court case

tagine

hi just wondering i have a solicters bill f the last 5 yrs it was 10,000 to start with but i hav it down to 2200 now i havent been able to pay anything off it in the last few months but i do intend paying it off i have been in contact tolet them know at moment can payanything but i am doing my best
this morning i got a letter for a fine to appear in court over the bill and the company have now add 800 euros for not receivein anything so my bill is now over 3000 for them
i just want to kno wat ye think i should do i can not pay it off in pull in one go money is so tight at moment
or what do you think will happen in court for me would the judge tell me to pay it off in one go or pay it off in weekly
i have offer to pay something weekly to then before but they want lump sums instead
sorry if little confusing just worried here

MagicSean

You havent been able to pay anything in five years despite an 80% discount?

Jimdagym

Seanbeag1 wrote: »

You havent been able to pay anything in five years despite an 80% discount?

OP says he has it down to 2200, so has been paying, just not in the last few months.

tagine

yes if u read it correct i have paid off nearly 8000...

MagicSean

Ah that makes more sense.

xoxyx

It sounds a bit drastic to me to be taken to Court by a solicitor firm when you have paid so much off and you have been in contact to explain your situation. Firstly, have you spoken to the right people? Make sure you have spoken to both the partner / highest person involved in your previous claim, and also to somebody who deals with accounts.

I'm thinking this is a smaller firm that you're dealing with, unless you have had problems with making payments throughout the last five years. If you have been making sporadic payments, they may be fed up. A three month debt of €2,200 isn't going to have most firms rushing to the Courts unless there was a back story.

Really, your next step should be getting back in contact with the company. Ask them to explain why they're taking this matter to the stage of legal proceedings. Be calm and cool and just try and find out why this is happening. On the back of that phone call, send them a letter stating that you have spoken with [x] and explain what you understand from that phone call, and reiterate that you are not trying to run away from this debt, but that you are trying to come up with a solution that will allow you to pay the balance of the debt as soon as possible.

If it does go to Court after that, make sure you bring the letter and any response. This will show that you are trying to cooperate.

€2,200 is a lot of money and I simply cannot see you being ordered to pay it back in one go. What is more likely is that a payment plan will be set up, which will be reasonable and feasible given your means.

I would imagine - and I could be completely wrong in this - is that the reason that these proceedings have been brought is because it took five years to pay €7,800 and, maybe the payments you made weren't made on time or in completeness, and, after the last three months of non-payments, the firm may be digging their heels in and taking action. I would again say, do your best to talk to the firm. Try and work something out and even suggest a direct debit to make a dent in what's left that you owe. Just make sure you are clear and open with them and hopefully you can come up with a plan that will take some pressure off you and that will keep them happy.

tagine

thanks i will try that again i had asked them at begin of summer could i pay them weekly as that the way i am finding it best to pay my bills now but they said they dont do that they want lump sums as i was doing before but things r hard now but i will try with them again as thats wat i thought the court would say weekly payments i am jus pi**ed off that they have add 800 euro extra on to my bill an its not a small company its a well known firm in dublin city

finisklin

I stand to be corrected on this but I have never seen a solicitor publicly register a judgement against a client. Threaten yes. If you have a look at the Dun and Bradstreet judgement listing none are by solicitors.

A solicitor registering a judgement against a client is not exactly strong PR given that it is a highly personalised and (apparently) professional role. The legal fees by developers, builders Sean Quinn etc have to be massive and these guys have to be up against it. I don't see any judgements agin them in the papers by solicitors.

Perhaps call his bluff.....:cool: