Eflow judgment - chance of settlement?

smelson

Hi

A friend of mine just found out that Eflow have a judgment against her. She let her house out 3 years ago and only received a bag full of post from the tenants. There was nothing there in relation to proceedings - not sure if the tenants signed for any registered letters and didnt pass them on. The only letter she had was from their solicitors advising about the judgment and threatening to send the Sheriff out. This dates back to 2013. For the last 2 years she's been living abroad and knew nothing about the unpaid tolls. She had a tag account set up but she thinks her old bank account details may have been connected to this.

What I want to know is - has anyone been in this situation and managed to settle with them for a reduced sum? The judgment is for 3k. She feels awful that they ended up having to take it to court and really wants to sort it out now but it will take her a while to come up with the 3k. She was hoping to pay them a lump sum at a reduced rate to get rid of it.

Has anyone got any constructive advice?

Thank you

mickdw

I think she should be upfront, tell them the truth and make it clear that now she is aware of the debt that she will be working to clear as soon as possible. Possibly speak to them and see if a reduced figure could be agreed for immediate payment
I have to say, for a pretty faceless organisation, they are fantastic to deal with in general.

smelson

Good to know Mick, thanks

guerito

I had a long-running dispute with them a while back. It didn't get as far as a judgment or even to the courts but in the end they were willing to negotiate. Their debt collectors (a solicitor's firm, in Kerry I think) were fine to deal with. Your friend mightn't be able to get them to write off court fees etc but my experience is that if you're reasonable, they will be too.

corktina

€3k will be an awful lot more by now if they've been sending out the Sherrif's
I'd contact them, tell them the story as you have us and ask them if they'd be prepared to settle for a reduced amount. I wouldn't just ignore it.

I've a feeling they'll have to be budgeting on paying €3k though

Sheldons Brain

Also if someone was living abroad who was using the car?

smelson

OSI wrote: »

Set up a postal forwarding service. It amazes me the amount of landlords that don't bother with this and expect their tenants to manage their post for them.

Yes I absolutely agree. This could have been avoided.

smelson

Sheldons Brain wrote: »

Also if someone was living abroad who was using the car?

She was living in the country for a year after she let the house out

mossy50

had a similar problem went to the gaurds about it gave them the paper work never heard a word about it since

_Kaiser_

As a side note... if she was living abroad, and didn't have an agent managing the property, I hope her tenants were keeping 20% of the rent for the tax man or should could be in for a big bill there too!

If your landlord lives outside Ireland and you pay your rent through an agent, you do not have to deduct tax from the rent. The landlord’s collection agent must account for the tax in an annual tax return.

However, if you pay the rent directly to the landlord (including into their bank account) whether in Ireland or abroad, you must deduct tax at the standard rate (20% at present) from the gross amount that you pay. This deduction is not your tax relief - it is tax payable to Revenue from your landlord's income.

For example, your landlord lives in Germany and you pay him/her gross rent per month of €1,000. First, work out the amount of tax to be deducted (€1,000 x 20% = €200). Now deduct the tax due from the gross rent you pay (€1,000 - €200 = €800). The net rent to be paid to your landlord is €800 per month. The amount due to Revenue is the €200 per month that you deducted from the gross rent of €1,000.

corktina

mossy50 wrote: »

had a similar problem went to the gaurds about it gave them the paper work never heard a word about it since

nothing to do with the Gards...civil proceeding between the Landlord and eflow.