Client cancelled 3 weeks before wedding date.

[Andy Collins]

Ok I've been been booked by said client since March - deposit paid, contracts signed etc. My payment terms are 30 days prior to event date. So I send a payment reminder which was ignored. I waited 10 days and sent another reminder saying that payment is now overdue. With that I get a reply saying that they have booked a band so my services are no longer required! (nice)

I send an email back saying that's fine - however my terms and conditions state that cancellations made within 30 days of performance date will result in full payment still due. I offer them a early settlement knocking £100 off and they come back to me asking if they can have a few days to think about thier options and maybe I could supply some aditional services (background and ceremony music) as they have to pay anyway.

That was over a week ago and not heard anything. So I have just sent a final demand.

Those that have chased debts, is it worth me chasing the £350 debt through moneyclaim?

[CRAZY K]

Ok I've been been booked by said client since March - deposit paid, contracts signed etc. My payment terms are 30 days prior to event date. So I send a payment reminder which was ignored. I waited 10 days and sent another reminder saying that payment is now overdue. With that I get a reply saying that they have booked a band so my services are no longer required! (nice)

I send an email back saying that's fine - however my terms and conditions state that cancellations made within 30 days of performance date will result in full payment still due. I offer them a early settlement knocking £100 off and they come back to me asking if they can have a few days to think about thier options and maybe I could supply some aditional services (background and ceremony music) as they have to pay anyway.

That was over a week ago and not heard anything. So I have just sent a final demand.

Those that have chased debts, is it worth me chasing the £350 debt through moneyclaim?

Well on principle I would do what it takes--Small Claims Court or whatever.

I have been advised previously that in mitigation of losses you would have to deduct travel costs that would not be incurred---knocking a £100 off sounds very reasonable---possibly too much?

As long as you have signed docs I dont think you should have a problem--as long as your T and Cs are not considered to be Unfair ( Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 amended)

Certainly dont turn up and offer any service unless you are paid in advance in accordance with your terms of payment.

You should always point out that you have no chance of obtaining a replacement booking before the event date.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

I...and another on here (paul - Spirits High...i think) have had great success using http://www.geminidebtrecovery.com/

Their initial debt letter at £25 done the trick for me, before heading to the courts.

[CRAZY K]

I...and another on here (paul - Spirits High...i think) have had great success using http://www.geminidebtrecovery.com/

Their initial debt letter at £25 done the trick for me, before heading to the courts.

Sounds cheaper than Small Claims Court--make sure you issue a formal Invoice--chasing a chancer recently for money gave the excuse---ooooh you didnt send an Invoice.

Nah--just 3 threatening letters thats all:rolleyes:

[Andy Collins]

Thanks for the replies, yes I did state to them that I have no chance of filling the date in such as short time.

I offered them £100 off as thats what it would cost me in expenses with a rodie and fuel. (need a rodie due to health issues)

Anyway, I contacted them today as a final demand and they have come straight back to me. I offered them different services so that they are getting something for thier money. I offered background music during the wedding breakfast or a 6x3 starlit backdrop and room moodlighting.

Now they have asked for all 3 for the same money?? as they said I was initally booked from 7 till midnight, and the wedding breakfast is 2-5 so they would like the backdrop and moodlighting as well for the same??

errr no!!

I will have to see how this pans out. I am willing to give them somthing for thier money, as I want paying the full amount now.

[DJ Jules]

And I thought I got all the clients from hell... ;)

Some people don't seem to think about what they're doing at all do they? If they ask for different services, then I'd price them up as I would do normally and send them the revised quote. I'd point out that if they turned down the quote, then I get to sit at home earning my full fee for doing nothing - you hold all the cards here, not them! :D

Moneyclaim is well worth pursuing, it will get results, but in instances like this I'd make sure that I sent them a final demand for payment again by record delivery accompanied by a friendly letter explaining the process that you will follow if payment isn't received as many people (like this bunch) don't get what moneyclaim is and what a CCJ will mean to them and their finances (especially in the current economic climate where your credit record has to be spotless!)

I expect debt collection agencies follow this kind of approach.

Julian

[Jonathan Ford]

Do it. Push the button. I did a few weeks ago over a cancellation - purely on principle.

[Spirits High]

I...and another on here (paul - Spirits High...I think) have had great success using http://www.geminidebtrecovery.com/

Their initial debt letter at £25 done the trick for me, before heading to the courts.

This is the way to go for a small fee. Used them 3 times now twice the clients have paid up. The third time the client ignored all correspondence initially including the Court papers then emailed a month ago and said they were surprised to find they had a CCJ. I got a default judgement against them. Not like they didn't have any warning. ;)

[Andy Collins]

This is the way to go for a small fee. Used them 3 times now twice the clients have paid up. The third time the client ignored all correspondence initially including the Court papers then emailed a month ago and said they were surprised to find they had a CCJ. I got a default judgement against them. Not like they didn't have any warning. ;)

Well, I contacted the client again today with a view to resolve this amicably, they acknowledged the fact that they have to pay and would like to take up my offer of providing a starlit backdrop and moodlighting.

All well and good, but that was this morning and i'm still waiting for payment which was supposed to be imminent??

I feel they are stalling for time, will contact them again tomorrow if i don't hear anything. It'll be the last time before a money claim.

[Jonathan Ford]

The third time the client ignored all correspondence initially including the Court papers then emailed a month ago and said they were surprised to find they had a CCJ. I got a default judgement against them. Not like they didn't have any warning. ;)

Beautiful stuff. Exactly the same thing happened with the one I've just taken through.

[Andy Collins]

My client has accepted the fact that they will have to pay me regardless, so they have accepted my offer of a starlit backdrop and moodlighting in liu of the evening disco, and have paid in full. Result!

[DazzyD]

I can't help but feel that you've been overly generous and flexible on this one. The client had originally booked the wedding disco and accepted your T&Cs for booking said disco. The way I see it now is that you have accepted that the original contract for the disco is null and void (without full payment) and have agreed (possibly only verbally - do you have a new agreement/T&Cs in place for the new services you're providing?) a new contract. This is something you really didn't need to do and I just wonder if businesses in other industries would ever consider the same level of flexibility as you have shown here.

On the flip side of the coin, this maybe your way of ensuring that you get to receive the original fee without added hassle of debt-collection. However, I think, for me, I wouldn't want to work for a client who has ignored requests for information and/or payment for so long and couldn't even be bothered to let me know I was surplus to requirements in the first place. :shrug:

[Andy Collins]

I absolutly agree with everything that you've said, and yes I have gone beyond what was legally required.

I could have stuck to my guns and said I want the money (minus expenses) and in fact did offer them £100 off for an early settlement and that would be that. Howver I would prefer to actually do something for the money rather than get it for free so to speak.

I was pretty annoyed when I had to remind them twice that the balance was due only to have a obtuse reply of - actually we have booked a band that was previously unavailable so your services are no longer required"

I really thought that I would have to go to the small claims court on this one, but as it happens putting up a backdrop and a few mood lights securred my fee. Its not far from me so I didnt mind as much.

I didn't draw up or issue another contract either, just emailed them what I would do.

I'm just pleased that I've securred my full fee, been paid and all is well.

In heinsight would I have been as accomodating? I don't know?

I would like to be a fly on the wall to see how the band pans out! Oh well.

The irony is, if they replied to my first email reminding them that the payment was due in 5 days, then they would have only lost £50 booking fee ;)

[CRAZY K]

I

I didn't draw up or issue another contract either, just emailed them what I would do.



Just to pick up on Dazzys well made point--its what we call here a cancel and replace contract--soooo make sure you have an email CONFIRMING THEY AGREE TO THE REVISED OR NEW CONTRACT that you confirmed by email just so the T and Cs apply--I dont know if payment does mean that but might be worth a belt and braces job.:D