Company not providing invoice for payment

[P.]

Hello

I've been trying to pay a waste bill (septic tank, empty charge and maintenance charge) as they have not taken payment since March/June (I'd have to check) 2023.

I contacted them March 2023 to provide an invoice with the monthly breakdown to confirm my DD payments for the year, it took till May for them to say 'we will provide shortly'

I respond to them every week, asking for it so I don't fall behind.

I gave up messaging them in December as they do not respond to calls, they do not respond to emails and I've had 'its with accounts' for 7 months.

I'm now 1 year 3 months behind (I've obviously kept the same value as the old.monthly DD in case they miraculously provide an invoice...) but they will not provide anything.

I've called, emailed, written (special delivery) asking for it, with my account number, address and requesting confirmation. Nothing.

Currently I'm still being emptied, paid for electric wise and maintaining is still being ticked off...

What the heck more can I do here?

[Nobby the Bastard]

I would keep the monthly amount in a seperate account just in case in xx number of years they suddenly invoice you the whole lot. Aside from that theres not a great deal you can do.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[Minty]

I concur with Nobbeh with the addition of just keeping and easy to print diary of what you have tried to do to pay your way. You have more than tried to sort it out.
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My fingers smell of your mum.

[P.]

I have a full audit now of every email and call I've exchanged with them and a copy of the signed for letter. I just don't like having that sum looming over. The amount isn't the problem, just that I don't like not paying...

Is there a cutoff date where they can essentially get fucked?

[Minty]

According to Citizens Advice, 6 years.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/help-with-debt/dealing-with-your-debts/check-if-you-have-to-pay-a-debt/#:~:text=For%20most%20debts%2C%20the%20time,years%20on%20the%20main%20amount.
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My fingers smell of your mum.

[Ste]

Limitations Act 1980 says there's a 6 year time limit for chasing unpaid debts.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/58

After six years the debt will be statute barred and they can't take you to court. But that's six years since you last made a payment or last acknowledged the debt.

When they next come to empty the tank you could turn them away saying that you're not wanting to increase the size of debt that's not been invoiced.

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

I was going to say I know of a self-employed plumber who secretly retired but was happy to take on ‘jobs’ and then didn’t invoice (“Pay me next time,”) because, as we eventually learned, he just liked helping people and keeping his hand in. But ‘septic tank’…

[stinkwheel]

My brothers business effectively got given £10k of electricity for free due to inept invoicing. The supplier had gone bust and switched. The new supplier kept chasing him for an unpaid account. He kept replying acknowledging he's had the electricity and that he'd be happy to pay the account as soon as they send him an invoice for it. Nothing goes through his accounts without an invoice for tax purposes.

They eventually took him to court. Still never had an invoice. In his defence, he showed his repeated written requests for an invoice, they were unable to show they'd ever either raised or sent one. Sherriff found in his favour.

He'd been keeping the money to one side but was free to spend it after he'd got the judgement.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Easy-X]

Do you have a contract where you have the services to be provided laid out and how they're to be billed? e.g. "Tank to be emptied on the 1st Monday of every month, billed 1 month in arrears."

People focus on fulfilment of contracts in the sense of providing the physical service but if they don't also provide the accounting side that's not your problem. They have breached the contract not you. (Not legal advice, please seek a qualified professional.)
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[P.]

[Easy-X]

The contract between the local collectors and the service company are entirely separate to yours. For example, worst case scenario I would say (if your case is anything to go by) the service company goes under and the local collectors probably get stuffed for a few payments. Note: that's not your responsibility. Given the shared nature I'd be wary of the local collectors offering to carry on "cash in hand" and approach the housing association.

As to the lack of a physical contract is that down to the shared nature? Are the housing association chipping in the rest of the monies? Maybe they could find out what's going on.
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Ste]

Whose land is the tank on and who books the company to come and empty it?

[P.]

[Easy-X]

I suspect it shows on their system as one tank and there's some money coming in from the Housing Association. Thick bookkeepers are all about 1-to-1 relationships - service to invoice - and a service part-paid by multiple unrelated parties has probably fried their tiny little minds

Set up a savings account and a monthly standing order for the amount you would have paid by direct debit and forget about it.

Alternatively, if you really want to get things resolved, you'd probably have to resort to driving over to their offices to demand action in person.
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[P.]

A 6/7 hour round trip ain't happening, I cannot drive currently and even if I could, they'd be refunding the fuel and paying my daily rate which isn't happening ever.

I've got enough to cover the bill should it arrive but I actively want to pay it. I've called them today as well and hold for 30 mins in a queue. Dead. Tiresome.

[Nobby the Bastard]

Sounds like the invoice was actually from the housing association. Maybe they decided billing you was more trouble than it was worth.
____________________
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[Ste]

You could do a Subject Access Request to get copies of the information they have about you.

Make an official complaint to the housing association and if that doesn't get it sorted then this could be a possibility because "We can consider complaints about the management of your rent or service charge account such as: a landlord’s handling of your enquiry about rent or service charges"

https://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/centre-for-learning/fact-sheets/charges/

That page suggests Shelter as a place to get advice about service charges. https://england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/home_ownership/service_charges

This page says "A tenant is not liable to pay a service charge in respect of costs incurred more than 18 months before the landlord makes a contractually valid demand for payment, unless they have been notified in writing within the 18-month period that:[1]
- the costs had been incurred
- a demand for a contribution through a service charge will be made later"

[Easy-X]

Wait... is the DD meant to be going to the housing association or to the service company?

If the latter and said service company has been appointed by the housing association then you have less to worry about. Service companies re-tender every year and round my way it's rare they last beyond two years. This current clown show will most likely disappear and the bill with them. Keep saving till that happens
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[P.]

[Minty]

If it was me and I had the money should they come hollering.......I'd leave it be now as you appear to be down a crack on someone's system. Even if they did come calling, I'd want a discount because you know, cost of living crisis, my kids have the scurvy etcs etcs.
____________________
My fingers smell of your mum.

[Ste]

Get in touch with someone senior at Platform Housing?

[Easy-X]

Ah, you're paying the housing association, that's an entirely different problem. (And the emails pretty much translate to: "our bookkeepers are idiots")

I'd lay some ground work by sending them a letter stating: "I've had a lot of patience but I'm not paying for services without an invoice." If anything sticky did happen down the line you'd want as much paperwork as possible to back up what a wonderful and reasonable person you are
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[stinkwheel]

I'd send them a final letter, by post, requesting an invoice for their services and make it clear this will be your last communication on the matter. Keep a copy, note on it when it was posted and attach the proof of postage to the letter.

Then I'd leave it. Your countdown to not having to pay starts at the point that hit the postbox.

If things get silly further down the line, courts love physical letters.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[P.]

[Ste]