Category: Small Businesses

  • The history of debt collection

    Ancient debt slavery The earliest recording of how debt was dealt with goes back to 3000BC and the ancient civilization of Sumer who populated an area that is now modern-day south east Iraq. Chronicles explain how a debtor who was unable to pay a debt along with their family and servants became debt slaves. They…

  • CAN I STILL CONTACT MY TENANT IF THEY CLAIM HARASSMENT?

    In an ideal world your tenants will be respectful and answer your emails and phone calls either immediately or in a timely fashion.   Sometimes however disputes can arise leading your tenant to claim you are harassing them and spoiling their quiet enjoyment if they are a residential tenant. This then presents you as the landlord…

  • WHAT HAPPENS IF A SERVICE CHARGE DISPUTE IS TAKEN TO COUNTY COURT

    Sometimes, despite the best efforts of property managers, service charge arrears continue to be a problem in blocks where property owners find themselves in financial difficulties, or they are simply unwilling to pay. In cases where demand letters are ignored and payment deadlines missed there is often no option other than to take matters to…

  • HOW TO AVOID LATE PAYMENT DISPUTES

    While you may not encounter them often, disputes over payments can become a major problem and lead to your non-paying client or customer coming up with excuses not to pay you. To avoid this happening it is necessary to identify why these late payment disputes happen and close any loop holes that can be exploited…

  • What cash flow support is available for businesses impacted by Coronavirus?

    HMRC coronavirus helpline If you are concerned about cashflow or tax, HMRC have set up a helpline for businesses worried about not being able to pay their tax due to coronavirus. HMRC will discuss your specific circumstances to explore: agreeing an instalment arrangement suspending debt collection proceedings cancelling penalties and interest where you have administrative…

  • Service Charge Dispute

    How to handle a service charge dispute Service charge disputes can be costly and time-consuming if not handled efficiently. Landlords have a responsibility to maintain the condition of all their residential and commercial properties. They may be able to recoup some of the costs of doing so by issuing tenants with service charges. There are…

  • FCA says credit card companies are not doing enough to aid those in persistent debt

    The FCA has told credit card companies that they must do more to help customers who are in persistent debt. In 2018 the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) introduced new rules aimed to help those customers who had been in persistent credit card debt for the last 36 months. Their recent research though has found that…

  • ‘Buy now, pay later’ credit options pushing consumers into high-cost debt

    Buy now, pay later loans have been around for many years, but recent deals have been accused of pushing young consumers into unaffordable debt. Buy now, pay later credit allows consumers to acquire items without paying for them upfront, instead they spread the cost over a set period of time. Sometimes referred to as shop…