Client - non payer / small claims court?

[Abc321]

I have a small business and a client has asked me to carry out some work for him, which I have done.

A brief outline is that he has been difficult from the start and have definitely ended up working at a loss due to time spent on calls, emails and actually carrying out he job.

The invoice is for a couple hundred £, which I know isn't going to move any mountains but it is absolutely the principle at this stage. The invoice was sent with clear payment terms and we have had every excuse under the sun that it will be paid last week. Its now Monday PM and still nothing. I have had a missed call from him this afternoon but have no intention to speak to him.

I have threatened small claims court as I am beside myself with how he has acted over the last month. Anyone have any experience with this? Unfortunately a small number of my clients are 'difficult' every year,= lets say and I have to write off maybe a £1-2k a year on bad debts as they disappear.

[Muzzer79]

Abc321 said:

I have had a missed call from him this afternoon but have no intention to speak to him.

Why not?

You need to tell him you want your invoice paid..........Today

If he refuses to or can't, that's when you go to the next stage. Small claims court.

Ignoring him gives him licence to not pay, until you go through the court process. Which you want to avoid unless you have to.

[bad company]

You really should have taken his call. Call him back and see what he has to say.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

I spent a career collecting money (amongst other things )

You can't beat a face to face encounter. People that hide behind emails etc will often crumble when challenged in person. (Particularly when you have them by the throat against the wall )

[fooman]

Usually a client with no intention of paying doesn't call, you should follow this up first.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

bad company said:

You really should have taken his call. Call him back and see what he has to say.

This in spades.

[reddiesel]

Its essential you return the missed call

[reddiesel]

Its essential you return the missed call

[Abc321]

Thanks for the sanity check chaps.

I should have said we usually communicate through email and a call was out of norm.

I threatened small claims last week if not paid by close of play today and he has found the cash. The call was asking for my bank details (despite them being on the invoice which I have sent him 3 times).

Next job is a disengagement letter!

[balham123]

Good practice to confirm payment details. Plenty of cases of hackers altering/intercepting mails and changing them to thier own account details.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

balham123 said:

Good practice to confirm payment details. Plenty of cases of hackers altering/intercepting mails and changing them to thier own account details.

Whenever I paid anybody new I used to send £1 and ask them to confirm receipt before I sent the rest.

Good news OP, glad you returned the call!

[48k]

Abc321 said:

Thanks for the sanity check chaps.

I should have said we usually communicate through email and a call was out of norm.

I threatened small claims last week if not paid by close of play today and he has found the cash. The call was asking for my bank details (despite them being on the invoice which I have sent him 3 times).

Next job is a disengagement letter!

Get the cleared funds first, even with the bank details they can still drag out actual payment.

[reddiesel]

Abc321 said:

Thanks for the sanity check chaps.

I should have said we usually communicate through email and a call was out of norm.

I threatened small claims last week if not paid by close of play today and he has found the cash. The call was asking for my bank details (despite them being on the invoice which I have sent him 3 times).

Next job is a disengagement letter!

Pleased to hear this fella

[reddiesel]

Abc321 said:

Thanks for the sanity check chaps.

I should have said we usually communicate through email and a call was out of norm.

I threatened small claims last week if not paid by close of play today and he has found the cash. The call was asking for my bank details (despite them being on the invoice which I have sent him 3 times).

Next job is a disengagement letter!

Pleased to hear this fella

[Mad Maximus]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

balham123 said:

Good practice to confirm payment details. Plenty of cases of hackers altering/intercepting mails and changing them to thier own account details.

Whenever I paid anybody new I used to send £1 and ask them to confirm receipt before I sent the rest.

Good news OP, glad you returned the call!

I do this whenever any decent amount of money is being moved to new places. Very sensible.

[richhead]

Abc321 said:

I have a small business and a client has asked me to carry out some work for him, which I have done.

A brief outline is that he has been difficult from the start and have definitely ended up working at a loss due to time spent on calls, emails and actually carrying out he job.

The invoice is for a couple hundred £, which I know isn't going to move any mountains but it is absolutely the principle at this stage. The invoice was sent with clear payment terms and we have had every excuse under the sun that it will be paid last week. Its now Monday PM and still nothing. I have had a missed call from him this afternoon but have no intention to speak to him.

I have threatened small claims court as I am beside myself with how he has acted over the last month. Anyone have any experience with this? Unfortunately a small number of my clients are 'difficult' every year,= lets say and I have to write off maybe a £1-2k a year on bad debts as they disappear.

think i would be looking at why a number of clients are "difficult" every year.