Rogue Customers

[Wiz]

Did anyone see the ITV programme 'Cowboy Customers' on ITV on Tuesday night?

I watched it and found it to be spot on with its depiction of the type of customer who just refuses to pay.

It also showed examples of how the existing UK justice system not only allows, but legally protects, fraudsters in keeping property that they haven't paid for. It also showed the utter uselessness of the power of a UK County Court Judgment. Only 10% of UK CCJs are ever 'satisfied' i.e. paid in full. Many remain unpaid after decades.

The programme quoted the figure of 38 Billion pounds being owed to small businesses at any one time and that most small business failures are down to their own customers not paying them for goods and services provided.

Not everywhere in the EU is like the UK. I was amazed to hear that the Irish court system, when issuing a CCJ actually pays the creditor from central funds, and then chases the debtor for payment themselves. I was also impressed that the French system treats failure to pay for goods or services as a criminal offence.

Until we have similar safeguards in this country, UK small businesses remain at serious risk.

The lead person in the TV programme runs a website at www.roguecustomer.com which includes details of 'cowboy customers' and a petition to the UK Government to change the existing laws so that they protect the innocent supplier.

I would encourage anyone who despairs at the UK culture of late/non payment of debts to add their support to those people who are trying to change things for the better.

[The Colonel]

Its not just rogue customers that are a pain, I used to be a member of a certain Chamber of Commerce who are supposed to look out for thier members interests and fight for them. When I was asked to do some work for them things looked good until I submitted my invoice, not paid on time, had to chase my money and was then told that they too had cash flow implications as they were govenment funded. The very people that were encouraging business to pay bills on time, needless to say I am no longer a member and made sure they knew why.

[Wiz]

In the UK a person has no fear (or shame) of getting into serious debt.

If they can't afford to pay for what they have bought, they can then just make themselves bankrupt, and after a little bit of hassle, they are totally debt-free and the creditor won't ever get a penny back.

According to the Government's own statistics there were 12,170 people who made themselves bankrupt in the year 2000. This had risen to 49,322 by the year 2007 (latest figures available)

Between 2000 and 2007 the general economy was reckoned to be quite bouyant and unemployment was low. I wonder what the figures will be for 2009?

Be wary of extending credit to anyone!

[David Rooney]

Yep I saw it.....

Bloody scandalous.... I felt sorry for the bloke with the pet cemetary.... I'd have written to the owners and told them "cough up or Rover's coming back from the dead...!"

... And the solicitor who was owed £300 by a woman and she was allowed to pay £1 per month simply because she said that was all she could afford and the judge had no option but to take her word for it !!

Despite the fact she could afford to divorce, re-marry and move house....