Vet Bill Problem

[greenway]

hello again to all at the group.

 

bit mew at this so please bear with me!

 

my friend has received a vet bill for £39.00 which vet states she owes from work done to her dog seven years ago. my friend is adamant she paid at each visit for any treatment.

this is first contact in seven years even though she has not moved house for about ten years. she has no proof she paid it and tried ignoring letter but vet now threatening her with solicitor. she did ring vet then to say dhe does not owe this money but they insist she does.

Is there a time limit on sending out bills - what can my friend do next

 

thanks

 

Greenway

[blueskies]

Hi Greenway,

 

I have moved your post as it was hijacking another thread. You will also find it gets a lot more attention in this forum and your question will be answered sooner.

 

Due to it being over 6 years ago it makes no difference whether the bill was paid or not, the debt is now unenforceable due to it being Statute Barred.

[chesham]

Hi, just to go on the above, the debt is statute barred under the Limitation Act 1980 (Section 5 I believe). Tell your friend to throw it back and stand firm and you'll have no problem.

[davethorp]

If solicitors do write then mention the statute barred but feel free to add the following sentence depending on how you are feeling

 

"As a team of highly qualified specialist solicitors, I am a little surprised to have to remind you of the law regarding statute barred debt"

[greenway]

thanks everybody - your info is brilliant

sorry I 'hijacked' a thread - bit of a 'newb' as my son says!

will get better!

 

thanks again

[buzby]

I had a similar thing with a plumber. Since I paid every invoice on presentation, I said I had to reject his claim because I paid all his bills, and for him to come up with one I supposedly missed was unlikely. Only then did I point out he only had 6 years to collect, as it is important to let them know you aren't using this as your primary reason for non-payment, but they aren't due the money in the first place.