On 10 May, 17:02, "R. Mark Clayton"
wrote:
> "Colin Peters" wrote in message
>
> news:SrfVj.1959$%e5.158@newsfe29.ams2...
>
> > Nigel Gray, the builder in West Sus. who has achieved a lot of
> > nationwide publicity recently through his demolishing of a non paying
> > customers porch and conservatory, has now got a website up at
> >www.roguecustomer.com
>
> > Interestingly, he is seeking to have claims against bad debtors over
> > construction works processed through the criminal courts rather than the
> > civil courts.
>
> > Any thought on this anyone?
>
> If there was no intention of paying (mens rea) then it is a criminal matter
> and the court could order restitution.
unfortunately, it's close to impossible to prove someone never
intended to pay, unless they were foolish enough to tell a passing
coachload of nuns before instigating the transaction.
More annoyingly, even if a person can be shown to have left a trail of
100 unpaid bills behind them, you still can't say they never intended
to pay the 101st.
>
> OTOH if there was a dispute over workmanship or the customer ending up being
> unable to pay for some legitimate reason then it would be a civil matter.
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