help wanted on late payments

can anyone please help and give me advice in plain english that i will understand.

i work for my self do jobs for various companys and issue invoices under there payment terms.
ie net 30 pay 30 days after work completed.
net monthly end of following month.

i have 2 questions
1
i know i can issue lpc charges if they pay late.
what do i need to do then if they dont reply.
or like 1 customer i sent lpc 3 weeks after due date to be then told well go away heres your money but were not paying you the £40

2nd i have been informed i can go back 6 years and claim unowned lpc charges plus interest.
is this true? although i have only been trading for 6 months.
i am asking as i did a lot of work for a company 2 3 days a week.
they always paid me 2-3 weeks after due date.
which didnt bother me as they did pay up.
but story short they are being idiots with me for no reason and have told me never to quote them for work ever again as they wont give me any even if there desperate.
so if possible can i claim back £40lpc charg for each invoice along with interest?



This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any replies or suggestions.

ps i tried higginsons and was even more confused. i rang they said go on there site its all done online. and not got a clue what was looking for or doing.

sorry for the long letter
how do i do all this how much will it cost and is it worth it?

Hi Edward

Common story

In the first instance use the online calculator on this site to work out the exact amount plus intetest then advise the client you are going to seek recompense through the court unless he settles the amount in say 3 days (good practise).

If you still don't get get paid log onto the court web site and lodge your claim at :-

www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/web/mcol/welcome

This is the court service - dead easy.

List the amount you are claiming and eg. £40 plus interest of £x

(Use the late payment calculator on payontime website).

Add the narrative you are 'claiming in accordance with Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 as amended'

Thats it- apart from paying court fee - which is reclaimable.

You can log on at any point and check progress.

After 15 days if they haven't paid or defended a button appears on screen that enables you to get judgement by default (CCJ), and you then get the option for court Bailiffs to collect.

Its a very easy process.

Any problems please ask away.

Don't forget to update this site with your progress - also visit the section relating to changes to tbd legislation currently being considered

Please let me know how you get on - and feel free to ask for advise at any point.