Legal Question in Employment Law in United Kingdom

Completed works but client will not pay

I am a painter & decorator. For 4 weeks i have been painting rooms in the inside of a house, as each room was completed i was paid. I finished the last bedroom and she said she wasn't happy with some of the doors I had painted and said she would not pay me until I had put them right. We came to an agreement that she would pay me �200 of the �486 she owed me and that I would return the next week to do the doors. (The doors were in a real state with knocks all over, I had pointed this out to her when I went round to do the quote and said that I would do my best) The cheque was then returned stating the it had been stopped. I tried to phone her but she would not answer my calls, I went round to her house but she would not speak to me. I have been in this trade for 22 years and have never come across a situation like this before, 95% of my work is done on recommedation and I have a very high standard of work. Is there any way I can get the money she owes me?


Asked on 2/07/07, 4:36 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Andrew Dutton Legal -Zone

Re: Completed works but client will not pay

You should appreciate that you have done absolutely nothing wrong here and the simple fact that this woman refuses to meet with you and discuss any problem is a sure indication that she is simply trying to avoid payment.

There is only one possible solution if you wish to receive the money you are due. This is a classic case which can be dealt with under the small claims procedure of your local county court. It is not difficult to make a claim and the whole procedure is intended for people to act for themselves with out lawyers. You should not hesitate or delay but issue your claim immediately. A DIY small claims kitwhich contains all the required information and necessary forms is available from the Legal-Zone website at www.legal-zone.co.uk

Andrew Dutton

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Answered on 2/09/07, 3:06 pm


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