Disputed Invoice - Advice?
Discussion
Hi
Wondering if anyone has any experience with unpaid invoices?
Our LTD company is disputing an invoice for some work carried out at one of our retail units. The company who carried out the work were totally incompetent and caused further damage to the equipment they were supposed to be repairing - I have paid the cost of the parts but due to the problems they caused I am not paying their labour charges. The invoice comes to around £400 which I am refusing to pay as they left live cables hanging in our roof space, they did not stay as long as they suggested they did plus they didn't install the parts I paid for correctly (if at all). Trouble is, I can't prove this really and I guess they can't prove otherwise either.
I've now had a letter from a recovery agent threatening me with litigation so my question really is this: what's the worst that can happen here? Will I end up with bailiffs knocking at my door or will it go court?
I know it's not a massive invoice, it's just that they have already had over £700 from me for other work and I resent them demanding more given how awful they were.
Thanks in advance
Wondering if anyone has any experience with unpaid invoices?
Our LTD company is disputing an invoice for some work carried out at one of our retail units. The company who carried out the work were totally incompetent and caused further damage to the equipment they were supposed to be repairing - I have paid the cost of the parts but due to the problems they caused I am not paying their labour charges. The invoice comes to around £400 which I am refusing to pay as they left live cables hanging in our roof space, they did not stay as long as they suggested they did plus they didn't install the parts I paid for correctly (if at all). Trouble is, I can't prove this really and I guess they can't prove otherwise either.
I've now had a letter from a recovery agent threatening me with litigation so my question really is this: what's the worst that can happen here? Will I end up with bailiffs knocking at my door or will it go court?
I know it's not a massive invoice, it's just that they have already had over £700 from me for other work and I resent them demanding more given how awful they were.
Thanks in advance
Edited by RanchoGrande on Friday 11th September 21:27
I have a very similar case, work not finished became un responsive., had to pay to get someone else to finish it. I then get a invoice for well over 8 months later saying they forgot to invoice us !!
Like you i got a letter from a debt collector, told them i was disputing the invoice, but they still persisted. Took some advice and as we are a LTD company and it is a small about was told to just ignore as they need a court order to collect the debt.
The emails and letters from the debt collector are quite funny as they threaten us with door step visits, CCJ, ETC we must have at least 3 emails every day with like default notice 1, i think we are on 5 at the moment
Out of interest who is the debt collector that chasing you?
Like you i got a letter from a debt collector, told them i was disputing the invoice, but they still persisted. Took some advice and as we are a LTD company and it is a small about was told to just ignore as they need a court order to collect the debt.
The emails and letters from the debt collector are quite funny as they threaten us with door step visits, CCJ, ETC we must have at least 3 emails every day with like default notice 1, i think we are on 5 at the moment
Out of interest who is the debt collector that chasing you?
Hi, it's a company based in Harley Street, London. I thought only private doctors hung about around those parts! I guess these debt agencies try the scare tactics as most people will just pay up for fear of ending up with a bailiff at the door.
I'm not normally one to leave bills unpaid but these guys were a joke. I just don't want to end up in court or with a ccj.
I'm planning on ignoring it for a bit, see how it escalates.
Does your company threaten you with any final consequences if you don't pay up?
I'm not normally one to leave bills unpaid but these guys were a joke. I just don't want to end up in court or with a ccj.
I'm planning on ignoring it for a bit, see how it escalates.
Does your company threaten you with any final consequences if you don't pay up?
Don't worry about the Debt Collector letters.
Just reply and explain that the invoice is disputed.
Then write back to the company you are in dispute with explaining your concerns.
I would suggest that you offer to undertake with them independent mediation, where someone external to both parties can talk it through calmly and rationally.
There is no need for them to engage debt collectors until they win a court case as you can't pursue a disputed debt in this way.
Just reply and explain that the invoice is disputed.
Then write back to the company you are in dispute with explaining your concerns.
I would suggest that you offer to undertake with them independent mediation, where someone external to both parties can talk it through calmly and rationally.
There is no need for them to engage debt collectors until they win a court case as you can't pursue a disputed debt in this way.
RanchoGrande said:
Does your company threaten you with any final consequences if you don't pay up?
No, mine was is about the same as yours £400 ish but they wanted £565 i think so have added there bit on top. From all the emails Letters etc i have had the cost is has always been the same. I never like owing money to anyone, i have always paid my bills on time.
To be honest when i got the 1st letter i wanted to pay it but the wife asked our accountant and he advised without a court order they can not enforce anything and as it is a low amount it would cost to much to take to court.
It is quite amusing now to see the emails every day and the threats come and go and new threats of litigation.
RanchoGrande said:
The company who carried out the work were totally incompetent and caused further damage to the equipment they were supposed to be repairing - I have paid the cost of the parts but due to the problems they caused I am not paying their labour charges. The invoice comes to around £400 which I am refusing to pay as they left live cables hanging in our roof space, they did not stay as long as they suggested they did plus they didn't install the parts I paid for correctly (if at all).
Have you had any communication with them prior to receiving the letter threatening court action. Are they aware of your concerns or have you just ignored the invoice?Edited by RanchoGrande on Friday 11th September 21:27
Jasandjules said:
Have you had the work corrected?
This OP. There's two types of 'disputed invoices' in my experiences.The first type the client just does not pay, does not respond to requests for them to pay, and when the invoice is seriously overdue mentions that they have an issue with X.
The second type is where the client has issues, they formally put those issues to the supplier and allows the supplier to rectify the problem. The supplier then rectifies, or, doesn't and then forgoes or accepts lower payment.
I'd say the first type get escalated to recovery procedures ten times as many as the second.
Thanks for the responses so far.
The work was carried out back in February and I made it very clear to them that I was not happy with how they left the job and the errors they made. This has also been communicated to them several times since they began chasing this invoice.
They've not offered to rectify the issues and I've since given up on trying to fix the broken equipment as it's going to be too expensive to put right.
The work was carried out back in February and I made it very clear to them that I was not happy with how they left the job and the errors they made. This has also been communicated to them several times since they began chasing this invoice.
They've not offered to rectify the issues and I've since given up on trying to fix the broken equipment as it's going to be too expensive to put right.
Edited by RanchoGrande on Saturday 12th September 12:57
Look at the paper/e-mail trail amd forward the relevant bits in writing to the debt collectors.
As said, no-one can come round and start breaking doors down; they have to (a) take you to court (b) win (c) enforce the judgement, before that can happen.
So if you think you have a case that will stand up in court, stick to your guns. If you don't, negotiate.
As said, no-one can come round and start breaking doors down; they have to (a) take you to court (b) win (c) enforce the judgement, before that can happen.
So if you think you have a case that will stand up in court, stick to your guns. If you don't, negotiate.
RanchoGrande said:
Thanks for the responses so far.
The work was carried out back in February and I made it very clear to them that I was not happy with how they left the job and the errors they made. This has also been communicated to them several times since they began chasing this invoice.
They've not offered to rectify the issues and I've since given up on trying to fix the broken equipment as it's going to be too expensive to put right.
Have you asked them to rectify it?The work was carried out back in February and I made it very clear to them that I was not happy with how they left the job and the errors they made. This has also been communicated to them several times since they began chasing this invoice.
They've not offered to rectify the issues and I've since given up on trying to fix the broken equipment as it's going to be too expensive to put right.
Edited by RanchoGrande on Saturday 12th September 12:57
If not, do so. Give them seven days and then advise that any repairs will be set off against their invoice and if the repairs exceed the invoice you will issue proceedings against them to recover it.
Also note that you have advised them that there were defects and despite this they have not repaired the same.....
Simpo Two said:
If they could, there'd be no need for courts or legal process. It's sabre rattling designed to scare you into paying up. Have you communicated in writing with them or being passive?
I've communicated in writing with the debt collectors that the invoice is in dispute. According to their letter, a chap called Denzil Obeneke is going to be paying me a personal visit next month! RanchoGrande said:
According to their letter, a chap called Denzil Obeneke is going to be paying me a personal visit next month!
The Equaliser?s
t. They're serious.Seriously though, this chap can't do anything. They are betting most people don't want a 'visit' and just pay regardless of the legitimacy of the alleged debt.
Don't let him in, don't let conversation go any further than "I don't owe your client money, I am not going to pay you money, goodbye.".
Edited by JustinP1 on Tuesday 29th September 12:24
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