I am self employed, I did some work for someone in November that they still haven't paid me for...how long til I can go to small claims court?

[sharkyandgeorge]

I did some work for someone back in November which I then invoiced at the end of the month. I still haven't been paid for that work and I am now desperate for the money.

I have emailed them and they have just kept putting me off, is there an amount of time that has to pass until I can take this further...is the next step small claims court?

Do you put your terms on the back of the invoice? I.e. Payment within 30 days else interest will be charged. Or did you sign a contract with them that stated what their payment terms would be?
If not i think 60 days would be reasonable, but i don't know if there is a legal amount of time that passes, iyswim.

Send them a letter by recorded delivery detailing the date by which payment should have been made, the number of days over that they have gone, and saying that they should note that if you take the matter to the small claims court it will reflect badly on their credit rating. Usually works.