£144 per hour for non emergency plumber

[mangos]

dickymint said:

Crack on OP great job Interesting that the "debt collectors" have given up even though they said that they now owned the debt Last chance saloon from your so called plumbers methinks.

If it's possible/allowed i'd be going for the jugular with a counter claim for damages?

Thank you

And you aren’t the first to suggest counter claiming.

No idea what damages I could go for though.
It’s obviously caused a lot of stress and anxiety but nothing prescription worthy. (Other than the copious wine and gin collection I’m getting through)

They deserve to have something come back on them.

They’ve managed to get my own negative review removed from google and the amount of positive ones that have gone up over the past few weeks is crazy and so they will just be doing the same to others

[mangos]

bad company said:

Please all bear in mind that the claimant just might be reading this thread. Unlikely but possible.

Very true and something I have had in the back of my mind from starting it.

I think it’s good in one way that if anyone else searches for the company they might find this first and not use them.

I also think if he did see this he probably would have backed off by now or would do as soon as he sees it.

As much as it makes me anxious I won’t back down and be bullied and I feel like I have the backing of the PH community behind me (along with Trading Standards who also agree my position is as strong as can be)

However, that said - should anything I post up cause any potential issue with my defence. I’d be happy to be made aware of it and I will remove

[mangos]

silentbrown said:

mangos said:

Thank you for reminding me. I took screen shots today and already notice a lot of the website wording has changed.

Wayback engine to the rescue, hopefully. https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://igm.me.uk/

You beauty

[mangos]

HotJambalaya said:

Just read this whole thing, nothing to add, but just wanted to say well done op. I can't imagine being in your personal situation, sticking it out shows real backbone. Well done!

Thank you

Defense has now been submitted with the help of a very kind ex defense lawyer who wanted to assist. Now is just a waiting game

[mangos]

Ive received a form to complete from the courts which requires me to say if I am willing to use their mediation service.

I am guessing I would be ok to say yes to this despite not agreeing that I owe this company any more money?

Is anyone familiar with a court mediation service?

[mangos]

I am a little concerned having looked at the Claim History on MCOL as it shows that the claimants DQ was filed on 7th September but there is no record of my DQ having been filed.

I returned mine via recorded post on 3rd, and having contacted MCOL they say the standard processing time for documents sent to Northampton is 3 working days.

The deadline for me to file was 9th September.

[mangos]

bad company said:

mangos said:

I am a little concerned having looked at the Claim History on MCOL as it shows that the claimants DQ was filed on 7th September but there is no record of my DQ having been filed.

I returned mine via recorded post on 3rd, and having contacted MCOL they say the standard processing time for documents sent to Northampton is 3 working days.

The deadline for me to file was 9th September.

Have you spoken with the Court?

Northampton County Court 01604 470400.

Managed to get through to someone who could help and said that they will update the sytem as its been received. I have just logged in again and its showing as DQ filed by my 12th September which is late, but they have said thats ok ...

[mangos]

The case isnt suitable for mediation so is going to court

[mangos]

bad company said:

Did they advise a hearing date?

Not yet, I guess its a waiting game until the next letter comes through the post

[mangos]

MB140 said:

Best of luck I do hope you win.

thank you

[mangos]

bad company said:

RB Will said:

I asked before but nobody answered. Is there a good chance this won't go the OPs way?

The company sound like tts and deserve a kicking but if the court has to go on the facts then all they have is a load of he said / she said and the one concrete thing they have is the invoice signed by the OP agreeing to the work/ charge and promising to pay it.

Well I’ll answer and in my experience I’d say there’s a very good chance the op will win but you can never say 100% with litigation. In the County Court it really does depend on the Judge on the day.

Op you need ALL the evidence well documented, that’s EVERYTHING you have and don’t forget to give the other side a full copy of everything you have before the hearing.

I have been asking myself the same question.

In my opinion - if a judge rules in the claimants favour then I am happy to accept it as my fault.

What I dont want to do is pay up when I feel like I have been robbed, and forever regret not fighting it.

All I can do is put my side across, they can put theirs across. Maybe they will lie. But even if they do, they wont have anything to back themselves up with like I do.

[mangos]

bad company said:

Well I’ll answer and in my experience I’d say there’s a very good chance the op will win but you can never say 100% with litigation. In the County Court it really does depend on the Judge on the day.

Op you need ALL the evidence well documented, that’s EVERYTHING you have and don’t forget to give the other side a full copy of everything you have before the hearing.

When you say give the other side a copy of evreything I have before the hearing - can that just be a photocopy of everything I will be presenting when I go to the hearing?
(Emails, invoice, photos, debt collectors letters etc)

[mangos]

Update - received this through the post today...

[mangos]

bad company said:

I was wondering what was happening. No problem op, just send the paperwork they’re asking for to the Court and the Claimant. I’d then try to put it out of your mind until the hearing in February.

Thanks, I was worried that the wording seemed strange - 'particular whether the present parties are the correct parties to the proceedings'.

It's also being held at a magistrates court much further away from me rather than the local county court...

[mangos]

I hadn’t thought of that!

Of course the claim should be in the name of the company, but it’s all under his name.

[mangos]

KungFuPanda said:

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/1066680...

Looks like it's a Ltd company.

Yes, the invoice I have had the company address as limited company

[mangos]

bad company said:

Can we have an update please op?

Court date is 13th February.
It’s at a court about an hour away from my home which I haven’t worked out why yet.
The judge requested copies of the invoice and debt collectors letters which I sent and copied into the plumber in question.

Other than that no update and all quiet since.

I sort of put it to the back of my mind thinking it’s ages off and no point worrying over something that hasn’t happened yet, but now we are in January it’s just a month away and all seems a little close.

I’m worried I’m not going to be able to hold my composure in front of them. I’ve never been in court, I’ve no idea what to expect.

I checked their website recently and they’ve changed a lot of it so it doesn’t say that they do free estimates and other things that seem like a bit of covering their tracks.

I really don’t want to face them.

I had a Christmas bonus from my employees and was thinking of just using it to pay the bill to be done with it

[mangos]

Usget said:

V8RX7 said:

Yes that's right - sorry I forgot they were taking him.

OP did you ask to move to the Court near you ?

Small point of order - mangos is a lesser-spotted female pher.

indeed i am

[mangos]

Does anyone know the general format of a hearing?

Would I be able to bring someone in with me?

[mangos]

V8RX7 said:

KungFuPanda said:

V8RX7 said:

mangos said:

It’s at a court about an hour away from my home which I haven’t worked out why yet.

I’m worried I’m not going to be able to hold my composure in front of them.

I’ve never been in court, I’ve no idea what to expect.

I checked their website recently and they’ve changed a lot of it so it doesn’t say that they do free estimates and other things that seem like a bit of covering their tracks.

They get to ask for their preferred Court

As long as you don't punch them you'll be fine, tears would probably help your cause.

I took someone for a small debt mostly for the experience, it was just like having a meeting with your boss and a stroppy co worker, in his office.

That's good - assuming you have screen shots of it before - if they weren't concerned they wouldn't have changed it and you should certainly take new screenshots to show to the Court

There really isn't much to be concerned about - at worst you pay the same bill and have lost half a day - at best you are proven right and regardless of the money that's a great feeling.

It's usually the Defendant who get's asked where their preferred Court is not the Claimant.

Yes that's right - sorry I forgot they were taking him.

OP did you ask to move to the Court near you ?

No i didnt. The court hearing letter had my local court on it (the one I had requested it be at), but it was crossed out and another one put on it instead.

The local court to me is the county court but the court its being held at is the main magistrates court.