| Harassment allegations - advice? 08:37 - Oct 19 with 11257 views | Zx1988 |
I've recently commenced a money claim in the Small Claims Court against a former client who has opted not to pay for my services, despite the existence of a contract etc., essentially a fairly straightforward affair, but that's by the by.
Yesterday I received a call from an officer at my local police station advising that the defendant has made a complaint of harassment against me, and we have agreed that he will visit me this evening to discuss her claims.
I do not believe that I have undertaken any conduct that constitutes harassment. I have sent the defendant three letters:
*The legally-required Letter Before Claim
*A letter containing a copy of the claim form sent to HMCTS along with an offer to settle
*A subsequent offer to settle (and confirmation of my intention to see the claim through) following the defendant's refusal to engage with the HMCTS-appointed arbitration service
I don't believe any of the above conduct is unreasonable in the context of an ongoing legal case, and I would suggest that the lack of unreasonableness is sufficient to meet the following defence:
That in the particular circumstance the purported action is held to be reasonable.
I guess the counter-point is that this is the first time I have been involved with the police as a suspect and, sitting on this overnight, I'm worried that it might not go as simply as I'm hoping. I know that this is simply an attempt by the defendant to try and frustrate the process and intimidate me into dropping my claim, but on the other side I know that the police tend to have a bit of a thing about harassment, especially when it's alleged to have been committed by a man against a woman.
Can anyone offer me any thoughts as to what I should expect?
Part of me is inclined to believe that the officer will try to offer me a First Harassment Warning in that it will allow him to easily tie the matter up, and I'll be let off with no real action, but given that an FHW can be disclosed by an enhanced DBS check, and (as is my understanding) I've done nothing wrong, I don't want to feel coerced into accepting this outcome. What is likely to happen if an FHW is offered and refused?
Thanks! |  |
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| Harassment allegations - advice? on 13:31 - Jan 5 with 855 views | Zx1988 |
| Harassment allegations - advice? on 12:04 - Jan 5 by bluelagos |
Bump - wondering what claim of this?
(The small claims case and the complaint) |
Thanks for the reminder, Lagos!
After a bit of toing and froing trying to get something arranged, I eventually had an interview under caution at the local police station with the duty solicitor present.
The officer who interviewed me couldn't have been any more pleasant/friendly/reassuring about the entire situation, and the whole matter was dropped following the interview. The duty solicitor was fantastic as well and, after having gone through discovery with the officer, essentially coached me on what to say in order to get my point across properly whilst ticking the necessary boxes.
Thanks for the help and advice, all! [Post edited 5 Jan 2022 14:46]
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| Harassment allegations - advice? on 13:39 - Jan 5 with 838 views | PrideOfTheEast |
| Harassment allegations - advice? on 13:31 - Jan 5 by Zx1988 |
Thanks for the reminder, Lagos!
After a bit of toing and froing trying to get something arranged, I eventually had an interview under caution at the local police station with the duty solicitor present.
The officer who interviewed me couldn't have been any more pleasant/friendly/reassuring about the entire situation, and the whole matter was dropped following the interview. The duty solicitor was fantastic as well and, after having gone through discovery with the officer, essentially coached me on what to say in order to get my point across properly whilst ticking the necessary boxes.
Thanks for the help and advice, all! [Post edited 5 Jan 2022 14:46]
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That's good to hear and demonstrates the value of having legal expertise on your side in the room (whether you're guilty or otherwise). All the best. [Post edited 5 Jan 2022 13:42]
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| Harassment allegations - advice? on 13:58 - Jan 5 with 809 views | TooManyCooks |
| Harassment allegations - advice? on 13:31 - Jan 5 by Zx1988 |
Thanks for the reminder, Lagos!
After a bit of toing and froing trying to get something arranged, I eventually had an interview under caution at the local police station with the duty solicitor present.
The officer who interviewed me couldn't have been any more pleasant/friendly/reassuring about the entire situation, and the whole matter was dropped following the interview. The duty solicitor was fantastic as well and, after having gone through discovery with the officer, essentially coached me on what to say in order to get my point across properly whilst ticking the necessary boxes.
Thanks for the help and advice, all! [Post edited 5 Jan 2022 14:46]
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Glad to hear it is all behind you now!
Onwards and upwards.... | |
| hedgehog flavoured cucumbers |
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| Harassment allegations - advice? on 14:43 - Jan 5 with 750 views | chicoazul |
| Harassment allegations - advice? on 13:31 - Jan 5 by Zx1988 |
Thanks for the reminder, Lagos!
After a bit of toing and froing trying to get something arranged, I eventually had an interview under caution at the local police station with the duty solicitor present.
The officer who interviewed me couldn't have been any more pleasant/friendly/reassuring about the entire situation, and the whole matter was dropped following the interview. The duty solicitor was fantastic as well and, after having gone through discovery with the officer, essentially coached me on what to say in order to get my point across properly whilst ticking the necessary boxes.
Thanks for the help and advice, all! [Post edited 5 Jan 2022 14:46]
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Interdestang. Thanks for the update Opie.
Don’t trust the Feds, ever. |  |
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| Harassment allegations - advice? on 18:18 - Jan 5 with 668 views | bluelagos |
| Harassment allegations - advice? on 13:31 - Jan 5 by Zx1988 |
Thanks for the reminder, Lagos!
After a bit of toing and froing trying to get something arranged, I eventually had an interview under caution at the local police station with the duty solicitor present.
The officer who interviewed me couldn't have been any more pleasant/friendly/reassuring about the entire situation, and the whole matter was dropped following the interview. The duty solicitor was fantastic as well and, after having gone through discovery with the officer, essentially coached me on what to say in order to get my point across properly whilst ticking the necessary boxes.
Thanks for the help and advice, all! [Post edited 5 Jan 2022 14:46]
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And what about the small claims court? Did you get paid? |  |
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| Harassment allegations - advice? on 09:17 - Jan 6 with 556 views | Zx1988 |
| Harassment allegations - advice? on 18:18 - Jan 5 by bluelagos |
And what about the small claims court? Did you get paid? |
Yup, all sorted there as well. She failed to show up so I was awarded a default judgment in her absence. A swift letter inviting her to settle up did the trick - job's a good-un! | |
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| Harassment allegations - advice? on 09:26 - Jan 6 with 538 views | ElephantintheRoom |
Presumably you are using the small claims court to avoid the cost of useless solicitors - but irrespective of the rights and wrongs of your mystery service and case your tale is one known to all who have 'rogue customers'.
It's kind of interesting that whilst there are lenty of consumer rights driven 'rogue traders' programmes - the far more prevalent 'rogue customers' is still not attracting the Doms of this media world. | |
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| Harassment allegations - advice? on 10:01 - Jan 6 with 497 views | bluelagos |
| Harassment allegations - advice? on 09:17 - Jan 6 by Zx1988 |
Yup, all sorted there as well. She failed to show up so I was awarded a default judgment in her absence. A swift letter inviting her to settle up did the trick - job's a good-un! |
It ended well on all accounts then. Shame the police have to waste time on such nonsense too. | |
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| Harassment allegations - advice? on 10:46 - Jan 6 with 456 views | Zx1988 |
| Harassment allegations - advice? on 10:01 - Jan 6 by bluelagos |
It ended well on all accounts then. Shame the police have to waste time on such nonsense too. |
Exactly.
She tried all sorts of tactics to try and frustrate the process rather than engage with it, so I was hardly surprised when she didn't bother to show up.
It's a shame people think that they can try it on with stuff like this - in terms of time its probably cost me more than the debt, but for me it was a matter of principle. | |
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