Non-payment of services

[UnpaidMug]

I am self employed and ask for money upfront. I stupidly did a day's work for a client which they didn’t pay me for (they promised….."I am a wo/man of my word”, "I'd never ask you to do work and then not pay", "I'll pay you next week on X date at Y time") and now they’re refusing to pay (and have ghosted me).

It is not an insignificant sum.

I would like to write a message to them, which they will never read, but which will make me feel better. Help.

AIBU to need closure on this. Ideally if I can make them feel terrible about their behaviour, that would be ideal.

Why don’t you just lodge a county court claim?

How much have you chased it? Have you gone through your dunning process? If you haven't, you need to. It needs to be formal.

Is the client a business or a person? If it’s the former then a gentle nudge on social media often does the trick.

Letter Before Action (you can find templates on the web) and then sue them.

If you are busy and can't be bothered to do the chasing yourself, you could try a debt collection agency. People on here hate them, but it really helped me out when a former employer that I had done some freelance work for, decided to try to shaft me. Because it was someone I knew, it was great to be able to leave it to someone else to hassle them. They did take 15%, but it was worth it imo.

Sadly a person. Cannot find them on SM.

I understand there's a process which I can follow, I just wanted to give them one last chance to redeem themselves (by paying) before I go down the more formal route. I'm just not sure how to phrase the message.

It's infuriating, it really is.

Just found this example online. Go super formal on this person. No friendliness, just clinical statements.

Bloggs Limited
14 The Road
London
IR3 5NL

NOTICE OF INTENDED COURT PROCEEDINGS

Dear Bad Payers Ltd,

TAKE NOTICE that according to our records the sum of £1234.50 is overdue for payment for invoices 001 and 002.

Unless payment is made to the above address within seven days Legal Action to recover the debt will be taken against you without further notice.

Copies of the outstanding invoices are attached.

Yours sincerely

…………………………………
Company Secretary

Joe Bloggs
14 The Road
London
IR3 5NL