Overdue invoice

[Rach*]

Gruffy said:

Laner said:

Have you tried thomashiggins.co.uk we have had some success with them just recently. £2.00 for a letter before action.

Thomas Higgins has worked for me when I've needed it too.

Looks good, stored for future reference

[Rach*]

Nothing arrived today

[JustinP1]

Rach* said:

That's brill, thanks Justin & Boosted.

I spoke to the manager who says invoices are sent out to their accountant, but wasn't going to tell me who that is, but the action would be against the practice, so just keep sending to them?.

I think that's rubbish.

It may be that the invoiced may end up being sent to the accountant for accounting purposes, but to say that the directors don't have the authority to write their own cheques is silly.

They are skirting the issue.

I'd go with my advice before and go for the 7 day before action letter. That said, for £2, the debt collectors letter is a lot cheaper than I thought and may get things done.

[Manks]

Rach* said:

Nothing arrived today

Word of advice here as it is obviously getting to you:

This bad debt is probably not personal, it's most likely their idea of business. Unfortunately if one is self-employed sooner or later someone is not going to pay up - it happens to everyone who is self employed sooner or later.

It used to bother me more than it now does. Though if someone owes me money I am quite persistent about getting it. I just rationalise it by explaining to myself that it is one of the risks I take. The rewards of running my own business hugely outweigh them.

Try if you can to consider this just part of your business, like doing the filing or re-stocking the stationery cupboard. It's not fun, but it IS part of being self-employed. When you consider the option - becoming employed - chasing a few late payers now and then seems like fun, doesn't it?

Manks

[Rach*]

Thanks mate, I've been pretty chilled until now, but I'm moving house at the weekend and need lots of new housey things

They have until Friday before next step letter, grrr.

[Manks]

Rach* said:

Thanks mate, I've been pretty chilled until now, but I'm moving house at the weekend and need lots of new housey things

They have until Friday before next step letter, grrr.

Well let's face it, if it arrives tomorrow you'll still be pushing it for clearance before Friday unless you special clear it.

How much are we talking about here by the way?

[Rach*]

Manks said:

Rach* said:

Thanks mate, I've been pretty chilled until now, but I'm moving house at the weekend and need lots of new housey things

They have until Friday before next step letter, grrr.

Well let's face it, if it arrives tomorrow you'll still be pushing it for clearance before Friday unless you special clear it.

How much are we talking about here by the way?

Just under £1k, but at least I'll have it in my grubby little mitt

[Manks]

Rach* said:

Manks said:

Rach* said:

Thanks mate, I've been pretty chilled until now, but I'm moving house at the weekend and need lots of new housey things

They have until Friday before next step letter, grrr.

Well let's face it, if it arrives tomorrow you'll still be pushing it for clearance before Friday unless you special clear it.

How much are we talking about here by the way?

Just under £1k, but at least I'll have it in my grubby little mitt

It's a big enough sum that you would not want to lose it, not big enough to get stressed about. Have you any wine in the fridge?

[Soovy]

Rach* said:

I did some locum work for a dental practice back in August, they still haven't settled my invoice. I've emailed twice, called 2 weeks ago - at that time "a cheque was in the post today", still nothing, so I hand delivered a letter this week giving them until 15/10 to settle up.

I know I can apply compensation and interest to my invoice under a small business law.

But if they don't pay up by next week, what would my next step be please?

You don't need a gun, Marigold. You need me.



You have my email.

[Rach*]

You know me too well No wine in the fridge, I'm trying to be good

[Rach*]

Soovy said:

Rach* said:

I did some locum work for a dental practice back in August, they still haven't settled my invoice. I've emailed twice, called 2 weeks ago - at that time "a cheque was in the post today", still nothing, so I hand delivered a letter this week giving them until 15/10 to settle up.

I know I can apply compensation and interest to my invoice under a small business law.

But if they don't pay up by next week, what would my next step be please?

You don't need a gun, Marigold. You need me.



You have my email.

Thanks hun, keep your fingers crossed for me, but I'll give you a shout to bring out the big guns

[Man-At-Arms]

C Lee Farquar said:

A local business owed me some so I phoned and advised the OH would be in to collect a cheque. Sent her to sit in reception with two kids and noisy toys with instructions not leave until she had a cheque. Took about 1/2 an hour.

[singlecoil]

Do they actually have any money? I know nothing about dental practices, do they ever become insolvent?

[Engineer1]

Rach* said:

Thanks mate, I've been pretty chilled until now, but I'm moving house at the weekend and need lots of new housey things

They have until Friday before next step letter, grrr.

1. Re-send the invoice for information.
2. Ring every day, for 3 days,
3. Ring every hour for the next day etc, they will pay up or admit that they can't

[mattviatura]

Try a guy called Geoff at urecall.co.uk

He charges a set (low) fee and will do his best to maintain your relationship if you so desire.

[Rach*]

It's a small chain of practices, do you think it's possible to find out who the MD is?

[matthewg]

Rach* said:

It's a small chain of practices, do you think it's possible to find out who the MD is?

Very easy. Do companies house search...

[Rach*]

matthewg said:

Rach* said:

It's a small chain of practices, do you think it's possible to find out who the MD is?

Very easy. Do companies house search...

Oooh, thanks....
Found 2 possible, one is xxxxxx company LLP, other is xxxxxx co ltd. Different addresses, no named person

[AdamBomb]

Manks said:

Simon Brooks said:

Go the surgery and wait outside until you see a group of people at the reception desk then make a fuss about not being paid, bet someone sorts it out pronto.

I reckon 99% of people would not have the front to do this.

I got paid with a rubber cheque once - I went to the guys restaurant, stood in the middle of the main dining room and proceeded to ask him why he gave me a rubber cheque in a very loud voice in front of all his customers - he gave me a good cheque in about 2mins flat.

(P.S. I wouldn't do this if you want to deal with the person again, in my case the bloke was a tosser and I didn't want any more of his business).

That was the one and only time I have had to do that in 10 years trading.

However - I currently have a customer owing me ~£4K and pleading lack of funds - funny how they are still trading and paying other suppliers, turning over a good £100k per month - 2 more weeks and I will be collecting my property (just so happens to be the main server in the business)... lets see them trade without that!

[singlecoil]

singlecoil said:

Do they actually have any money? I know nothing about dental practices, do they ever become insolvent?

That wasn't a rhetorical question, it's one you need to be fairly sure of having the answer to before deciding how much time and effort to put into getting your money. Quite often when people won't pay their bills it's because they can't.