Outstanding balance on a bill

[jean88]

i had a shop 4 years ago, before i left i paid all my bills and recently one of my suppliers is stating that i still owed them money, but i'm sure i have paid him, one of his worker works for us too, so they know that we are leaving. because it's been 4 years i have lost all my bills because i renovated my house.

They couldnt produce me with any proper evidence of this and all they gave me was a print out of a statement with all these different dates. anyone could print one of these. and the dates are wrong because some of the dates on the statement was when i wasn't even running the shop!! somebody else was managering it. i have proof that it had changed hands. the other dates on the statement should  had been cleared but they said different. i've seen them many times(within the 1st year after we left the shop)and we are quite friendly at the time, they know where we live too. why didn't they ask us then but instead 4 years later??? they made a stupid story up why they didnt come to us earlier.... but i don't wanna go there because its so stupid.... but they wont leave us alone, posting us letters, and when we try to speak to them they keep insisting we owe them money but we don't. i'm getting really fed up,

what can i do?

can anyone help me?  

[Scarlett]

I would go to the citizens advice for this too! I imagine the most they could do is try and take you to court for the money, and if you have enough paperwork and evidence to show that they are wrong, you will be fine. The chances are it would cost them more to take you to court so they are just pestering you. Could you not write them a formal letter (or get your solicitor to!) saying what you have said in your post above, and explain that any further correspondance from them will be seen as harrassment and you will press charges if they don't leave you alone? Or you could just take THEM to the small claims court for harassment now.

Also, were you in any kind of shopkeeper's union then? If so, maybe you could ask them to help you?

[erimus1]

Simple answer is right t hem a letter of deadlock - that you do not believe that you owe them the money, especially as they have not provided evidence of the outstanding account. Stet that you would consider any further correspondence or any form of contact to be harrassment, and advise them that if they wish to take matters further then they should make an application to the County Court. As the burden of proof is on them to show that you owe them the money, and you they do not seem to have such evidence, their claim should be thrown out straight away. If you are service documents for the claim, make sure that you make a counter claim for your inconvenience and any associated costs.
Good luck.

[jean88]

thanks for your advice.

 i have written them a letter of what you suggested already. i spoke to them before but they insisted they were right for some reason..... :? :/ i have already told them it is harassment and false accusations (illegal). i will certainly go to the citizens advice or trading standards for some advice.and i will certainly consider taking legal action if they don't leave me alone. that is the last straw!!