Hi, looking for a bit of advice by anyone who has been in this situation or knows anything about the legalities of it.
I recently opened a new business and rented a commercial property as a sub tenant. The main tenant (running a completely seperate business, but from inside the same premises) was in contact with the landlord and told me that the rent was 12000 per year, but the landlord had agreed to reduce to 10000 per year if we paid upfront (5000 each), which i agreed to do. I paid the 5000 into his account and he was to transfer it to the landlord. he also told me the bond for the building was 3000 (1500 each) and the rates i owed were 1000. Also I paid him £650 to pay a builder for repairs to the property, which the builder never received or quoted for. As the main tenant was a freind of 5 years i felt i could trust him, which is why i passed the money over.
A couple of months into the business i discovered that there had been no rent paid, the bond was only £1000 between us and that the builder had not been paid.
It turns out he had taken £8250 from me dishoestly. The landlord kicked him off the lease and made me the tenant, keeping the 1000 bond which i will recevie back at the end of the teancy. The landlord also told me that she would bill the main tenant soley for the rent and i would pay him, deductin a further 1000 from the amount owed to me. I also received a cash payment of 1000 from the lead tenant to start repaying the debt. to date i am still owed £5250.00 and have no plan in place to get it as the lead tenant claims he doesnt have the money, even though he is still working as an aco****ant making good money.
I have contacted a debt collection agency called FINAL DEMAND, whoare based in liverpool to chase the debt for me. They charge £699+vat as a one off fee to join them and then any money owed to me has a 15% fee added to it which the person owing pays.
first question, has anyone had any dealings with this company in the past, be it someone who owes money or is owed? if you have how did you find they acted? was it a quick process?
secondly, what other methods do i have get this money out of him? as a new start business i need this money to continue and cant afford to pay high solicitors fees just for him to plead poverty in court and i receive £5 a month for the next 50 years!!
Thanks in advance for any advice given.
H