Any legal or police bods out there?

[legaladvice789]

If someone is withholding your items as part of a service you have paid in full for, because they wish to claim extra based on an unrelated matter (such as damage), but there were no terms and conditions, and the amount is completely unknown

Is it better to a) pay what they ask for to get the goods, then go legal?

Or b) not pay, let them keep the goods with them doing god knows what, and then go legal?

My worry with a) is that it would admit guilt or blame, whereas we just want our items back

You need to get that someone to specify in writing the reason why they are holding on to your item and the amount they want you to pay. If you think they have no case then you should take them to the small claims court. These are the costs involved:
“£25 - £410 Initial claim fee - to start your claim (when done online).
£40 Court allocation fee - to get the claim to the court (if claim is over £1,500).
£25 - £325 Hearing fee - paid if and when your case gets to court (when done online)”