Multiple Invoices over 6 years.

Hi - my company deals with a large public body customer who have on a particular contract consistently paid invoices late.
The same contact t&c's actually state that we are entitled to interst and compensation etc.
We have now highlighted all of the late payments going back 6 years and calculated both interest and compensation according to the
LPoCD(I) Act 1998.
Without going into details there are more than 250 late payments over the 6 years and over 60% of payments on all invoices have been late between a few day and up to 150 days.
The customer is now trying to ignore our requests for a mutually beneficial and negotiated settlement, and to a certain extent is trying to exert almost bullying pressure to get us to drop our claim.
What are my options.
Whilst I do not really want to lose a customer by initiating litigation it is too much money to just ignore.

What are my options.?
Is there some form of arbitration I can force my customer into?

terry13 wrote:

What are my options.
Whilst I do not really want to lose a customer by initiating litigation it is too much money to just ignore.

What are my options.?
Is there some form of arbitration I can force my customer into?

If you litigate to recover the funds, both parties will be asked if they are prepared to enter binding mediation prior to the court date. But you will have to actually issue the proceedings and this will undoubtedly sour, if not completely terminate, the business relationship.

Alternatively you could look at asking a Debt Collection Agency to pursue the balance on your behalf. A good agency should be able to "chase" the outstanding balance without alienating the customer and may give your claim the extra bite it needs to be taken seriously.