[Paul Simpson]

Did a job 2 weeks ago for a local customer, the cheque was returned unpaid on Thursday last week so I rang the customer who plays dumb claiming there is no way it should bounce, plenty of money in there, etc, etc and she'll have to get the cash out next week and for me to call her on Tuesday as shes going away for the weekend, I offered to go around straight away as its 5 minutes away but she said she was literally walking out the door to go away. (Yeah right!)

Anyway I rang her this morning and the phone rings for 45-60 seconds before answering and she claims that she has just walked in the door, still got her bag in her hand (Of course!  )
Can I give her a few hours and she'll call back. She calls back later saying she's just on her way to the bank to sort it out and will call when sorted.

Just had another call from her saying her bank told her everything is okay and it must be a problem my end, (checked, it isn't) and to try paying the cheque in again.
Told her I couldn't as its crossed through, so she says she will have to give me another cheque as she claims she cannot get cash out of that account. One of those banks that don't give your money back then  
Told her I'm not prepared to wait another 7-10 days for another cheque to go unpaid I will need to collect cash.
Haven't got it on me and working long days the next few so not sure when I can get it out she now says.  

Obviously she must be stringing me along so what to do next  
Shes keeping in contact so is she just buying time  
How long do I give her  

[clinton]

Am sure you will get lots of replys for this mate.

Was it a larger sum she owes you?

[Colin Day]

Good luck with that one mate, how people can do what she's (Obviously) doing is beyond me...

Hand deliver her an invoice with a late payment fee, immediate cash payment required...

[Helen]

Good luck with that one mate, how people can do what she's (Obviously) doing is beyond me...

Hand deliver her an invoice with a late payment fee, immediate cash payment required...

Plus charges incurred from your bank for rubber cheque.

How could it be a fault with your bank?

Maybe she is busy and going away for the weekend, but that doesn't mean you have to wait. As Colin says hand deliver etc with wording that you will take alternative measures to retrieve the money should your terms not be met.

[murky]

Get yourself a card machine. No excuses then. Paid straight in, no probs.

Murky

[derek west]

i wouldn't get all stressed about it just yet paul, she's comunicating which is good, stay calm, stay professional. i don't know the circumstances so could ask a million questions before i could truly advise.

far as i know you can pay a cheque into an account 3 times and each time its them that gets the fine for a bounced one.

if you can, pay it in again.

[Paul Simpson]

Thanks for the replies.

Bit of an update!
Spoke to my bank who re-affirmed that my account is fine and generally only return cheques if they have insufficient funds.
Sent the customer a text telling her this and that I need to collect cash.

Her reply

"Are you calling me a liar"
Another straight after
"I will not pay you unless you aplogize"

Sent back a reply "I am not calling you a liar only telling you what my bank told me"

During which time another text saying "I wasn't happy with the clean anyway"   

She is obviously trying to get out of it now, a bit reluctant to offer to go back and clean again as she might take me up on it and still pay nothing.

[davep]

Knock on door with shiny new invoice and hold out your hand. Mention added charges due to time spent dealng with it and she will soon cough up.

[Paul Simpson]

if you can, pay it in again.

I would do but like Helen said bank charges!. I'll get charged £7.50 from the bank for each bounced cheque.

[derek west]

WHAT

WHY

how can a bank charge you for someone elses fault. ive had a bounced cheque 4 times now and not been charged. 3 were just mis understandings and the 4th i repayed in and it cleared.

[Paul Simpson]

I think its a kind of admin fee 
Only had it once before and they charged me then and confirmed I'll be charged for this.

[derek west]

i'd change your bank or complain about that mate, thats bang out of order, what have ya done wrong to be fined £7.50

[Paul Simpson]

Really 
Thought it was the norm!

[Russ Chadd]

People like her do this all the time... give them an inch and they take a mile and you have been more than patient with this woman.
Its a real difficult situation you are in now because even if you try and take this parasite to a small claims court you will end up shelling out and she will get away with paying you £5.00 per month or something, she probably does this sort of thing all the time so another CCJ against her name is nothing to her.
Unfortunately this is a sign of the times in Britain, some people are just out to get whatever they can get.

My next stop would be the Citizens Advice...

(By the way did she sign anything after you did the job? to accept the quality of your work etc?)  

[Paul Simpson]

My next stop would be the Citizens Advice...

(By the way did she sign anything after you did the job? to accept the quality of your work etc?)  

Thanks Russ, thats where I was planning on going in the morning.
She did sign my survey/invoice but it doesn't say anything on there to confirm they are happy with the quality of work.

[John Kelly]

She has issued a cheque with insufficient funds to honour it, that is now illegal. Don't text people over things like this it makes seem trivial and easy to rebuff. Send a demand letter in writing then if no joy go to county court or do it on line. Not a great system but its all we've got. I waste hours and hours over crap like this.

[Russ Chadd]

My next stop would be the Citizens Advice...

(By the way did she sign anything after you did the job? to accept the quality of your work etc?)  

Thanks Russ, thats where I was planning on going in the morning.
She did sign my survey/invoice but it doesn't say anything on there to confirm they are happy with the quality of work.

Your survey should have a check list which you work by, check for draught marks, spots etc.. as long as you have pointed these out to the customer and you have agreed to remove and correct anything which is in your capabilities then thats about all you can do, if she wasnt happy with the job... why did she write you a cheque... she would lose in court me thinks

[The Great One]

Hi

Writing you a cheque is a written contract that she was happy enough with the work to pay you for it.

Martin

[Matt Lindus]

The account holder of the written cheque gets the charge if it bounces, not the recipient.

Firstly, don’t get het up and angry, stay calm. Make up and save a document on your computer regarding the matter. On this document you want to write the story as it plays out so far, include times of communications, replies to communications and all the details so far.

You need to remain professional and business like from now on.

1/ Print off a friendly reminder letter to the customer polity explaining the situation and request another cheque to be sent (keep a copy for yourself and file) give a reasonable time scale for the customer to return the cheque, 7 working days is adequate. Update your pc document of this communication and save.

2/ After 7 working days without receiving a cheque or you get another bouncing cheque. Send another letter demanding payment within 7 working days or the outstanding will be recovered by the county court. Be a little stronger in this letter but remain professional. Once again, keep a copy for yourself and update you document on your pc.

3/ After another 7 working days go onto this website https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/web/mcol/welcome and follow the online instructions. When you come to the N1 claim form, briefly give details, times and dates of all the efforts you have made to recover the money. Fill out your name (Claimant) and the customers (Defendant). You will be requested to pay about £35, but you will get this back when you win.
Sit back and let the court do the leg work.

Good Luck
Matt  

[Hilton]

Thats not correct not with hsbc any way, its a 4 pound charge to the recipitant, we charge the customer 6 pounds if it happens.