I'm the late payer, apparently...

I suppose I'm on the wrong site as I'm the person receiving the invoice, but it seems like you guys are a good bunch so I'll hope that you can help!

I've just received an invoice for £1800 from a company that I used to do a lot of business with. (we're both Ltd companies). The invoice however, is dated early 2015.

It's the first I've heard of it. Not had any statements for months and months as we no longer trade together. Last statement I can find was from much later than the invoice and the invoice wasn't included in it. I don't know why it didn't show on their statements. (Don't have many statements as I usually paid ion a day or 2)

I've checked my bank and the invoice wasn't paid but I have no idea if the invoice was actually valid or was even sent to me.

The records are archived now so and will be time consuming to go through and work out if I ever had it and if it was valid.


I think I have 3 questions.


- I know that statue of limitations is 6 years and this is less. But does the fact that it's been missed off statements and the fact that they have never chased it effect my liability to the debt?

- If I am liable for the debt, can they charge interest, again, considering that I've not heard anything for so long?

- If it WAS invoiced at the time and the reason I didn't pay was because of a query (there were a LOT of mistakes from this companies account department), does this affect the interest they can charge?


Any help would be really appreciated. £1800 isn't small change for me.

Incidentally, the invoice didn't state what it was for. They provided a service, and there was normally a breakdown of the service. This new invoice just says "sales"

I suppose that makes a 4th question. Whose responsibility is it to show what the invoice was for? I really don't fancy trawling through paperwork. Can I just say to them, "I don't recognise this, please provide a breakdown of the service provided" or do I have to work out what I've been billed for.

j.salmon@cpa.co.uk wrote:

Hi

Secondly there is requirement for them to have sent statements in the meantime.

Thanks very much for the detailed reply. Very good of you.

I'm guessing the above quote is meant to read "NO requirement"?

Not sure on credit terms. I've got our original application form for an account with them. Credit times and limits weren't mentioned but we did have to apply for an account and provide references.
Aside from that, the invoices used to state payment within 7 days if I remember correctly.


Guess my first step is to ask them to explain what is was for. At least there no financial cost or time burden in me doing that. If they can't come up with anything I guess that's the end of it, but I have a feeling it won't be that easy sadly