesnt pay you within 7 days you will make it public knoledge he doesnt pay his debts. Go to his local post office news agents etc and place a notice in the window explaining that people should be wary of this character.
Chances are he is doing it to others and your not the first.
Secondly take a friend and go and politely confront the guy often when you are infront off someone they find it hard to dismiss you.
Court summons are all well and good but generally people like that have a draw full and you only end up shelling out more money.
Your
John