Options for getting...
 

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[Closed] Options for getting settlement of long overdue invoices

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Long story short....
I've done a load of work for a large law firm over the past 18 months on a single project. Most of the invoices have been paid but a number (a couple going back a very long way) have not and they owe me > £50k.
The work was carried out exactly as required and there's no issues been raised but, despite numerous reminders and copy invoices, they're not showing any signs of paying and I've had enough. I doubt they're going to use our services again so it's time to take action.

Option 1 is Money Claim Online but its a little clunky with regards to interest charges (it assumes a single invoice is being claimed for, so only allows a single due date to be entered in the interest calculator - I'm claiming for about 9 invoices all with different due dates). It's going to charge me 5% to make the claim.

Is this my best option assuming they do not respond to calls/emails?


 
Posted : 28/08/2019 2:15 pm
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You need to do a letter before action before you do Money Claim Online I think (or at least, it's best practice to).

Send it recorded delivery.

Hopefully will that will be enough and they will pay up - if not, it goes to show the court you've been reasonable in demanding payment etc.


 
Posted : 28/08/2019 2:18 pm
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Face to face meeting to discuss the issue?


 
Posted : 28/08/2019 10:20 pm
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TLDR; MoneyClaim

Send a final email & letter explaining you are instructing a 3rd party to recover the invoices if not paid within 7 days. Costs will be the invoice totals, plus 15% recovery costs, plus VAT, plus interest charges from date of each invoice (8.75% pa calculated daily), plus court fees. Itemise this for each invoice and add up the nice big total at the bottom. This seems to work 9/10 times.

After that, Document all of your emails along with dates and times of phone calls you made chasing the money. Include this in the notes with your claim.

Last time I used it you could add multiple invoices.

Manually calculate the interest for each invoice. Add the total to your claim. Show your working in the notes.

You could also include the 15% for recovery costs. Ideally this should have been included in your T&Cs and stated on your invoice.

Good luck

Cezza


 
Posted : 28/08/2019 10:42 pm
 5lab
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im fairly sure moneyclaim has a limit of below 10k


 
Posted : 29/08/2019 12:21 am
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It's not difficult, you know what you need to do 👊👊

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Posted : 29/08/2019 12:55 am
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Not experienced in this field but I do believe that a final demand I'd necessary before and legal action can be taken...

If only a large bat got results..Its a lot easier..


 
Posted : 29/08/2019 7:15 am
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Assume you have tried the "turning up unannounced and waiting in reception until the MD (or next in command) speaks to me" routine?

Make sure you tell every member of staff you speak to they owe you money

That's a serious amount to be owed, I hope they pay up!


 
Posted : 29/08/2019 7:32 am
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Thought I'd update this.
Finally got through to, obviously, the right person - mentioned 3rd party recovery and the next day I was the tax and vat men were £53k better off.

Thanks for the advice.... Glad I didn't have to resort to other tactics.


 
Posted : 31/08/2019 11:35 am
 kcal
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result!!


 
Posted : 31/08/2019 2:34 pm
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Send it recorded delivery.

Sorry. But that's bad advice.

If they know what they are doing they will refuse to sign for it. Then they have proof that they never received it.

Send it normal post. But, make sure you get proof of postage. English ( can't speak for any other) law is such that. If it has been posted, it has been received. Plus you have saved yourself a whole 90? something pence.


 
Posted : 31/08/2019 9:13 pm
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If they know what they are doing they will refuse to sign for it. Then they have proof that they never received it.

Haha. A large law firm that refuses to sign for post because they “know what they are doing”
Ok.


 
Posted : 31/08/2019 9:23 pm
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I was speaking generally. Not specifically.

As in. You are better off posting something via normal post not recorded delivery. For the reason I mentioned.


 
Posted : 31/08/2019 9:33 pm
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Top tip that. Thanks trifoster, may need it myself soon.


 
Posted : 31/08/2019 9:42 pm
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If they know what they are doing they will refuse to sign for it. Then they have proof that they never received it

No way man.

Large company: Post goes to post room or courier room - and is signed for them distributed to department/person.

Medium company: post goes to receptionist who signs for it all.

There is now way you are getting selected non signing unless your sending post to a tiny tiny office run by Mr Dodge & Co.


 
Posted : 02/09/2019 12:55 pm
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Hi Ugh predictive text

*then* not them

There is *no* way


 
Posted : 02/09/2019 12:56 pm
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You have given 3 examples. In one of those examples my advise is correct. The other 2 it makes no difference either way.

Ignoring making this more complex by bringing up, Mr/Mrs X never worked here to sign for it etc. If you are sending 'legal' documents it's the more secure way. Returning items to eBay etc it's obviously not.

Take a wild guess how I came to know this? Yes, you guessed it. Your option number 3. First signed for letter delivered. The rest returned unsigned. Which was clearly on the advice of their underhand shark lawyers.

So, 'Yes way man 🤟'


 
Posted : 02/09/2019 4:04 pm

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