Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: easy clean on October 14, 2014, 09:03:48 pm

Title: Thomas Higgins or equivalent
Post by: easy clean on October 14, 2014, 09:03:48 pm
Hi guys, this is for a domestic customer who owes £88, I know the majority are gonna say dump replace, well that goes without saying, but on this occasion I ain't gonna let it go! I'm fed up with people thinking they can knock us and get away with it!

Has anybody used a company to try and reclaim an unpaid debt? Thomas Higgins don't offer the £2 letter anymore so was hoping someone could help with experience of this. Being B2C the late payment fee of 40 quid doesn't apply and they seen to favour the customer more which is ridiculous but I want to make her pay.

Any help welcomed
Title: Re: Thomas Higgins or equivalent
Post by: Xtremely Clean on October 14, 2014, 09:16:32 pm
Hi guys, this is for a domestic customer who owes £88, I know the majority are gonna say dump replace, well that goes without saying, but on this occasion I ain't gonna let it go! I'm fed up with people thinking they can knock us and get away with it!

Has anybody used a company to try and reclaim an unpaid debt? Thomas Higgins don't offer the £2 letter anymore so was hoping someone could help with experience of this. Being B2C the late payment fee of 40 quid doesn't apply and they seen to favour the customer more which is ridiculous but I want to make her pay.

Any help welcomed


Brick through window should cost her a few quid lol
Title: Re: Thomas Higgins or equivalent
Post by: Xtremely Clean on October 14, 2014, 09:21:40 pm
That was a joke btw lol I've been tempted a few times but couldn't bring myself to do it, wouldn't be professional.
Title: Re: Thomas Higgins or equivalent
Post by: pdale on October 14, 2014, 10:53:21 pm
Moneyclaim online is the site for taking someone to the small claims court. You need to write to them first giving them opportunity to pay within 14-28 days, make it clear in writing that that if they refuse or fail to respond you will be taking them to county court.

If they fail to pay take them to court through the online system, it's a simple process if your case is clear cut, which it sounds as though it is.
Title: Re: Thomas Higgins or equivalent
Post by: dave0123 on October 14, 2014, 11:22:29 pm
Thomas Higgins certainly do provide the £2 letter still!!
Title: Re: Thomas Higgins or equivalent
Post by: easy clean on October 14, 2014, 11:23:44 pm
They don't dave, I called them today
Title: Re: Thomas Higgins or equivalent
Post by: dave0123 on October 14, 2014, 11:25:41 pm
Why don't they do it anymore then? they send out thousands of these everyday and make £££ on them
Title: Re: Thomas Higgins or equivalent
Post by: easy clean on October 14, 2014, 11:30:27 pm
The guy on the phone said it's not worth it for them anymore. I'd thought it would've been a nice little income
Title: Re: Thomas Higgins or equivalent
Post by: Ian101 on October 14, 2014, 11:35:12 pm
The guy on the phone said it's not worth it for them anymore. I'd thought it would've been a nice little income

why not just charge a fiver or a tenner ?
Title: Re: Thomas Higgins or equivalent
Post by: dave0123 on October 15, 2014, 12:21:44 am
Seems odd to me because it was pre written letter printed by machine then and enveloped by machine! its not like they had to do anything for it.

I have been to there offices to pay them a couple of times they are only 10 mins drive away from me which was handy because it looked like your local solicitor with there address and those letters where really handy.
Title: Re: Thomas Higgins or equivalent
Post by: Spruce on October 15, 2014, 07:39:25 am
Wasn't there some issue with threatening letters being sent out by one of the financial sectors recently which received government 'attention'.

This could be viewed in the same light maybe.

edit.

It was Npower that hit the headlines
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2687198/Npower-accused-sending-threatening-letters-customers-fake-debt-collection-firm.html

I see these guys do something similar.
https://debtguard.co.uk/CMS/Home/Index?MenuId=26&gclid=CjwKEAjwk_OhBRD06abu3qSoxlwSJACt7sZ7jKGFlHCHr24wchxsVLYhSOZGIKPOSKkENDajWFbx9hoCdc_w_wcB
Title: Re: Thomas Higgins or equivalent
Post by: slap bash on October 15, 2014, 07:56:02 am
On my invoices it states I will charge an admin fee of 3 quid  if bill is not paid within 7 days and 3 quid every month there after.I also states that all none payment recovery cost will be for the customers account. I have had a few try not paying and it soon racks up. The longer it takes the more they pay.I have 3 letters of warning them of impending legal action and the last I tell them I will be taking them to small claims  court. I find it sound hard but have found they see I mean business and have had no chances lately.This works for me and I have many customers who respect my terms.
Title: Re: Thomas Higgins or equivalent
Post by: SeanK on October 15, 2014, 08:48:53 am
On my invoices it states I will charge an admin fee of 3 quid  if bill is not paid within 7 days and 3 quid every month there after.I also states that all none payment recovery cost will be for the customers account. I have had a few try not paying and it soon racks up. The longer it takes the more they pay.I have 3 letters of warning them of impending legal action and the last I tell them I will be taking them to small claims  court. I find it sound hard but have found they see I mean business and have had no chances lately.This works for me and I have many customers who respect my terms.


Your just lucky, most seasoned messers know that there's nothing you can really do.
I took a person to the small claims court for £350 about 10 years back and got 80% of the money back in the end.
Would I do it again the answer is no, spent more time chasing the money than it was worth so in the end I still lost out
financially.
Not including the hassle and stress.
I would say in most cases trying to fine customers for late payment only makes it worse as it can get their backs up and
make them less likely to pay anything.
At times you need to know when to just walk away especially if its not a large amount.