Starmer & Lammy A Marriage Made In...
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I recently laid a laminate floor for a customer. After it was laid she said she was not happy with it, I went back twice to put things correct, but she is still not happy with it. She bought all materials except for some skirting board and beading, which i paid for.
She is refusing to pay me for laying it and has now sent a letter stating she is not happy with the flooring, and unless i pay her �1000 to have the floor taken up, new flooring purchased and to for someone else to lay it and also she also wants �250 compensation for herself. On top of this, she says that she wants a hammer returned to her that was taken by me (which is a lie). She says that she will take me to a small claims court for the money. I am a small firm and cant afford to be taken to court. I will agree to paying for new flooring if she is truly not happy with it, but how do I stand otherwise. Please help me if you can.
No best answer has yet been selected by darrenpenny. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.Excellent advice from undercovers, covering all the main points.
This lady is bluffing, so call her bluff.
Send her a leter by Registered Post - so she can't deny she has received it. In your letter, state the dates and times you worked, the costs paid by her, and you, and the attempts you have made to correct her perceived problems - these can be simply worded bullet points.
Conclude by saying you are disappointed by her appraoch to the matter of your payment, and in view of your reasonable efforts to correct the difficulties, you think it only right and proper that she pays for your time and skill. Finally, advise that you look forward to receiving payment in full within seven days of the recceipt of the letter, or you will place the matter in the hands of your solicitor.
That should do the trick. This woman is a chancer, and she hasn't got a legal leg to stand on, so fight fire with fire, and if she doesn't pay, get a solicitor's letter sent advising her you'll see her in court.
tell her you will be getting a neutral independant adjudicator in to assess your work and decide if she has a case.
that should get her worried
but take pics first as she could easily wreck your work
offer to take the floor up yourself - it surely won't be hard and if the wood pieces are undamaged she cannot demand new ones - if you are 'buying ew ones then the old ones are yours so take them away, package them up and give them back.
If you feel you've done an acceptable job, then go to court and defend your workmanship and reputation. By not doing so, you're almost admitting your work wasn't up to standard.
SCC isn't a big deal, it's very informal.
As you describe it, sounds more like she doesn't like it now it's down and is trying to get you to take it up for free!