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Subject: Re: Should non payment be a civil or criminal offence? Posted on: Sun, 11 May 2008 10:40:08 BST

In message , Colin Peters
writes
>
>"Claire Rand" wrote in message
>news:EbGdnZsxspbJRLjVnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@eclipse.net.uk...
>> Colin Peters wrote:
>>> 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?
>>>
>>>
>>
>> could be a good thing after all, since the plod won't enforce it anyway,
>> and to push for a criminal action requires a higher standard of evidence.
>>
>> but it would work both ways.. e.g. a utility company overcharging but not
>> being able to refund it due to 'company policy'.
>>
>> swings and roundabouts
>
>Surely, to engage a builder and have him lay out his time, his skills and
>his finances on your behalf, and then refuse to pay him for a job well done,
>is a criminal act.
>

It depends on why payment has not been made.

>Is not obtaining goods and services by deception, and then refusing to pay
>for them, a criminal act?
>

Yes, but you would need to be able to prove deception and show intent.




--
Mike_B