I suppose it was inevitable

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I suppose it was inevitable
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OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 14 8:36 am Post subject: I suppose it was inevitable

Recently did an electrical job for someone who has just moved into a large detached house. Not a huge job but significant for me (around ï¿½450).
Since doing it she does not respond to phone calls, texts or emails nor to letters seeking payment.
I suppose it had to happen that someone would be reluctant to pay but its galling that she is a well-paid doctor with no real excuse (she was out shopping most of the time I was there buying all sorts of stuff for the house-so hardly on a tight budget).
So I am going to apply to the Small Claims Court (online) to get my money. What a pain (time consuming and stressful) and what a mean/thoughtless person.

Funny how poor people pay up promptly.

No doubt it will happen again

Flamin'Panda

Joined: 09 Feb 2014
Posts: 464
Location: Azores

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 14 8:38 am Post subject:

Is she a GP or a hospital doctor. You could always turn up at her place of work, bill in hand... embarrass her into paying, a lot less hassle than the court system. Also don't forget the BMC, she wouldn't want them knowing that she is a little piece of poo...

Oh also, did you use any of your own materials, if so, and if all else fails, go and get them back, and if that means chasing out a wall to get to the wire - so be it!

OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 14 8:41 am Post subject:

Flamin'Panda wrote:

I had thought of turning up at her work (she's a GP) - seems like a good idea to go along with the bill and its not too far away.

Flamin'Panda

Joined: 09 Feb 2014
Posts: 464
Location: Azores

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 14 8:53 am Post subject:
Is she a GP at a practice that you attend, if so, make an appointment, and take the bill with you. If not, take the bill with you to the reception, conveniently either not in an envelope or with the envelope not stuck down and hand it over explaining what it is... I bet the receptionist wont be able to help but read it, and as it isn't a medical record she doesn't have to keep her mouth shut...

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 14 9:00 am Post subject:
How do you accept payment? Such people rarely carry cash or a cheque book so turning up with a credit card machine would be pre-armed.

OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 14 9:05 am Post subject:

Rob R wrote:

How do you accept payment? Such people rarely carry cash or a cheque book so turning up with a credit card machine would be pre-armed.

Sadly I don't have a credit card machine.

Flamin'Panda

Joined: 09 Feb 2014
Posts: 464
Location: Azores

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 14 9:07 am Post subject:

Good point... Do you use pay pal, she could transfer it that way. Or present the bill and state quite clearly that you will return, say 3 hours later. A reasonable length of time for her to get to a cash point. I feel for you in this situation, some people are complete sh&ts, and 450squids is a lot of money to us in the real world. Let us know what happens, perhaps a possie of DS'ers could go round and put the frighteners on her!

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 14 9:12 am Post subject:

OtleyLad wrote:

Rob R wrote:

How do you accept payment? Such people rarely carry cash or a cheque book so turning up with a credit card machine would be pre-armed.

Sadly I don't have a credit card machine.

Get one, it's worth the fees for attracting business www.worldpayzinc.com

ETA - let me know if you do decide on it, I've just looked & you can get ï¿½10 off if I refer you.

Or there's Pay-A-Trader

Last edited by Rob R on Wed Feb 26, 14 9:47 am; edited 2 times in total

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15981

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 14 9:15 am Post subject:

I regret to say that our lad had a similar but not quite so bad experience when he first started. He had a reasonable sized fencing job lined up, did it, with our help, and had trouble getting the money. He did get paid in the end, but he was just starting out for himself, and the people concerned were not poor. Completely thoughtless. Luckily we were able to not press for payment at once, and he had to pay us over a period.

Sadly some people are completely ignorant in every sense of the word.

Do hope you get your money and soon Otley Lad.

onemanband

Joined: 26 Dec 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: NCA90

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 14 9:17 am Post subject:
What length of time are we looking at ? I've never had payment problems with domestic customers, only with other builders. I generally don't take upfront payments either. Maybe it's because majority of my work is thru recommendation by other tradesmen or customers. I'd leave escalating the situation or kicking-off till you have made contact and heard her excuses.

Nature'sgrafter

Joined: 22 Feb 2012
Posts: 527
Location: Sanday , Orkney

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 14 9:22 am Post subject:

Flamin'Panda wrote:

Oh also, did you use any of your own materials, if so, and if all else fails, go and get them back, and if that means chasing out a wall to get to the wire - so be it!

I have to point out that this is completely illegal once the materials have become a part of someone's home you can not just go and rip them out. if you were you would find yourself in court.
of course if this is a rented property or council owned you could get permission from the actual owner to do so to avoid prosecution.

Shan

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 14 9:27 am Post subject:
Before you pursue the small claims route, send her a registered letter demanding payment within 3 working days and specify, that you will be pursuing a small claims route if payment is not made. Add to this that you will also be entitled to costs if the small claims route is pursued.

Flamin'Panda

Joined: 09 Feb 2014
Posts: 464
Location: Azores

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 14 9:30 am Post subject:
OK, the ripping out bit may be a bit extreme, but some people need to be made aware that their mindless, selfish behavior can have a serious knock on effect to others. Please keep us informed as to the outcome.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 14 9:32 am Post subject: Re: I suppose it was inevitable

OtleyLad wrote:

Funny how poor people pay up promptly.

Beware in the future though, they don't always!

Flamin'Panda

Joined: 09 Feb 2014
Posts: 464
Location: Azores

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 14 9:36 am Post subject:
The problem with the small claims court is that you still may not get your money. Crickey, how many people in the UK carry on normal lives with bucket loads of ccj's to their name. If it were me, I would ask nicely to start with, and then embarrass her into paying, just remember, it is YOUR MONEY (sorry I shouted there). To be honest she is no better than a common thief.

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