Pursuing a foreign debt in UK

P

polarserv international

Security Directors
Looks like I've been stitched up for the second time this year.

I have a client that has skipped the country (Spain) owing a couple of grand.

The work was above board and 100% legal, as in invoiced and not a 'cash' job.

The client has accepted the invoice of which I have a signed copy as receipt.

I've chased this debt for the last 5 months, only yo find out today that the client skipped Spain and went back to the UK just after Christmas. The client has no traceable assets here in Spain, but I have all her domicilliary details in the UK.

I spoke with my local Brief this afternoon but as they're not familiar with UK Law they, understandably, couldn'nt offer any advice with regards to chasing the debt in the UK.

What, if any, legal recourse is available in the UK to recover a debt owed in another EU country, and would it financially viable to pursue the debt legally in the UK.
 
PM me about this, if you like - I may be able to assist you. Just need to query a few things first to get a better understanding.
 
Depends where in the UK the subject is as there are slight differences.

Raising a small claim, as already mentioned, will cost you ~€50 to file it with the subjects local court and ~€50 to get a sheriff officer/bailiff to serve the notice to the subject. You're then into at least one court visit, probably two. Even after that you may have to pursue your money.

An alternative may be to find one of the growing number of companies that buy bad debt. I did a quick search and found these guys. I'm sure there are more.

Arrow Global – Debt Purchase – Debt Sale

Good hunting.

Pb
 
Impossible mate..! absolutely wasting your time trying to recover this debt if it is an 'Overseas' debt..? write it off against next years Tax return...!!!!
 
Agree with carl, impossible to do legally, the only countries that england has an agreement with on these maters are Germany,Canada and australia to the best of my knowledge from a previous job I was involved in. Debts stop at the border in europe even though credit card companies and banks try to say differently in order to scare people into coughing up.
 
Managed to calm down now a bit guys.

What really irks me is that this bitch is well publicised for her party 'antics and the outstanding ammount is, in comparison, nothing more than her weekly 'sniff' bill. I've taken legal advice from the UK and it's not financially feasible to pursue the matter through the courts.

Suppose it's my own fault for breaking my own cardinal rule..............never work for 'celebrities', especially those that live in the limelight of the Tabloids.

Shit happens.
 
PI why not take credit card details when they sign a contract, if you don't have a credit card facility set one up with pay pal, world pay etc, at least you may have some security then. Or get them to pay up front and if they don't like that idea get a mediator ie a a solicitor to hold on to it in case there is any dispute. Less chance of them buggering off then without paying.

But if you don't want to go through the legal channels, these debt collectors are bloody annoying and persistant, AOL use them and they will hound you if you owe even 90 quid, they are incredibly persistant and looking at their accounts they are successful as their turnover is in the millions and profit is very good. I don't know how much they charge, but you may get your money back through them without paying through the nose.. She'll probably pay up just to get rid of them.

www.roxburghe.com

This link may also be useful to you.

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1083487199
 
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We had a to locate a person who was being held againts her will in Romania then turned out money need to swap hand for her to walk. The UK client need to act fast and we help and had the person relased with no money changing hand and the people being arrested. The Client did a runner and his detail did not marry up only got a copy of his passport details(checks on the passport register address is long gone). Lesson learnt money or part of up front.
 
name and shame her all over so we dont end up in the same boat ( i know thats bad to say but!!) but her name all over the place and some is going too know her or of her

good luck getting your money
 
aliabdullah said:
name and shame her all over so we dont end up in the same boat ( i know thats bad to say but!!) but her name all over the place and some is going too know her or of her

good luck getting your money
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Wouldn't that be breach of data protection, client confidentiality etc etc? Best to handle it in a professional way.
 
Gabi said:
Wouldn't that be breach of data protection, client confidentiality etc etc? Best to handle it in a professional way.
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I think that you make a fair point gabi... 'Hot soup'... 'Litigation'... 'trouble'... 'Writs' etc etc all come to mind...

Hey guys look...This situation is just business... It happens, and one shouldn't take it personally.

As I have said before, if you have an unpaid debt and you can demonstrate that you personnally have done everything to recover said debt using recognised, reasonable and acceptable protocol and procedure then..? just offset it as a 'Bad debt' on your Tax return.
 
Name and shame is not an option as it would breach the strict confidentiality contract we have with all our clients.

We don't even use client names or the ubiquitous, 'here's me with someone famous', photographs for publicity and advertising and any team members doing so are subject to summary dismissal.

This is now the third time we've had a 'skip' in 9 years......The strange thing is that it's always for roughly the same ammount; In the region of 2-3 K, never more, never less.

Cest la Vie.
 
polarserv international said:
Name and shame is not an option as it would breach the strict confidentiality contract we have with all our clients.

We don't even use client names or the ubiquitous, 'here's me with someone famous', photographs for publicity and advertising and any team members doing so are subject to summary dismissal.

This is now the third time we've had a 'skip' in 9 years......The strange thing is that it's always for roughly the same ammount; In the region of 2-3 K, never more, never less.

Cest la Vie.
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Its frustrating for sure Polarserv... but I think someone here has said... new Client..? 'Proforma'..!
 
Technically and legally..........Yes, but saying that I have a personal distaste for Security Operators who 'Kiss and tell'...........No matter what the reason.

See nothing, say nothing. Many of our clients insist on absolute discretion and I think because of this, we have the same clients coming back year after year.

Of the 3 'skips' we've had; 1 is the local 'Chancer' (who will is being dealt with accordingly) and the other 2 are 'Tabloid celebrities' and to these people, bad publicity is still publicity.



The vast majority of our HNW clients are business people; As in the 2 'M's......(Money and Manners). These clients cannot afford adverse publicity and have no wish to be in the public eye. Unfortunately this cannot be said for most celebrities I have dealt with, as either they, or their entourage have serious attitude problems.

I elected to work for this person as a favour to a friend, against my better judgement I may add. I think this year I will reinforce my ethos of leaving the celebrity contracts to those who see them as good publicity for their business', you know the ones; The S&SF brigade (Steroids and 'Special Forces').
 
hi

Twice alreaddy! We aren't even out of january.Don't know much about the law, but I hope it wasn't much.That would be great.
 
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