Agency from Hell -- need advice

[Hex]

Make sure you've invoiced them for the work you did, regardless of what they say. On the invoices state the payment terms as 30 days from date of invoice.

If they don't pay go through the procedures on the www.payontime.co.uk website.

Thomas Higgins can also send a solicitor's letter for you for about £2 - look at their website.

You must invoice though and give them time to pay before starting any debt recovery.

[Old Greg]

I was in a similar position six months ago. Speed was of the essence in case the agency went bust. I used a collection agency on a no collection no fee basis. Have to say they did a cracking job of persuading the agency to cough up and got me the money within a few weeks, especially as I didn't have signed timesheets! It cost me 5% of the total outstanding, but 95% in my pocket is better than getting 100% of nothing.

5% sounds excellent. Can you share the company's name. Don't need it at the moment but always good to be prepared.

[Nexxy]

Company I used was called Creditsafe Ltd. It was one that the PCG endorse (I am NOT a dyed in the wool PCG bod!). I dealt with a guy called Sid Home.
Glad I had insisted on being on weekly payment terms to take the gig - so it only cost me about £275 + VAT.

[darrenb]

You have a special problem; there is no shame in paying a specialist to fix it while you go back to doing your normal job.

OK fine, I think there's a consensus. Any other good collection agencies? PM me if you like.

[darrenb]

Make sure you've invoiced them for the work you did, regardless of what they say. On the invoices state the payment terms as 30 days from date of invoice.

If they don't pay go through the procedures on the www.payontime.co.uk website.

Thomas Higgins can also send a solicitor's letter for you for about £2 - look at their website.

You must invoice though and give them time to pay before starting any debt recovery.

All of my invoices have been through email. Would it add any pressure to them at all if I used post, or should I just get the collection process started right away?

[pmeswani]

All of my invoices have been through email. Would it add any pressure to them at all if I used post, or should I just get the collection process started right away?

If you can prove that you have emailed the agency (with the invoice), then it's a legally binding. Unless the agency can prove they never received it that is.

[darrenb]

Thomas Higgins can also send a solicitor's letter for you for about £2 - look at their website.

If they will do that for only £2 there must be some kind of catch. If you use them for that, are you then committed to using them for the rest of the debt recovery process?

[Hex]

If they will do that for only £2 there must be some kind of catch. If you use them for that, are you then committed to using them for the rest of the debt recovery process?

No catches. It's all automated I think. You fill in the form and they generate and send the letter automatically.

See here: http://www.thomashiggins.com/