I am owed money by someone who should now better! This has been going on for a while now, to start with I was nice and didn't chase loads as didn't want to upset the apple cart, but now I am just simply so pissed off, I shall not be working for them again!
I chased again last week to be told yes will pay, in the past they have paid, to start with on time, then it was gradually getting later and later. Then they turn up unannounced one day to collect the files, lucky for them I was in! I knew they wanted them back and I don't have a problem with that at all, as the work has been done, but what I don't like is the dishonesty that goes with it, why do people f*****g lie! I really can't stand liars at all, I was brought up well why are others not?! I know they have someone else doing the work, it was not difficult to find out, do they really think I was that thick that I wouldn't know!!!
Luckily I have plenty of work on so will not be working for them again, but I still want my money!
This is one of our own which makes it even worse! I will be disengaging as soon as I get my bloody money!
Sorry for the rant, in all my years of self-employment I have never come across such dishonesty that I have come across now. Thank god I didn't give them any work!
OMG! Feel for you. Think we have all been there or close over the years.
I cant stand the lying neither!!!!!
I so wish you had not been in that day they turned up so that you could not give them their files back and then refuse when requested 'until they cough up the dosh'!!!!! Fight fire with fire. But as that has happened (because you are decent and do the right thing) you only have one course of action. Ok three.
Do you work at home or from an office? Only reason I ask is you may wish to change number one slightly.
1) Turn up unannounced to their house and demand payment. In cash. Or if they havent got cash say you will wait a minute whilst they do a Bank transfer. Or at their offices. If the latter say you will keep turning up on a daily or twice daily basis until they pay you and that you may well turn up with a placard that says they dont pay their bills.
Im assuming they have never actually disputed their bill. So
2) Sue their sorry ass. Dont waste any more time after spending a bit on (1). Get a proper solicitors letter to them (only costs a couple of quid for the letter), even if you dont mean to take it much further as that quite often works, but ensure you whack interest and fees on as much as is allowed.
3) A lovely man sent me this recently
You could subsitute the following for number (3)
Alternative number 3) Ring said newbie and say you havent had their professional clearance letter and would they like to send it! Then you can answer it honestly. If they dont care then they will get stung too but it will not for the lack of trying to warn them.
Hope it wasnt a lot!
Go get em girl!!!!!!
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Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
Wasn't a huge fortune but could really do with getting it! Also it's the principle of the matter, if I work I expect to get paid.
No they haven't disputed the bill, it is several months old so should have done so by now if they were.
Didn't think of contacting the newbie, that could be interesting!....
I am going to go down the route of getting the money if they don't pay within 7 days! They have messed with the wrong person, I got called a Jack Russell once in my job when I had to do credit control as they said I was permently nipping at the customers heels! I got their money in for them though so they didn't mind that I upset a few people along the way!
Thanks for the tips, yes it was a shame I was in but hey ho, I am a nice person!
Google collection agencies for 'letter before action', should cost you about £2.50 I have had to resort to this in the past, it works. If you are not bothered about loosing them as a customer, this is what I would do.
So we have a Jack Russell and if Julie (Pictures) joins us then two Rottweilers plus Julie (Haymac) who loves doing credit control if I recall from my last frustrated thread. Reckon a day trip is in order!!!!
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Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
Ouch Amanda, not nice when you've done a good job and then the bar stewards don't pay up. I've got one myself where I've managed to get half the payment, but struggling to get the rest. I've been told this weekend but if they don't pay then I'll be doing an LBA after the weekend.
There's a solicitor firm called Thomas Higgins who will do it all for you and its £10+VAT for a LBA on a sole trader and £3+VAT (I think) for a LBA on a Ltd Co. Further charges apply if they deal with the Court Summons.
.
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John
Any advice given is for general guidance and professional advice should be sought applicable to your circumstances.
Sometimes when all else fails you have to resort to thumb screws in the guise of solicitors letters. Do not go soft Amanda ! I am sure you have used all reasonable methods to extract payment, as you say they should know better and I am sure they would have used same tactics on their customers.
Hi Joanne, yes, still love credit control. Love this time of year, brings out the best excuses for nor paying their bills. Gives me the opportunity to come out with my all time favourite response.... 'I would like to be tucking into a five bird roast for Christmas, not a tin of spam.'
lol Julie. Think I might be farming mine out to you! Mind you my biggest issue is my clients want me to 'be nice', which just isnt that helpful when trying to collect debt!
OMG Amanda - wasnt expecting you to say they were in the same profession. Just a thought - can you report them to their prof body for non payment of an undisputed debt? Might be worth a delve round whoever they are with. Bloody nerve. Thats made me want to swear as well.
Let us know how you get on and how many fingers you rip off (of theirs of course) before they cough up!
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Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
I didn't have time yesterday whilst I was skim reading but I was going to mention the new rules about how to send a letter before action I learnt about from the last thread that John has pointed out but I see its a limited company anyway.
Just a thought - can you report them to their prof body for non payment of an undisputed debt? Might be worth a delve round whoever they are with. Bloody nerve. Thats made me want to swear as well.
What an excellent idea, hopefully the mere threat of reporting them will be enough to make them want to cough up, and report them as well as County Court Summons if they don't.
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John
Any advice given is for general guidance and professional advice should be sought applicable to your circumstances.
Yes Joanne, didn't expect to get s**t on by our own!!!
I have done everything above board and am squeaky clean, its being handed over to someone else to deal with now. They have had plenty of chances.
I've never been treated so badly in all my years in business, and certainly didn't see this one coming! It's all the deceit and lies that really annoy me. I was obviously brought up well instead of in the gutter!
I will be contacting the governing body and a few other people to stick the knife well and truely in!
Julie - I won't be going soft on this one that's for sure!
