This is one I have been obliged to work through every angle of in the recent past. To complement Huckster, my advised understanding is that years ago one could take direct action but there has been a change in the law at some point which means you have no right to use direct action and would be breaking the law. The legal angle is a pain to nightmare and you can ultimately find yourself winning, the guilty party not paying and enforcement by the court being inadequate to non existent. I think it fair to say that legal action should turn on a combination of how much money is at stake and how important that is to you.

Having said this the next step was to think about "The other unorthodox way". Various thoughts/plans came to mind with, I think, Huchster's at the top or very near. Then came the thought that if it was high profile and one lived in a community where everyone knew everyone it could backfire because why would "the villain of the piece" tell the truth - sadly most people, in my experience don't need two sides of a story or evidence to make up their minds.

In the end as the cash figure was not serious, once the fury and hurt (how could he do this to me?) died down pragmatism took over and the matter was dropped other than to pass the word around as appropriate.

Hi

This sort of issue has been in the news a lot recently. There is apparently not much you can do, without incurring additional costs that you might not get back. If you entered the property even with their permission, they could make unfounded accusations against you and this could make matters worse.

Write to the person by recorded delivery and threaten legal proceedings if they do not pay up within 7 days. If they don't pay you could think about taking this matter to court and getting a judgement against them. This will cost you and you may not even then receive the money you are due, but you may get some satisfaction.

The other unorthodox way, could be to pay an unemployed friend with bottle, to stand outside their house with a banner, saying this person had electrical work done for £x and did not pay their bill. This might embarass them enought to pay up and as far as I know is totally legal, as long as they don't block a public highway or cause a public nuisance.

Huckster

Hi, 45 days ago I carried out electrical work at a property. It was only 1st fix work (cables, boxes etc installed) and put in a invoice which has remained unpaid. In my terms and conditions which the customer signed it clearly states that I own all materials installed until payment has been made and reserve the right to remove it if I am not paid. Can I legally go around the property and remove it I assume as long as I am not breaking in?