Legal Action to sue 'former' customers

JD Dublin

Is there anyone who knows the nuts and bolts of how to sue someone that owes you money in the Republic of Ireland? I have 3 customers who owe me money, and I cannot get a solicitor to take the cases on unless I pay them ( the solicitor ) money up front. I dont blame them, but the amounts are small ( a few thousand each ) and the costs they are looking for ( 400 per case to write a few letters ) seem high, where there is no promise of a result. Therefore I hit on the bright idea of taking a legal case myself to try to get some money back myself.

Over to you now.

Ideo

Have you tried using a debt collection agency to try to recoup the debts?

Dark Phoenix

thats a great idea about the debt collection agency they are used to dealing with this sort of thing all the time and the fact that you would have passed it on to a third party might shake up the customers a bit.

Have you spoken to your customers about this - are they one off customers or regulars? It could be that they genuinely are in a bad way themselves so I wonder would it be worth trying to work out a repayment scheme where they repay the debt bit by bit? Not ideal I know but at least you would be getting something back and if things pick up you probably will have gained three loyal customers. Personally I would try talking to them first and planing something and if that fails you could then try the debt collecting agency or court.

Are there any solicitors that would take it on on a no win no fee basis for you?

MartMax

Debt collection agencies would be a better option - they know better with what they are dealing with.

Having said that have you tried asking around for different solicitors? In the current climate, most solicitors would do anything for monies.

If you could avoid going legal, I suggest that you talk to the customers to work on some repayments scheme. For example, set up a monthly direct debit - that at least partly secure your cash flow and under your control. If the direct debit does not come through for the lease it is a good indicator your customers are having severe difficulties with their cash or overdraft facility.

Just my one cent.

JD Dublin

Thanks for that guys.

Debt Collection agencies - some of them charge fees, but it is a route I had considered.

As for talking to these customers, I have been on to them time and again. They are all in a bad way, but so am I and and I'm fed up listening to excuses.

Some customers have come back to me and agreed payment plans, some just say they cannot afford to pay much, but they'll pay say a tenner a week or 40 per month - whatever. I'm working with these gyus. Its the people that just refuse to pay anything, they really hack me off.

I have decided to go the legal route with these guys, so what I'm really after is what exactly I need to do. If there are any underemployed solicitors out there, even anyone that would do it as a nixer, please PM me.

Thanks.

DoMyBooks

The debt collection agencies will often take the case on no collect no fee. So there is no risk to you.

JD Dublin

Hi DoMybooks, thanks for that. I need to go legal with these debtors now. I spoke to a debt collection agency. While the guy was helpful, he did say that I'd have to get a lawyer if, at the end of the day the debtor refused to pay. The debt collection agencies do not do legal work.

These debtors have refused to pay, pure and simple, and I have tried all the 'soft' ways I can think of to get around this but none of them is working. Standing orders, part payments, contra - they simply dont want to pay.

I have had enough of talk, so I need to get tough with these people. I dont have another 1200 to throw at lawyers to do the work, so I want to do it myself. I am prepared to pay anyone that will advise me on how to do it, but I cant afford what a solicitor would look for just to take on the case.