Livery Bill after leaving yard - to pay or not to pay?

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EJJ999

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I left current yard last day of May. I have now received a livery bill for June in the post for previous yard. I do not believe that I should pay this - but what action do yard owners usually take (if any)?

Cowardly - but I don't want to speak with him as he made our lives a complete misery for a couple of weeks.

He heard that we had looked at a new yard and then asked us to leave his within 4 days (before the end of May). To be clear I paid for May on the 1st of the month. New yard couldn't take us until end of month so very stressful and he made our lives a misery and at times dangerous. He said we could stay until end of month if we paid for June leaving the DD in place. I don't deny I sort of agreed to this because I couldn't see what I was to do with large horse for 5 days inbetween. I know I should have stood my ground better but my daughter was about to do an important exam in an hours time.

I do think that perhaps I should make some contribution because horse did a little damage to the stable when he first moved in 18 months ago. Although it isn't so bad that it needed repairing while we were there. And it wasn't perfect when we moved in. But he thinks the £200 bill will cover damage. Most certainly not £200 worth of damage and the bill he has sent is for 'June Livery charges'.

Not bothered about him rubbishing my name because he will do that (and has done) whether I pay or not. He often does that anyway.

To be clear I have always paid on time. Paid any extras on time. I don't think we caused any trouble - other than a bit of stable damage (not solid stables). I just seemed to fall out of favour.

Should I just ignore it?
 
I would ignore, unless it was for a period of notice that you didn't take up. Sounds as though he gave you insufficient notice though so no way would I pay since you were having to pay elsewhere.
 
He asked you to leave. He didn't give you any notice. You were within your rights to stay as long as you had paid for ( may).

It would be different if you told him you were leaving, then you would be expected to give proper notice (June), unless he waived it.

Contracts work both ways. If he doesn't give you notice he can't expect you to pay, and if you don't give him notice then you will still have to pay the notice period. He can't have it all his way.

He really should have just waited for you to give him notice, as you would have then had to pay for june. But as he asked you to leave immediately, and you left within a reasonable time - and within the month that you have paid for, then he is being unreasonable to ask for june.

If it went to small claims you would have a good case. It would be him who would have to take you to court.

The damage would have had to have been billed at the time. You can't wait 18 months for a relationship to break down and then bill for it.

I'd block him on all sources, and await a letter for court.
 
There is no way I would go back ! People don't tend to give a month's notice to him because life is so unbearable once you do. We don't have a contract. But hands up I was only going to give him about a weeks notice. He has asked people to leave the yard within 7 days so it sort of works both ways.

But I don't really want to end up with some horrible summons or something.
 
Thank you. I suppose I feel a bit guilty about less than perfect horse causing some damage but I hadn't looked at it from that point of view. ie suddenly billing me because he doesn't like me anymore !
 
EJJ999 said:
There is no way I would go back ! People don't tend to give a month's notice to him because life is so unbearable once you do. We don't have a contract. But hands up I was only going to give him about a weeks notice. He has asked people to leave the yard within 7 days so it sort of works both ways.

But I don't really want to end up with some horrible summons or something.
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He won't take you to court, its not worth his while for £200 and it doesn't matter what your intentions were he gave you notice, he wouldn't have a leg to stand on. If you get a letter which purports to be from a solicitor, ignore that, too.
 
If you don't have a contract I don't think he has a leg to stand on. Why would you pay livery for June if you aren't there anymore? He gave you a few days notice, that's all you should be paying for!
 
EJJ999 said:
But I don't really want to end up with some horrible summons or something.
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He has absolutely no grounds to take you to court - and if he threatens, remind him the court fees are pretty hefty these days and he will only get them back if he wins
 
Okay, so the guy is an idiot . .but I would pay it. I wouldn't want to be waiting of a letter, or to give him an excuse to accuse/ bad mouth my name . .because let's face it . .why be bundled with 'mud sling' as a bad payer? Especially if you need to move yard again? . .
Go with a clear co conscious ��
 
jumping.jack_flash said:
Okay, so the guy is an idiot . .but I would pay it. I wouldn't want to be waiting of a letter, or to give him an excuse to accuse/ bad mouth my name . .because let's face it . .why be bundled with 'mud sling' as a bad payer? Especially if you need to move yard again? . .
Go with a clear co conscious ��
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But her conscience is clear ad she is not a bad payer! Even if she were to pay, it would not necessarily stop the YO bad-mouthi g her, which apparently he already is doing.
 
Thank you for your comments. I suppose I was feeling sort of guilty that there was some damage to the stable but thanks for pointing out that it should have been billed at the time. Not waited until I was out of favour now I am off the yard. The stable was perfectly usable (damage is over a year old) but I suppose a little less pretty.

I guess he is just trying it on. If he bills me and I don't pay, in his own mind, he can 'justify' his bad mouthing about me.

But the good news is that the new yard is just lovely. Loads of horses kick the stables and the YO just sees it as wear and tear when you have horses.

Thanks folks.
 
I think I would make a one off payment to cover repair to the stable and write enclosing the cheque and saying full and final payment. I would also in the letter go through the notice/notice to quit as it happened and also put on the top of the letter 'Without Prejudice'.

Possibly the damage should have been billed at the time, but sometimes yard owners don't and its only when it all goes wrong there is bad feeling on both sides.

However, I don't think I would pay more than £50 which should be more than adequate for a new bit of ply or whatever the insides are and a coat of paint - it is up to the yard owner in my opinion to decorate, but up to the livery to clean the stable out properly and disinfect.
 
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