[jo5hm4n]

Not Strictly window cleaning related per say, but in the last 6 months 2 of my clients who i have done window cleaning lead generation / canvassing for have not paid their last invoice and are now completely avoiding/ignoring my calls and emails/texts.

I don't want to take anybody to court, i don't need that kind of stress in my life but would be nice to recover some of the debt if possible.  I'm thinking about sending a letter before action, where you give them 7-14 days to pay otherwise it goes to  a debt collection agency.

I remember there was a few window cleaners on here who used a company who would send the letter for them on their behalf so it looked more official and from a third party. 

Can any of you guys tell me what the company was called and what/how much they charged for sending out the debt letter?

Could really do with giving this a go.

Thanks guys.

[Ched]

Be careful as I believe the legal procedures for notification of court action or selling debts has changed! I think you have to offer arbitration and all sorts of naff stuff. 

[Slacky]

https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/web/mcol/welcome

[AuRavelling79]

What sort of sums are we talking?

Can you not doorstep them and "ask politely" why they haven't paid?

[deeege]

Didn’t you get the lead generation work through advertising on clean it up? If so your first course of action should be naming and shaming the non payers here.

[jo5hm4n]

What sort of sums are we talking?

Can you not doorstep them and "ask politely" why they haven't paid?

Not mega money, but each owe me around £200-£300 each.

Sadly no.  These are window cleaners that are based 3-4 hours away from me.  One of which i also dont have his full address only part of it.

Never met them face to face either everything has always been done over the phone or online so i think i would prefer to keep it that way.

[jo5hm4n]

Didn’t you get the lead generation work through advertising on clean it up? If so your first course of action should be naming and shaming the non payers here.

Im not 100% sure where they came from.  I think one of them came from cleanitup, but uses an account thats basically inactive on here just lurks the forum etc...

I don't really want to do anything until the matter is settled it's still open ended at present.

[jo5hm4n]

https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/web/mcol/welcome

Thanks ill take a look at this!

[Richard iSparkle]

I’ve just sent a LBA today for a £90 debt

It’s very rare for me now.

1. Mostly Get customers to pay upfront in full to book in

2. Invoice them through Xero (it sends payment reminders, has links to pay and keeps a track of all reminders and invoice dates

3. once they are 6 weeks late and have had all the reminders I hit them with a new additional invoiced for  full late payment charges

4. if it’s not paid in full in 2 weeks I send a LBA warning then of the court costs being added AND SEND IT BY SIGNED FOR MAIL

I’ve not had to go to court once and so far have always had my money

Hope this helps

[Splash & dash]

I’ve just sent a LBA today for a £90 debt

It’s very rare for me now.

1. Mostly Get customers to pay upfront in full to book in

2. Invoice them through Xero (it sends payment reminders, has links to pay and keeps a track of all reminders and invoice dates

3. once they are 6 weeks late and have had all the reminders I hit them with a new additional invoiced for  full late payment charges

4. if it’s not paid in full in 2 weeks I send a LBA warning then of the court costs being added AND SEND IT BY SIGNED FOR MAIL

I’ve not had to go to court once and so far have always had my money

Hope this helps

Unfortunately the law has changed you cannot just take them to court now you have to go through arbitration first to try and get paid more time that you will never get paid fir then if that fails then go to court , it’s not right for ones that are owed money  it benefits the one who hasn’t paid all wrong  but that’s the way it works now 😬😬😬😬

[Richard iSparkle]

Like I say that process that I use works and I’ve not had to go to court or mediation

Just the person knowing I’m serious about   getting paid is enough and a series of increasingly urgent reminders

[Splash & dash]

Like I say that process that I use works and I’ve not had to go to court or mediation

Just the person knowing I’m serious about   getting paid is enough and a series of increasingly urgent reminders

Some will pay up and some won’t , I have a ccj against a  building company as do 6 other firms none of us have been paid and the guy knows every trick in the book , we are now trying to force  the sale of his private house to get our money  his total outstanding debts are over 250 k  he own a large  glassing  company over 180 k for work they have completed and they are now perusing it further through the courts but it’s been over 3 years now and no nearer getting paid , I have basically written off the idear of receiving any of what Ime owed I just view it as a bonus if I do ever get it . Ones who know the law won’t be intimidated by a LBA  , they just ignore them , little joe bloggs  who owes  a few quid  for window cleaning might but there are people out there that are experts at running up large debts and manage to get away without paying , they know all the loop holes in the law and exploit them .

[Richard iSparkle]

Like I say that process that I use works and I’ve not had to go to court or mediation

Just the person knowing I’m serious about   getting paid is enough and a series of increasingly urgent reminders

Some will pay up and some won’t , I have a ccj against a  building company as do 6 other firms none of us have been paid and the guy knows every trick in the book , we are now trying to force  the sale of his private house to get our money  his total outstanding debts are over 250 k  he own a large  glassing  company over 180 k for work they have completed and they are now perusing it further through the courts but it’s been over 3 years now and no nearer getting paid , I have basically written off the idear of receiving any of what Ime owed I just view it as a bonus if I do ever get it . Ones who know the law won’t be intimidated by a LBA  , they just ignore them , little joe bloggs  who owes  a few quid  for window cleaning might but there are people out there that are experts at running up large debts and manage to get away without paying , they know all the loop holes in the law and exploit them .

Sorry to hear about this customer of yours.

I don’t deal with contracts of that size but imagine it’s a different thing needed to chase money for them

As I say though with Josh being owed smaller sums getting them to pay upfront  dodges the issue of chasing money

And having a system that reliably chases any debt has worked well for me for years

I hope you have success with yours