Non payment - but in possession of client equipment.

[Old Greg]

Quite right. However the client should have been firmer with the third party. I will leave their kit out of it in this instance.....

Return the kit. Raise an invoice for the 1 day's work if you feel that strongly, and then you can what to da about the unpaid invoice at a later date.

[Safe Collections]

Quite right. However the client should have been firmer with the third party. I will leave their kit out of it in this instance.....

We think this is a wise choice under the circumstances as these types of disputes can deteriorate very rapidly in our experience.

[jamesbrown]

Quite right. However the client should have been firmer with the third party. I will leave their kit out of it in this instance.....

Good decision. As to the unpaid work, you should probably just chalk this up to experience, as irritating as it might be. No signed timesheet, no (significant) work done, and presumably not a lot of money at stake anyway.

[Mr Panda]

Leave the clients kit out of it. Theft is not the answer to B2B payment disputes.

Quite right. However the client should have been firmer with the third party. I will leave their kit out of it in this instance.....

[Mr Panda]

Did you get a signed timesheet for the time worked?

No. The client (using the site to facilitate criminal activity [IME]) did not sign the time sheet.

[northernladuk]

Leave the clients kit out of it. Theft is not the answer to B2B payment disputes.

[WTFH]

Did you get a signed timesheet for the time worked?

[jamesbrown]

Thus property (value) withheld as part of a civil dispute.

For which you're liable to be fined for trespass to goods (and/or breach of contract).

[Mr Panda]

the latter is merely a civil matter.

Civil matter - yes. Thus property (value) withheld as part of a civil dispute.

[NotAllThere]

You cannot withold the client's equipment for their not paying you. The former is the criminal act of theft, the latter is merely a civil matter.

[jamesbrown]

how do I stand from a legal point of view if I choose to keep a piece of the clients equipment taken as my remuneration?

In a bad place. There are avenues to pursue for the money owed (although this isn't a particularly strong case on the face of it), but theft isn't one of them.

[notasockie]

Probably in the dock for theft.

[Mr Panda]

A client has taken it upon themselves to not to pay me for a day of work that I've invoiced for. The scenario was that their own client chose to decline my service (not due to poor workmanship or negligence) only 15 minutes into the working day. Based on the fact, I still expect to receive payment for a full days work as I'm out of pocket to the tune of two hours travel time, associated costs, inconvenience and unreasonable conduct by the third party.

I've addressed the situation and expressed disappointment with my client - the client says the third party is refusing to pay for the day of service, but at present I've chosen to continue providing services for my client. The major disappointment is that my client was not firm enough with the third party in demanding payment, or point blank refusing to provide services if payment was not forthcoming. My client is still providing services to the third party - effectively penalising me rather than them which is leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

My question is - should relations deteriorate between myself and my client - how do I stand from a legal point of view if I choose to keep a piece of the clients equipment taken as my remuneration?