Moneyclaim trade/knocker advice

[hairyben]

Have never done a moneyclaim before and a little procedural advice would be appreciated.

Did some work for a client, totalling around £1500 over two invoices. Have email indicating intent to pay at least one of these. Client has been happy with everything and not made me aware of any issues.

6 weeks and no payment at all. Emails and phone calls ignored until yesterday when suddenly he has a list of remedial work and complaints "you left mess everywhere" (lies - I was actually putting dust sheet OVER the mess his decorators were leaving!) and oh, get this, dust on EXTERIOR window sills from drilling fixing holes. Obviously this is all distractionary nonsense, he's just trying to knock or get a big discount. He's offered to pay if I attend to all these issues but I'm quite distrustfull now and have told him he has to pay first, and if if holds back an amount he feels is commensurate to the remedial work, that would be legitimate and I would then address this.

I'm awaiting his reply. If he refuses, do I have a good case to proceed with a moneyclaim, or is it iffy and I'd be much better undertaking remedial first? I'm loathed to do anything more for someone blatantly trying to game me.

FWIW I'd have addressed the issues quite happily and in his favour if he'd approached me in the correct manner to begin with.

[Badda]

What do you mean you’re prepared to address the issues? Brush the windowsills?

Or is there more to his claim?

[Simpo Two]

hairyben said:

He's offered to pay if I attend to all these issues but I'm quite distrustfull now and have told him he has to pay first, and if if holds back an amount he feels is commensurate to the remedial work, that would be legitimate and I would then address this.

So far it's your word against his - no evidence for court.

Maybe he's trying for a discount because he thinks you're a soft touch, or maybe he feels that if he pays you in full now, you won't come back to tidy up the 'mess'.

Courts like things in writing. e-mails trails etc. So I'd ask him to confirm that if you clean up the 'mess' he wiull then pay the bill in full without further delay.

If he agrees, then do it and if he still doesn't pay, bingo, court.

If he doesn't reply, give him 30 days to be 'reasonable' then go to court.

[hairyben]

I've kept it to email. Eventually I've managed to get a list off him, I stuck some cameras in for him and he's unhappy because I've run black conduit around the house, but there's a few inches of white cable between conduit/camera, this is quite normal but he feels the cable could be snipped and it looks bad. Also that an armoured cable for garden lighting clipped to a wall should be in conduit.

Good news is he's agreed to pay me 2/3, although since receiving his list and asking him when a good time to discuss the items, and saying I would be willing to make some ammendments, he's gone silent.