Owed Money.

[HongKongphooey]

My husband runs a small Electrical contractors, there is just him, his son and a 3rd yr apprentice. I do all the office work. We recently did a job for a guy with a nice detatched bungalow and he paid the first invoice ok, but then when we sent in the last invoice, he has moaned continuously and said he wont pay it, the last invoice was for £3487.02 + 697.40 VAT. This included 88.5 hours of labour and £666 in materials used. We then reduced the labour in an effort to get some money back from this guy. The revised invoice was £1743.02 + 20% VAT = £2091.62 altogether. He has paid us just £1673. My husband has spent a total of 12 hrs installing a complicated heating system, and the lads spent endless hours wiring lights and an awful lot of other stuff.
I want to get the remaining £418.33 that he owes us. Any idea on what I should put in the letter, we have the Certificate which he needs for the work done, but I don't think with holding this is going to make him pay and legally we have to give it to him even if he doesn't pay us. I want the letter to sound proffessional, although I am frustrated and angry about how he has got out of paying. Its too small to take to the small claims court. Any advice would be helpful

[Peter Pedant]

no actually it isnt
too small for the small claims court

and a CCJ does cause a lot of trouble
( you sholddo it yourself and not pay anyone)

[albaqwerty]

gawd, I feel for you, I really do.
Won't go into details, not right time nor right place.

I thought tho, that SCC handled up to £750 so you could take it there.
Give them a phone and see what they say

All the best xx

[saintpeter48]

No way is that too small for small claims court, send another request to him for the money stating that if its not paid by a certain date you will apply to the scc with a view of getting the money, plus interest and costs (postage, time, etc), in my experience they usually pay up or do not turn up for court appearance and the judgement goes against them, at this point you get the bailiffs involved and charge it to the other party.
This may help.
http://www.qualitysolicitors.com/small-claims/building-work-and-property-repairs

[Peter Pedant]

SCC good up to five or ten grand

[HongKongphooey]

Thanks Guys, Really helpful. Will let you know how it goes

[ToraToraTora]

the world is full of rissoles that wont pay, small claims, end of.

[ToraToraTora]

people like this are parasites, they hope you wont be bothered, be bothered. One letter then file all the papers for a small claim plus exes pus interest. If it goes to court send in the bailiffs and get his ^&%ing gold teeth if you have to. Death's too good for vermin like this. Good luck. oh and in the mean time do a land reg inquiry and make sure he owns the gaff then later you can threaten a charge.