Chasing For Unpaid Livery

It does amaze me that there is always a story of a non payer on every livery yard.
I was on a yard where it happened. Other liveries had concerns that this girl couldn't afford her horse: Farrier was infrequent, she constantly 'ran out' of feed/hay/straw, never had teeth/jabs done. There was also a spate of stealing.
Then she stopped coming up to the yard. The horse was out 24/7 & other liveries were checking it. The YO contacted her & she claimed that her car was broken but a friend was looking after the horse. She then stopped answering the phone/texts.
Over 3 months with no payment of livery or contact & YO took legal advice which said to send an abandonment notice by signed for delivery claiming that after 28 days the horse would be seized by way of payment.
On the very last day of the notice a 'horse transporter'turned up claiming that the girl had had the horse on loan & he was returning it to its owners.
YO wasn't happy about letting the horse go without payment but felt it the best interest of the horse she should let it go.

Turned out the 'transporter' was actually a friend of the girl & was actually just taking it to another livery yard for her.

Luckily they left some tack & rugs which the YO sold to recoup some costs but she was left £100's if not £1000's out of pocket!
 
I agree Glamourpuss. I was on a large comp yard years ago, there was an owner (and a horde of assorted hangers on) with a large amount of horses. They got the best stable block, the best grazing, dibs on the use of the facilities, YO/YM bent over backwards for them...best of everything at the expense of the rest of us one/two horse owners.

They left suddenly (did a flit) and it turns out they hadn't been paying and owed thousands. I have to say, the YO/YM in this case got no sympathy at all from any of the second-class-but-actually-paying liveries ;)


Op, I'd want her off asap, no more chances, she's taking the pss.
 
I'm not condoning what this livery is doing and I personally have never done this - I have however been in situations where money has been extremely tight so I'm just going to play devils advocate here.

If she is having genuine money troubles then she may be embarrased/feeling guilty and a lot of people react to money issues by burying their heads in the sand because of this (speaking from experience there!).

I'd try contacting her (in writing if need be) and say that you understand that sometimes unexpected costs can crop up that we haven't budgeted for but you really need her livery bringing up to date asap and can she please let you know when that will be - if she is having genuine money issues then that sort of approach may just be enough for her to be honest with you. If she is a genuine pee taker then it won't make a blind bit of difference and she needs to go pronto.

In the meantime I would be digging around to see if she has a history of this.
 
I give her one more chance.
Get payment owed and see if she pays the next months on time.
If not give her notice to leave but be prepared to not get paid at all or hold tack until she pays.

We all have trouble sometimes and need a little help and understanding, but you are a business so don't be taken for a mug!
 
She owed money since 28th July? It's now September....I would be setting a date in writing to say full payment owed to date to include all arrears and maybe even request to pay 2 weeks/1 month up front so if non payment in future at least you have a month in advance.

I don't know about what contracts you have if you have one. I know one yard i was at stated that in the event of non payment after so many days/weeks/month then the horse liverying automatically was held as payment!
 
Hi everyone,

Thank you so much for all your comments, I really am pulling my hair out!! I had a text from the lady in question on Friday advising she would be getting her car back today so could we sort the pny out, she also said the money would be in our account today and guess what - no money!!! I text her back Friday asking her if she meant she needed us to look after the pony and didn't receive a reply!!

She is definitely going to be given notice to leave ASAP, should I call her or just send a letter by recorded delivery? Also, she never returnend her signed contract despite reminders!!
 
text her saying that her notice to leave will be sent in the post today and send the letter recorded delivery

Normally I'm not one for texting instead of actually speaking to people but that seems to be her preferred method of communicating so I would send a text. You dont sound like you would be too terribly confident making that call so that would work for you too!

Personally I would only give her till the end of the week (or include the weekend if you are super generous) to leave, you have let her have long enough without paying. If you are able to withold tack or rugs in lieu of payment I would do that
 
I don't understand why she hasn't been given notice yet!?
She's taking advantage and probably laughing at you big time OP. Notice by recorded delivery and email, threat of small claims if not paid.

She's stealing from you by taking your services and wilfully not paying. Don't stand for it - get her out!
 
I bet she wont even come down today to sort the pony out and I probably wont have a text from her. I did wonder whether to text her to just say the money hasn't arrive and then send a recorded delivery letter telling her to leave ASAP.
 
I would include that you are asking her to leave in your text, that way if she takes it in the least bit casually it will be re-inforced by the letter

Also dont ask her to leave asap as her asap pretty obviously wont be your asap! give a date - 48 hours if you are feeling really cheesed off, the weekend if you are feeling generous etc..
 
I think you need to get a bit tougher with her. Text her, ring her, send her a letter, don't be worrying about her feelings and whether you are bothering her or whatever it is that's stopping you contacting her. Make a nuisance of yourself. And if she asks you to do the pony say no, sorry, come and do it yourself. Because you probably aren't going to get paid for it anyway so let her make other arrangements.
Kick her off asap, she's started as trouble she's not going to get any better, is she.
 
Bug her all the time, if she's not off by the weekend, write messages on her Facebook/twitter saying she's a non payer and has left the pony, don't take no for an answer and give her a date and time to be gone by. Chase her though the courts for the unpaid bill and will no doubt she will not empty the stable or poo pick so add that to the bill as well.
 
Costypop said:
Bug her all the time, if she's not off by the weekend, write messages on her Facebook/twitter saying she's a non payer and has left the pony, don't take no for an answer and give her a date and time to be gone by. Chase her though the courts for the unpaid bill and will no doubt she will not empty the stable or poo pick so add that to the bill as well.
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Find out her parents address, her work address and turn up there, just be a massive pain for her.
 
There's always one in an area. Dumps horses with some money, rest promised & never arrives. These liveries never pay up, often steal & cause huge amounts of stress (to YO & through often not well cared for animals as avoiding YO & wont buy basics). Get rid ASAP, if you have friends who are YO pre-warn them as they will no doubt be out looking for another victim to scam.

It's the horse equivalent of squatting, they pay a bit to get access then the rest never appears. If you can't bring yourself to chuck them out, then say cash only by a set time on a set date (no excuses will be tolerated - car broken get a taxi), always a month paid in advance, never in arrears. The first time they fail to pay they have to be out in 24 hours & will not be given a months notice as they haven't paid the month up front.
 
pip6 said:
There's always one in an area. Dumps horses with some money, rest promised & never arrives. These liveries never pay up, often steal & cause huge amounts of stress (to YO & through often not well cared for animals as avoiding YO & wont buy basics). Get rid ASAP, if you have friends who are YO pre-warn them as they will no doubt be out looking for another victim to scam.

It's the horse equivalent of squatting, they pay a bit to get access then the rest never appears. If you can't bring yourself to chuck them out, then say cash only by a set time on a set date (no excuses will be tolerated - car broken get a taxi), always a month paid in advance, never in arrears. The first time they fail to pay they have to be out in 24 hours & will not be given a months notice as they haven't paid the month up front.
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I completely agree with this. we had one turn up here. I got a bad feeling about her and so said I only took on liveries once I had a standing order from them set up and the first payment had gone through. By her reaction (she suddenly didn't seem too keen to come any more), I realised my hunch was correct. a couple of months later I was talking to a livery owner friend who was telling me about a livery they had taken on who never paid them a penny, and they were struggling to get rid of. turned out to be the same person. They had also found out that she had been doing the rounds in the area for a couple of years, going from yard to yard and effectively having free livery!

OP, the fact that she has not even signed the contract tells you that she never intended paying. I would just phone or text and tell them to get off the yard right away. Have they left any tack or rugs? If so, I would tell them you will be holding onto it until they pay you what they owe you.
 
Just a thought I would let your other liveries know that she is being kicked off and too keep tabs on their belongings, you don't want things going walk abouts
 
I have taken the decision to send her a letter to her home & work address special delivery asking for the money immediately in Cash and that she leave the yard by Saturday. I thought a letter best as its more official, also she never answers her mobile and calling her at work I dont want to get done for harassment which would be my luck!
 
This is the letter I am going to send, comments/suggestions most welcome:

It has now been nearly three weeks since your livery was due and after numerous reminders and a bounced cheque we have yet to receive the £220 you owe us. Your text to me on Friday 13th September also confirmed that the amount would be in our account today (16th September) and it has not arrived!

Unfortunately, you have left us with no option and it with great regret that we ask you to leave the yard by Saturday 21st September.

We require the outstanding amount of £220 to be paid immediately in cash. This month’s expenses and an additional £80 for the eight days that we were looking after Mojo is to be paid in Cash and in full on leaving the yard. Failure to do so will leave us no alternative but to pursue the money through the small claims court. This is a last resort and we hope we can resolve the matter without taking this course of action.

This is not a profit making venture for us and we cannot afford any late payments otherwise we are subsidising your ponies costs ourselves.

We look forward to receiving full payment from you ASAP.
 
Den83 said:
This is the letter I am going to send, comments/suggestions most welcome:].
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I would be a little more forthright:

I hereby give you notice to leave the yard by Saturday 21st September.

It has now been nearly three weeks since your livery was due and after numerous reminders and a bounced cheque we have yet to receive the £220 you owe us. Your text to me on Friday 13th September also confirmed that the amount would be in our account today (16th September) and it has not arrived. Remove exclamation mark

We require the outstanding amount of £220 to be paid immediately in cash. This month’s expenses and an additional £80 for the eight days that we were looking after Mojo is to be paid in Cash and in full on leaving the yard. Failure to do so will leave us no alternative but to pursue the money through the small claims court. This is a last resort and we hope we can resolve the matter without taking this course of action.

This is not a profit making venture for us and we cannot afford any late payments otherwise we are subsidising your ponies costs ourselves. (I would remove this. You owe her no explanation and I doubt she would care anyway)

We look forward to receiving full payment from you without further delay.
 
I agree with Wagtail to remove the ASAP at the end. if this ends up in court you will only get told that ASAP could be interpreted as when the lady can pay without hardship which may be a long way off!
 
It might be worth looking at changing locks etc so she has to speak to you when she leaves. Otherwise you may find she moves out (without paying of course) when she knows you are not around.
 
I would itemise every aspect of the outstanding monies, so there is no ambiguity whatsoever.

Wagtail is right on the removal of your explanation. Your yard, you don't have to justify anything. Particularly to someone who owes you money.

Best of British luck.
 
Sorry but i get the feeling she is just going to flit without paying a penny..I would be tempted to withhold a saddle or something of similar value until she drops the cash into your hand..May not be legal but tough..
 
Thank you for your suggestions, will be interesting to see if she appears tonight to sort the pony out as we have not seen her and have been looking after the pony since a week ago sunday as her car had broken down apparently! Not sure how much of that to beleive! We might arrive later to find she has done a bunk!! We could paddlock th gate to the ponies field and also change all the other paddlock codes?!
 
To be honest, in your place, I would be relieved if she legged it, lol. Don't stop her taking the pony, it's no good as lien as it will cost you to keep, by all means withhold tack and rugs, though.
From experience, it will be nigh on impossible to get money out of her, so be prepared to just write it off, whilst obviously chasing her for it.
I'm sorry it has happened to you, unfortunately, there are plenty of those liveries doing rounds of yards with a sob story to tell, we have all been taken in at some point or another. I try to keep in touch with other YOs in the area, hoping that at least we can give each other a bit of warning. Comparing the sob stories can serve as a bit of entertainment, too.
 
martlin said:
To be honest, in your place, I would be relieved if she legged it, lol. Don't stop her taking the pony, it's no good as lien as it will cost you to keep, by all means withhold tack and rugs, though..
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Seconded.

Keep the tack locked up, also as safety for the rest of your liveries' belongings (not saying your livery would take anything that's not hers as I don't know her, but I've seen the way this goes down on other yards and I'd say take no chances).
The pony will only cost you if you keep it there, and be an extra responsibility to care for, so the sooner that's gone the better.
Stop being so nice and apologetic, OP, it's the livery that needs to apologise for messing you about, not the other way around.
 
If you haven't sent the letter already I would alter it as follows

Wagtail said:
I would be a little more forthright:

I hereby give you notice to remove your horse from my property by 23:59 on Friday 20th September.

It has now been nearly three weeks since your livery was due and, after numerous reminders and a bounced cheque, we have yet to receive the £220 you owe us. Your text to me on Friday 13th September confirmed that the money would be received in our account today (16th September) and it has not arrived. Remove exclamation mark

We require the outstanding sum of £220 to be paid immediately in cash. We also require this month’s expenses, and an additional £80 for the eight days that we were looking after Mojo, to be paid in cash and in full on leaving the yard*. Failure to do so will leave us no alternative but to pursue the money through the small claims court. This is a last resort and we hope we can resolve the matter without taking this course of action.

This is not a profit making venture for us and we cannot afford any late payments otherwise we are subsidising your ponies costs ourselves. (I would remove this. You owe her no explanation and I doubt she would care anyway)

We look forward to receiving full payment from you without further delay.

Yours sincerely
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* I'm not sure if you are referring to additional expenses of £80 or if you want more than £80 in which case you should specify how much you want in total.

I haven't stated that tack etc should be removed in case you wish to hold it hostage against non-payment
 
Also I have known in my area when this has happened the YM has rung around all yards in the area to let them know so that they don't end up in the same situation - might be worth doing the same, and is a good way to initiate a relationship with them so you can all look out for each other in this respect - and with any other issues such as local break-ins etc.
 
Hi I haven't worked out the expenses so have added in the letter after that sentence (to be confirmed). I wont have chance to work this amount out until I get to the yard tonight and I want to send the letter today via recorded delivery.
 
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