Would you bother chasing a £20 debt?

[Adams0211]

I've got a customer who doesn't seem to want to pay me. She owes me for two £10 cleans and I've had no luck getting paid so far.

She lives in a flat in a village a couple of miles from my other work. I only spend one morning every four weeks in the village.

She first approached me as I was cleaning another flat in her block. We agreed a price and agreed on four weekly cleaning. I cleaned the windows there and then and she paid me straight away.

Part of the problem is my fault, I didn't take down a name or contact number or ask her to pay online like the rest of my customers in the village do so I don't have to go out of my way to collect.

She wasn't in for the second clean so I left a card and asked her to contact me to arrange payment. I didn't hear from her.

I let it go and cleaned the flat again four weeks later. She wasn't in again and I left another card.

I'm pretty sure she's just taking the **** now. She's got my contact details and hadn't bothered trying to contact me. Last week I hand delivered a polite letter asking for payment within seven days and I've still heard nothing.

Part of me thinks I should let it go. It's only £20 and it only took ten minutes to earn. Another part of me wants to take it further. £20 is £20 and I did earn it.

What would you do?

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

Last Friday I filed a small claim for £16 against a customer, it's not about the money it's about the principle.

 

[Dave B]

That the woman we were talking about Neil?

I would make sure i get it on principle

Too many people think it's ok to take the p##s

 

[Adams0211]

Yep, it's the woman we were talking about.

I agree. It's the principle. What do you think should be my next step?

A more formal letter giving her seven days notice that I will be filing a claim at the small claims court?

 

[kahoona]

I guess one way of looking at it is to weigh up the risk to your business v's the gain in taking further action.

Risks:

You spend time working on taking action, thus incurring a cost to your business (your time).

You take action but the ruling going in customers favor, you end up not receiving anything and possibly incur fees.

Ruling goes in your favor you get your money, customers has to pay you and the court fees/costs, however bad will created customer could damage your reputation by painting you/your business in bad light, village community gossip travels fast (bad publicity).

Benefit/s:

You win the case and get your money.

Note I have avoided stating under benefits that if you won you would be satisfied you had beat the customers argument. This is because its a personal view that has no real baring on your business, yes it would make you feel better, but would it really help your business in the long run?

The point being that whatever you decide to do, it should be in the interests of your business not a personal vendetta against an individual.

 

[Adams0211]

I guess one way of looking at it is to weigh up the risk to your business v's the gain in taking further action.
Risks:

You spend time working on taking action, thus incurring a cost to your business (your time).

You take action but the ruling going in customers favor, you end up not receiving anything and possibly incur fees.

Ruling goes in your favor you get your money, customers has to pay you and the court fees/costs, however bad will created customer could damage your reputation by painting you/your business in bad light, village community gossip travels fast (bad publicity).

Benefit/s:

You win the case and get your money.

Note I have avoided stating under benefits that if you won you would be satisfied you had beat the customers argument. This is because its a personal view that has no real baring on your business, yes it would make you feel better, but would it really help your business in the long run?

The point being that whatever you decide to do, it should be in the interests of your business not a personal vendetta against an individual.

Some good points there. I'm hoping that the threat of further action will be enough to get her to pay up.

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

Adams customer takes the pi$$ for £20

Adams lets it slide and writes it off.

Customer a while later sees Davey in the area, has Davey do the windows, takes the pi$$ again for £20 Davey lets it slide

A month later customer sees Green in town and books him for the windows and on and on and on these customers go, they are natural born pi$$ takers and will always be because you allow it.

It is almost your duty to file a claim against her to show her you are a professional and need to be treated with the respect and dignity you deserve.

 

[Brandon]

I had the same issue a few weeks ago, custy owed £10 and wasn't replying to my texts...couple weeks later got a text saying she'd paid the £10 and another 10 for next time cause she felt so bad for forgetting

have you tried going round there in the early evening? could be at work etc.

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

I guess one way of looking at it is to weigh up the risk to your business v's the gain in taking further action.
Risks:

You spend time working on taking action, thus incurring a cost to your business (your time).

You take action but the ruling going in customers favor, you end up not receiving anything and possibly incur fees.

Ruling goes in your favor you get your money, customers has to pay you and the court fees/costs, however bad will created customer could damage your reputation by painting you/your business in bad light, village community gossip travels fast (bad publicity).

Benefit/s:

You win the case and get your money.

Note I have avoided stating under benefits that if you won you would be satisfied you had beat the customers argument. This is because its a personal view that has no real baring on your business, yes it would make you feel better, but would it really help your business in the long run?

The point being that whatever you decide to do, it should be in the interests of your business not a personal vendetta against an individual.

I disagree on a few points there, firstly the sort that continue to take the pi$$ are well know in small villages already for doing so, so when they bad mouth you to a neighbor the neighbor will simply wonder 'well why didn't she just pay what she owed'

As for the cost of £25 for filing the case you will get that back. Before I filed my claim I took advice from my barrister (not really my barrister) a customer whom is a barrister and always invites me in and makes a cupper. (biggest house on my round as it happens takes 3 hours a month to do)

She told me 90% of all these small claims are settled before the court day as the defendant does not want to get more bills and knows they are in the wrong. So even if you lose 1 in 10 you will still be in profit on debts recovered overall.

As I say as for running her fat mouth, let her, in a small village they all already know whom the bad debtors are. It wont hurt your work.

 

[Andy]

I no this sounds harsh last year I did a gutter clean for a feller only £50 when I got there he said il be back before you go guess what. Few phone calls later I said iv got a job in your rd tomorrow il bank the money won't be anyone there.turns up his wife was out side talking to the gas man his car was not there so I left it. Couple of days later about 8 in the evening I banged on his door and said I need my £50 My staff needs some dog food he's getting hungry and yes I had him with me sitting on his door step, got my money there and then strange that.

 

[Adams0211]

I had the same issue a few weeks ago, custy owed £10 and wasn't replying to my texts...couple weeks later got a text saying she'd paid the £10 and another 10 for next time cause she felt so bad for forgetting have you tried going round there in the early evening? could be at work etc.

I've popped round there in the early evening a couple of times over the last six weeks or so but it's a six mile round trip which I often can't be bothered to make. I'm a bit of a tool for not insisting she paid online like the rest of my customers over there but I doubt it would have made any difference anyway.

 

[Rosewood]

Remember she hasn't been in touch, is not as though she's promised to pay and hasn't. There could be a really valid reason she hasn't paid up. Problems at work, problems at home ! If the s**ts hit the fan in her life you getting paid is the last thing on her mind. I would just continue to post reminders every time you pass but a certainly wouldn't wash them again until she's paid. Then there's the lesson learnt. Always take a name and contact no.

 

[Dave B]

And dog **** through the letterbox makes you feel better

 

[Brandon]

I've popped round there in the early evening a couple of times over the last six weeks or so but it's a six mile round trip which I often can't be bothered to make. I'm a bit of a tool for not insisting she paid online like the rest of my customers over there but I doubt it would have made any difference anyway.

Fair enough, shouldn't fall to you to spend that £20 she owes you driving round there numerous times trying to get paid!!

 

[Adams0211]

Remember she hasn't been in touch, is not as though she's promised to pay and hasn't. There could be a really valid reason she hasn't paid up. Problems at work, problems at home ! If the s**ts hit the fan in her life you getting paid is the last thing on her mind. I would just continue to post reminders every time you pass but a certainly wouldn't wash them again until she's paid. Then there's the lesson learnt. Always take a name and contact no.

If she's a messer, she's a messer. Me having her name and contact number won't change that. Although it would make things a bit easier to get in touch with her.

I disagree that there could be valid reasons that she hasn't been in touch. She's had my context details and a note to pay since the 4th December. What possible reason could she have? I wouldn't be bothered if it was a couple of weeks, she could have gone on holiday or been ill but it gets to a point when you know they're taking the ****. If she was genuinely going through a tough time I'd still expect a text or an email at some point over an almost two month period.

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

Remember she hasn't been in touch, is not as though she's promised to pay and hasn't. There could be a really valid reason she hasn't paid up. Problems at work, problems at home ! If the s**ts hit the fan in her life you getting paid is the last thing on her mind. I would just continue to post reminders every time you pass but a certainly wouldn't wash them again until she's paid. Then there's the lesson learnt. Always take a name and contact no.

I have had this same discussion on FB @Rosewood and you are not wrong there could be all sorts of mitigating factors at home or at work as to why she has not paid, however when you have not worked for a month due to cold, rain, snow and hell freezing over do you mobile phone company, landlord, and Sky TV just keep posting you polite reminders? No they GET PAID.

You are a service provider same as they are and whilst yes you could take it on the chin why should you?

For all those that say, oh it's only £20 just let it go, my email is [email protected], you are obviously doing so well that £20 is nothing so feel free to start dropping £20 on paypal to me at the aforementioned email address. Many thanks.

 

[Brandon]

I have had this same discussion on FB @Rosewood and you are not wrong there could be all sorts of mitigating factors at home or at work as to why she has not paid, however when you have not worked for a month due to cold, rain, snow and hell freezing over do you mobile phone company, landlord, and Sky TV just keep posting you polite reminders? No they GET PAID.
You are a service provider same as they are and whilst yes you could take it on the chin why should you?

For all those that say, oh it's only £20 just let it go, my email is [email protected], you are obviously doing so well that £20 is nothing so feel free to start dropping £20 on paypal to me at the aforementioned email address. Many thanks.

how often do you want that £20?/emoticons/biggrin.png

 

[kahoona]

I disagree on a few points there, firstly the sort that continue to take the pi$$ are well know in small villages already for doing so, so when they bad mouth you to a neighbor the neighbor will simply wonder 'well why didn't she just pay what she owed'

Maybe but thats an assumption, I would not like risk my business based on an assumption.

As for the cost of £25 for filing the case you will get that back.

What even if you lose?

She told me 90% of all these small claims are settled before the court day

I have no reason to dispute this it may even be higher, I'm just trying to highlight some things to consider first.

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

@kahoona I am will to wager that if you asked any one of the lads on here which neighbor you don't lend tools too, they all which one it is in their hood.

I see no risk to business and I will go as far as to swear to you that customer I am taking action against is on the busiest road I have.

Not if you lose, no of course not, but the point is you don't lose, at least 90% of the time. So even if you lose one at £25 for what you recouped on the other 9 you still have more pound notes in your pocket than you did by letting any slide.

And for the record, this is not the first one I have filed against (and won) and I believe @Damo also filed one last year and now she has to pay something like £400 in costs I think it was, but Damo will clarify that when he turns up later no doubt.

 

[Tuffers]

Go round on a Sunday night for your money Adams. I had one like you. It got up to 4 x cleans of £8. She was never in when I went collecting, must have worked late or sumat. I left BACS details and SAE. She had my phone number but never thought to get in touch or **** all. I decided to go knock her door on a dark Sunday night. She opened it and her jaw dropped to the floor. She paid me and then sacked me for not cleaning the front door :rofl:

I've got another one on a new development who owes 2 x cleans. She normally pays by BACS and has been reminded that she owes. She's due a clean on Monday, I'll do it but if she don't pay in 7 days I'll be knocking her door on a dark Sunday night for cash.

 

[Markyboy 50]

And dog **** through the letterbox makes you feel better

It's better if u put it on their door handle!