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Ryan @ Transparent, Carlisle

  • Posts: 700
commercial debt
« on: March 08, 2011, 04:09:33 pm »
got a commercial that has owed me £110 since november, despite several "promises" to send a cheque, i have still recieved nothing.

Going to send out a polite final demand letter, giving them 7 more days to pay.

Does anyone know of any debt collection agencies that will buy a debt of this small amount?

Wc Solutions

  • Posts: 1829
Re: commercial debt
« Reply #1 on: March 08, 2011, 04:17:21 pm »
that commercial work for you mate, they will hold onto the money for as long as pos!

the whole pay within 30 days is a thing of the past for alot of commercial customers now, now its 90 - 120 days with alot of chasing ....

£110 is peanuts and i think you should just keep on at them for it!

problem is they think - oh its just a small one man band window cleaner - hold onto the money for a while ...

its all daft as i bet the money you are owed is just sat in an account doing nothing ....

make sure you get your point across that you are serious and action needs to be taken to clear this balance within 7 days - just do it in a pro way to show you are serious...

commercial work is becoming a joke! they will sh*t on you without even giving it a second thought.

AuRavelling79

  • Posts: 26696
Re: commercial debt
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2011, 05:12:28 pm »
When I looked after the finances of a small limited company, (I was both Company Secretary and Financial Director) being honest guys we wanted to pay our way but "cashflow" was often tight, especially coming up to payday and we would be up against our borrowing limit from time to time.

So we "had" to pay VAT, Income Tax, wages - to keep going. Then the important suppliers like those whose goods we sold or the fuel at the garage. Finally the less important (to us) like small contractors.

So all the cheques would be on my desk ready to go and when we had say £2000 in then we'd let £2000 go out. But the Small fry got paid more quickly the more fuss they made.

So if I had a windy phone up and ask to be paid then he'd get paid immediately because £100 is neither here nor there. If I didn't get a call then the cheque would just sit there.

My advice to you is that if you haven't been paid since November then they are either doing the above or they are in big trouble. Either way start chasing firmly for your dosh.

1) Phone - if told it's in the post ask when it went and whether it went 1st or 2nd class - watch the accounts girl or guy squirm cuz they may well have lied to you to buy a few days. If they insist it has been sent then say you expect it will be with you in two days and if it isn't then you'll be back on to them.

2) Having done the above and no cheque then you have the moral high ground because you have been lied to. Don't get wound up because it is all part of the process to some small company accounts departments. Tell them you have been given incorrect information and you are not happy about it. (If they are nearby then tell them you will collect the cheque first thing in the morning and go and get it.)

3) Go in and make a fuss - if they've given you the run around thus far they aren't worth keeping. Stand in reception and when they tell you a "signatory" is not in then ask when - when they say they don't know smile sweetly and ask them to phone one of their directors there and then.

4) Still no dice? Now you start talking loudly to everyone who walks in and say stuff like "don't do business with this lot - they've kept me waiting for over three months for £110! And I'm only the window cleaner!"

If they aren't going down the tubes they'll pay up.

You can also stand outside with a placard (with something like "XYZ Ltd! - All big Mercs and no Cashflow!) and go in and say you are calling the local newspaper if they don't cough up.

To do some of the heavier stuff you must enjoy a challenge. I once threatened a solicitor with small claims court for £500 - I went round with all the forms filled in and handed them a copy and sat in reception. I had a cheque within fifteen minutes!

Other times they are sinking and there is no money and the receivers get called in and even legally all you can do is whistle.
It's a game of three halves!

poleman

  • Posts: 2854
Re: commercial debt
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2011, 05:46:06 pm »
I use this company http://www.thomashiggins.com/ only cost about £3 for them to send out a letter....if you dont get your money then they take them to court for you!!

dave0123

  • Posts: 3553
Re: commercial debt
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2011, 06:30:34 pm »
Quote
I use this company http://www.thomashiggins.com/ only cost about £3 for them to send out a letter....if you dont get your money then they take them to court for you!!

I use this company they are not to far from me couple a miles they are good and there letters work.

They will set you up with the court dates etc but they don't go with you to court you either go yourself and fight it yourself or you pay another solicitor to go with you. But most of the time its setted out of court ive used them good few times on domestic/commercial
Dave.

Darranvps

Re: commercial debt
« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2011, 07:02:20 pm »
What is your correct e-mail address, I just tried to send you mail

clarkson

  • Posts: 1027
Re: commercial debt
« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2011, 07:23:36 pm »

 hi
 go with thomas higgins, 2.50 to send first letter will probably get your money at that point.

  cheers

  john

RAHomeServices

  • Posts: 64
Re: commercial debt
« Reply #7 on: March 09, 2011, 10:06:20 pm »
Depends what is written in your contract with them alot of ours have 90 day account after 1st letter and no payment you are allowed to charge them usually around £35 and claim interest at usually 8% you can also charge admin fees if required If matter has to go further claim all costs in recovery of debt. Thankfully we have never been in this situation but you never know.hope this helps

steve a

  • Posts: 466
Re: commercial debt
« Reply #8 on: March 10, 2011, 07:30:30 am »
Depends what is written in your contract with them alot of ours have 90 day account after 1st letter and no payment you are allowed to charge them usually around £35 and claim interest at usually 8% you can also charge admin fees if required If matter has to go further claim all costs in recovery of debt. Thankfully we have never been in this situation but you never know.hope this helps

Correct but the figure is now £40 for debts upto £999