Howard Cohen - help and advice please

[100mel]

Hi everyone - hope someone can give me some advice. I had fine from Companies House because I was late filing my business accounts - fair enough - I paid the fine direct to Companies House on their remittance advice just as small claims demand came from Howard Cohen . I returned the court papers pointing out that the invoice had been paid etc. However, they are proposing now to pursue me for the costs of the court papers and I have this morning just received AQ etc. I really fail to see why I am paying for their court costs for a debt which I do not owe and for which payment had already been sent by the time the court claim reached me

 

I have written letter of complaint to companies house but heard nothing. I accept the penalty - that is fair enough but this is grossly unfair.

 

Grateful for any advice please as to best way of dealing with this. I am assuming that I'll return the AQ and asked for it to be moved to my court etc

[surfaceagentx20]

The loss stays where it falls. If the debt was paid before proceedings commenced you may plead payment as a complete defence. In other words, there was no indebtebtedness at the moment the claim was issued. If there was indebtedness 5 minutes earlier but not at the moment of commencement, no liability for costs falls to you.

 

If on the other hand you paid 5 minutes afterwards, the liability for costs will drop in your lap.

 

Timing is everything.

 

x20

[GamekeeperToPoacher]

Hi just a comment:

 

I love this "The loss stays where it falls." Is it an 'official' quote?

 

GK