Possibly Big Mistake Looking for Advice

[Fra]

Hi,

So I think I made a very big mistake this time, I started to work on a contract in December when the contract has ended I kept
working for the company going direct but I haven't sign any contract (and this is already a big error I think).
I delivered the project, I've sent the invoices and they did not pay me, I've got plenty of evidence(mainly emails but sms as well) that they requested my services,
now the claim is more than 5k so I was thinking to send again two separate invoices requesting payment in 7 days and eventually going to the small claim
court maybe two times to get the money back.
I am wondering what people thinks about this strategy apart from the fact that I was an idiot for at least three reasons(it will not happen again for sure).

cheers

[eek]

Hi,

So I think I made a very big mistake this time, I started to work on a contract in December when the contract has ended I kept
working for the company going direct but I haven't sign any contract (and this is already a big error I think).
I delivered the project, I've sent the invoices and they did not pay me, I've got plenty of evidence(mainly emails but sms as well) that they requested my services,
now the claim is more than 5k so I was thinking to send again two separate invoices requesting payment in 7 days and eventually going to the small claim
court maybe two times to get the money back.
I am wondering what people thinks about this strategy apart from the fact that I was an idiot for at least three reasons(it will not happen again for sure).

cheers

You can't go to the small claims court twice the first thing they will do is combine the actions into a single action.

Either way start off here for how to chase a debt.

[northernladuk]

Ok forget that. I call troll/sockie... From one of your previous posts..

Ok I've got an agency call, they want to set up two interviews but the guy is pushing me for two references, the excuse is that he wants to be sure I am a real candidate and that I am not going to steal him the business(I haven't really understood the meaning of this...), the first interview has already been organized so I am not 100% sure this is a 100% trick but I am not really sure about what to do indeed.

Not even our offshore friends would put 'indeed' at the end.

Also got spotted in this thread

http://forums.contractoruk.com/gener...n-tickets.html

[Fra]

You can't go to the small claims court twice the first thing they will do is combine the actions into a single action.

Either way start off here for how to chase a debt.

Thank you eek I will start reading the link.

[Fra]

Ok forget that. I call troll/sockie... From one of your previous posts..



Not even our offshore friends would put 'indeed' at the end.

Also got spotted in this thread

http://forums.contractoruk.com/gener...n-tickets.html

I understand the post you did mention can look stupid but this is another post, and I would like to get answer about this post if you don't mind, thanks.

[northernladuk]

I understand the post you did mention can look stupid but this is another post, and I would like to get answer about this post if you don't mind, thanks.

Ok, you could start by re-writing your post. It doesn't make sense at all. If we are to give you advice we need a clear picture of what is happening. When did it end, did you have a contract to start with, was the first contract through an agent or direct? How many months did you work, what excuse did they give for not paying you?

You can't really start a small claim or any other type of claim until you get your story right.

[Fra]

Ok, you could start by re-writing your post. It doesn't make sense at all. If we are to give you advice we need a clear picture of what is happening. When did it end, did you have a contract to start with, was the first contract through an agent or direct? How many months did you work, what excuse did they give for not paying you?

You can't really start a small claim or any other type of claim until you get your story right.

Ok I started working for this client using an agency for three weeks, in November, the contract has expired just before Christmas, I had to fly abroad, the client asked me to keep working on the project, so even when on Holiday I had to work(I've got emails as evidence).
Coming back to London they told me that the release date for the project was beginning of January, I delivered the software but I kept working there because there was still work to do on the software to respect all the client requirements and because I had to help them supporting the same technology for another client.
When this first software has been released in final form they asked me to work on another project for a couple of days, this was 10 days ago, so I've sent the first invoice,I delivered the second project, I've sent the second invoice with a reminder about the first one but they simply are not answering my emails.
I have been contracting for more than one year and this is the first time I face such a problem.

Is this a clearer picture?

About the post you reported, probably I did express myself in a very wrong way and this is the reason why seems made by a troll or very stupid, the reason was mainly lack of experience and
and desire to do things in the proper way.

[northernladuk]

Ok I started working for this client using an agency for three weeks, in November, the contract has expired just before Christmas, I had to fly abroad, the client asked me to keep working on the project, so even when on Holiday I had to work(I've got emails as evidence).

Bearing in mind your contract is with the agent NOT the client you should be talking to the agent first. The agent is the one that pay you so pretty stupid not to include him. What did the agent say or did you not speak to them?
I would take a guess that if you didn't speak to the agent you cannot even claim an implied contract as it was not agreed with the agent to continue. The agent will just deny all knowledge of this and you don't have a leg to stand on.
Tell us the situation with the agent.

Coming back to London they told me that the release date for the project was beginning of January, I delivered the software but I kept working there because there was still work to do on the software to respect all the client requirements and because I had to help them supporting the same technology for another client.
When this first software has been released in final form they asked me to work on another project for a couple of days, this was 10 days ago, so I've sent the first invoice,I delivered the second project, I've sent the second invoice with a reminder about the first one but they simply are not answering my emails.

Who are you sending the invoice to? The agent or the client? The fact you continued to work at the client upon their request and that you took extra work on means you are now INSIDE IR35 and need to do you accounting to suit.

I have been contracting for more than one year and this is the first time I face such a problem.

It also sounds like the only time so something was destined to go wrong at some point. You only really need to know what you are doing when something extraordinary happens and now it has you have proved you have no idea about your situation or how to conduct yourself.

Is this a clearer picture?

Not really but that is probably because of the awful position you have put yourself in

About the post you reported, probably I did express myself in a very wrong way and this is the reason why seems made by a troll or very stupid, the reason was mainly lack of experience and
and desire to do things in the proper way.

No it wasn't just very poorly communicated.

[tractor]

...

We have an emote for , please can we have one for "Do not feed the trolls"

This stuff is not entertaining.

[fullyautomatix]

What reason is the client giving for not paying up ? Is he flatly refusing ? Did you get paid for the time period that you worked whilst in contract ?