Defending a false claim

[boulsdon]

Hi all, I recently received a letter stating I owed around £3000 to a plastering contractor I hired on a labour only basis & that it would be taken to court to settle the matter.

 

I immediately replied stating that as far as myself & my company were concerned the matter was dealt with & paid in full. Any further invoices were not just & would not be paid.

 

A letter was sent to me stating that they (The Thomas Higgins Partnership) would speak with their client & contact me in due course.

 

Another letter arrived today stating that their client was applying for the issuing of a claim against me. How is this possible? How can somebody just say "he owes me x & I'm going to get it"

 

The amount owing varies on both letters, and it would appear that (THP) have not even begun to listen to my side.

 

What should I do now?

[AndyOrch]

Thread moved to the appropriate forum.

 

Regards

 

Andy

[steampowered]

They can issue a court claim against you. Of course you will have the chance to defend that claim. If the hearing advances through the court process it will go to a hearing and a judge will make a decision.

[boulsdon]

They can issue a court claim against you. Of course you will have the chance to defend that claim. If the hearing advances through the court process it will go to a hearing and a judge will make a decision.

 

 

Thanks steampowered.....

 

It just seems ludicrous that so embody can make an invoice up & all of a sudden I have to defend myself against the courts.

 

Is this something I should be defending myself, or are there solicitors out there that will take this on? Also, either way it looks as though I will get stuffed with legal fees at least. Doesn't seem right.

[mjt2013]

You can defend yourself if you like or instruct solicitors but beware that the claim will probably be allocated to the small claims track so you are unlikely to recover any legal costs you incur. The same applies to the other side so I'm not sure why you say you will end up paying legal fees "either way"?