Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Shaun_Ashmore on February 06, 2009, 04:39:10 pm

Title: Returned cheque
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on February 06, 2009, 04:39:10 pm
Don't get them usually but I did some work for a woman moving out of a house for £150 she still lives local to that house and has a business in the area but my question is

What can I use to get my money? I can see her being a bit awkward as she had teh attention span of a gold fish, typical art designer, I haven't spoken to her yet but I can see problems.

I was hoping not to go to small claims but suggesting CCJ's and others to her may frighten her but anything else legitimately though.

Shaun
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Joe H on February 06, 2009, 04:44:51 pm
It sounds if you sent/gave a copy of a completed small claim form, adding that if payment is not received within 14 days the form will be sent off and charges will be added, it may do the trick.
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on February 06, 2009, 04:54:18 pm
Nice idea Joe.

Shaun
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Mike Halliday on February 06, 2009, 05:05:13 pm
if you haven't spoken to her then you might be worrying for nothing it could an over-sight,  not enough funds transferred into a second account is usually the problem.

just give her a ring
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: clinton on February 06, 2009, 05:09:24 pm
Shaun

What are your thoughts about this woman when you did the work ???

What i mean is do you think she new she had not enought funds in her account ???
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Ken Wainwright on February 06, 2009, 05:10:16 pm
In the past Shaun, this has happened to me too. What I found to be successful was to visit the branch on which the cheque was drawn. I would ask the cashier if I were to present this cheque again, would it be honoured?  We now have human beings involved instead of just computers.  If they say yes, I then pay it in immediately at that branch (so have your own bank details with you).

It's worked for me on at least two occasions.

Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Buster Ingram on February 06, 2009, 05:12:15 pm
I'm will Mike just call her up and explain there has been a slight mix up and your cheque has been return marked as up paid, then shut up and hear what she has to say.

Only on the second call to her do you need to get shirty not the first ;)
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Buster Ingram on February 06, 2009, 05:15:28 pm
I was typing when Ken answered , sorry mate.

I would still go with the call to her after all you have done the work its up to her to make the payment. Our running costs are high enough without baby sitting the client.
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: derek west on February 06, 2009, 05:16:02 pm
ring and let us know what she says. steady as you go.
derek
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Neil Williams on February 06, 2009, 05:37:08 pm
She will know it's bounced quite soon as the bank will write to her about it, along with a charge of £15 to £25.
Depends how you want to play it, as in the past I have revisit customer, shown them the cheque and asked them to re-write another with £5 on top to cover the charges you are going to incurr.
If possible and if you play it right try and get her to pay the bill in cash.
If it's not too far go and see her about it, be polite and play it from there what happens next.
I have done Small Claims Court proceeding before but only after exhausting all other avenues.
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: derek west on February 06, 2009, 05:44:14 pm
i wouldn't bother with small claims court, i'd just hand it over to a DCA, let them sort it out, thats after ringing first to see what the score was.
derek
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: mark_roberts on February 06, 2009, 06:04:04 pm
In the past Ive called round with the cheque and driven them to the cash point.  :o

Sounds like an oversight as you know where see works etc.  If she was trying to do a runner then shes not that smart.

Mark
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: psg on February 06, 2009, 06:24:54 pm
Hi Mark,
What u got to do to get paid. LOL

Thankfully I don't have that problem.

Were lucky because they haven't far to run.

Cheers Jim
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Graeme@Access on February 06, 2009, 06:44:54 pm
Hi,

7 day letter in Scotland is the norm and will cost you £3 +vat. http://www.debtscotland.com/ They add on a nice £40 admin fee and i have never had a single debtor that has received one not pay.

To be honest if they don't pay after that i wouldn't bother chasing it for such a small amount.

Maybe a similar thing down south i don't know?

Hope this helps

Graeme
PS you can charge statutory interest on any unpaid debts afaik, maybe look into it.
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: daysdeepclean on February 06, 2009, 07:52:47 pm
There was a similar discussion to this a few months back and I was one of the many saying that I would go in heavy handed, pour dirty water through the letter box, knee cap them (Well, maybe not go that far!) etc etc!

But when I read how the experienced C/C's dealt with it, I completely changed the way I thought. There's usually a perfectly good explanation and 9 out of 10 times the customer will be a be very accommodating and certainly apologetic. It's usually an oversite which I am more than sure, every single one of us on here has been guilty of.
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on February 06, 2009, 08:24:18 pm
You know when you get that feeling? but I though after so long that everything was fine but obviously not, she's one of those peole that runs before she can walk and insisted that she had no cash, as Derek has said before the spider senses were tingling.

Called her mobile and her shop but she's away until Monday so I can't do anything until then.

Shaun
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Len Gribble on February 06, 2009, 09:21:07 pm
Shaun

All I can say Plonker! I would report them to ncca for non-payment so the can spread the word  ;D

Len
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: suffolkclean on February 06, 2009, 09:29:07 pm
I've copied the letter we use for customers who don't seem to pay

             (Letterhead)


                    14th October  2008              
Mr__________________
____________________
____________________

            OVERDUE PAYMENT

Dear Mr______________

I am writing in regards to overdue payment for cleaning of your _______________ at the above address on 26th August 2008.

We have contacted you on numerous occasions to chase payment.

Payment is overdue therefore if we do not receive payment within 7 days of the date of this letter, we will pass your information over to our debt recovery agent. If your information is passed over to a debt recovery agent all recovery costs will be added to your £_______ bill along with interest.

I look forward to receiving payment by 21st October 2008.


This letter has worked for us every-time - Hope this helps

 ;D






Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on February 06, 2009, 09:46:26 pm
That's a great letter I may send that to my Missus!

Thanks

Shaun
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: clinton on February 06, 2009, 09:53:00 pm
Shaun

You can send it to mine as well ;D
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on February 06, 2009, 10:01:59 pm
Wouldn't be small claims court though.

Shaun
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: clinton on February 06, 2009, 10:05:09 pm
 ;D
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: ross12345 on February 06, 2009, 10:10:06 pm
just to let u no if the sum oweing to u is less than £600 pounds there is nothing more than u can do u can get a jugement put on her and thats as far as your be able to go and your have to pay court a £30 pound fee to do this iv been thro this so many times now i onley take cash from custys now
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on February 06, 2009, 10:24:05 pm
Perhaps a little scare if I don't get the cheque, personally I think it may be a visit to her shop but the thing is it's mile away.

Shaun
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Jim_77 on February 06, 2009, 11:50:32 pm
Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves here!

As said above... Call and politely explain the situation, most "decent" customers are mortified if their cheques bounce.

The way you have to approach it initially is to broach the subject with them, bearing in mind that you need to remain discrete, friendly and on their side.  If it's a genuine mistake and you get shirty you've lost a potential repeat customer and their referrals all because of an oversight on their part.

Only after the softly softly doesn't work should you get a bit more assertive.  This reminds me, I've got a domestic customer with a bill outstanding from last October... time to polish up the knuckle dusters :D
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: expro on February 07, 2009, 01:31:37 am
IF all the other ways fail tell her you will display the cheque in your van window for everyone to see.
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on February 07, 2009, 08:45:28 am
Jim you are right and I'm not going in with a bullish attitude at first but from the meet and greet with this customer I can see problems, I'm just getting tooled up.

Shaun
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: clinton on February 07, 2009, 09:12:12 am
Think you always know if there are going to be probs and if you think it yourself shaun ::)
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: daysdeepclean on February 07, 2009, 09:31:37 am
I'm off to do a job now and the "Hippy" type fella said to let myself in as he won't be there until later on! I have a feeling about it so if the money isn't there I won't do the job... What got me was I said the job would be £70, he said oh, well we've got a hundred quid for you here ??? ??? ??? Alarm bells started ringing!
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Doctor Carpet (Ret'd) on February 07, 2009, 10:03:16 am
Shaun

Did she not have a cheque guarantee card?

Assuming she did and it was limited to £100 (as most are) then the best course of action is to take 2 cheques off her. £100 and £50. But here's the clever bit. You need to ensure you don't pay them in on the same day-if she doesn't have enough funds to pay both, the bank is entitled to "bounce" the second and any further cheques issued on the same day to the same payee.

Present them on different days and any guaranteed cheque has to be honoured.

The only time I do insist on guarantee cards is when somebody is moving out of premises for this very reason.

Hope this helps you in the future if not now.

Roger

PS What was the answer on the returned cheque? Was is a simple "Refer to Drawer" or was it a longer statement?
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: derek west on February 07, 2009, 10:24:40 am
shaun
how long did it take from paying it in to getting it back?
derek
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on February 07, 2009, 03:35:12 pm
About 3 weeks.

Shaun
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Glynn on February 07, 2009, 05:03:26 pm
Shaun
This is where a mobile terminal comes in !.
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on February 07, 2009, 08:24:44 pm
It was a company cheque so no guarantee card.

Shaun
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Doug Holloway on February 08, 2009, 09:18:04 am
Hi Guys

Shaun have you represented it.

I had a night club 500 Pounds , took me 4 weeks to get cheque with much hassle, cheque bounced.

After calming down I represented the cheque and it cleared.

Cheers

Doug
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on February 08, 2009, 09:50:08 am
You may be right but I'm expecting a fight mainly because of the person and who she is and acted like! I'm pretty thick skinned but she was someything else!

Shaun
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: derek west on February 08, 2009, 10:04:05 am
doug
sorry for being a thicko but what do you mean by represented?
do  you mean try again and put it back in the bank?
derek
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Joe H on February 08, 2009, 10:20:08 am
Banks often do that for you - represent the cheque, different day maybe funds have come in to the account. Happened to me recently - unfortunately funds still no there but I got paid.

There is usually a bank charge on you if a cheque bounces. My bank charges £6.
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: jasonl on February 08, 2009, 10:57:53 am
Shaun , ,give us the address ,, ill have the cash by tomorrow night .
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Doctor Carpet (Ret'd) on February 08, 2009, 11:26:50 am
Derek

There are many answers you can get on a cheque which hasn't been paid. For example:
"Payment countermanded" ie the drawer (the person who wrote the cheque) has put a "stop" on the cheque. Perhaps because customer was unhappy with the work undertaken. It's what you would also do if a cheque was lost in the post or your chequebook was stolen.

"Customer deceased" - speaks for itself. Although the customer is dead there is still a liability and you would then have to claim against the deceased's estate.

"Refer to Drawer-Mandate cancelled" - Perhaps on a joint account, husband and wife about to divorce, then both parties would have to sign the cheque as opposed to just one or the other.

"Refer to drawer-please represent"-not enough funds or high enough overdraft to pay the cheque at the moment but there may be once it is presented again. The collecting bank ie. the branch where you paid it in will do this for you and should arrive at the account upon where it is drawn 3 days after it might originally have been paid. A typical example of this would be if the first time it was presented was the day before payday but the next time it is presented will be the day AFTER payday and hence have more chance of being paid.

"Refer to Drawer" - not a chance of being paid. In other words you'll have to get paid in some other form-(good luck)!

Hope the explanation helps.

Roger
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: clinton on February 08, 2009, 01:28:12 pm
Shaun

Any more news on the non payment ???
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on February 08, 2009, 04:23:59 pm
Refer to drawer!!!!

That's what it says on the cheque, Jason I may take you up on your offer.

Clinton she's back to work on Tuesday that's the best info I can get at the moment but I've got the Rottweiler on it ;D

Shaun
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: clinton on February 08, 2009, 04:36:13 pm
Shaun  ;D

Its one of these things that are anoying and am prob same as you and wont let in go and to get is the money ???
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Ken Wainwright on February 09, 2009, 05:33:45 pm
Just had a wicked thought Shaun.  Why don't you give the cheque to your wife to buy herself something special for when you take her out next Saturday, 14th Feb. (you romantic old devil), she can bank it in her account then it won't have cost you a penny!

If the timing in the month is right, when it's returned to her, she'll make sure she gets the cash off the customer, especially when that Gucci handbag looks such a bargain 8) ;) ;D

Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Buster Ingram on February 09, 2009, 05:37:13 pm
With the kind of luck Shaun has Ken he'll have more change of getting the handbag wrapped around his head. :-X
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on February 09, 2009, 06:26:31 pm
Ken you rotter ;D

D day tomorrow as the lady in question is back at work and the Missus is on it!
I don't expect an answer from her apart from blah blah wonder how that can have happened but it doesn't cost to represent.

Shaun
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: jasonl on February 10, 2009, 10:50:58 pm
Shaun ,,, we can visit any day with up to 5 concrete trucks!
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on February 10, 2009, 11:05:42 pm
Just hold off with those trucks!

She's played the dippy bird bit and couldn't work out why it hadn't cleared but I'm sending a letter tomorrow just to reminder that debt collector or concrete are on their way.

Shaun
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: derek west on February 10, 2009, 11:07:18 pm
Shaun ,,, we can visit any day with up to 5 concrete trucks!

"there ya go love, find a cleaner that can get that out ya carpet" ;D
derek
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Ricky M on February 11, 2009, 06:54:55 am
Shaun , on checking dec & jan bankings it turns out that im in the same situation as you but my owed amount is £759 from Dec jobs , 1 of those domestic through the biz thingys . made a phone call and was hit with sorry my admin most of over looked it and I will BACS it you ( monday  09/02 !) , sent a letter up to now . got to go easy cause im re-dying leather and got a hard floor to clean and gloss for the client in March
Title: Re: Returned cheque
Post by: Matt Lindus on February 11, 2009, 01:37:16 pm
Shaun,  you say that you are expecting a fight because of the way she is and acted on the day. How exaxtly did she act, what did she do and why do you think this will result in you not getting paid.

Matt