OUTWOOD IN SURREY "The Village with the Mill"
07/10/2025
Additional Information
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c/0 2 Dirty Lane
Ashurst Wood
West Sussex, RH19 3SX
Mr Marc Slegg Mr Marc Slegg
Finger Post Signs Ltd No 3, 28 Somers Road
Unit 26, Finns Farm Reigate
Smalls Hill Road Surrey
Norwood Hill RH2 9DZ
Surrey RH6 0HR 22nd September 2025
Dear Mr Slegg
Failure to Supply Goods – Refund of Monies Paid
On 10th May 2024 Outwood Parish Council placed an order with you for the design, manufacture and installation of a fingerpost sign, and paid a deposit of £994.50 We expected that the fingerpost would be made and installed before the end of 2024.
You explained the need to wait for favourable weather conditions, and we continued to have positive reports on progress including that you had dug a hole for the post and its installation was imminent. On this basis we paid £1294.50 including £300 for installation, the balance of monies due, for the fingerpost on 06 February 2025.
Since making the final payment you have failed to respond to multiple attempts at communication from the Parish Clerk seeking further updates. Despite an initial exchange with a Councillor you have also subsequently ignored further attempts by the Councillor to get in touch with you.
I wrote to you most recently on 3rd September by Recorded Signed For first class post, tracking reference number KD660212556GB. This letter was delivered by Royal Mail on 4th September 2025. This letter asked you by 18th September to either arrange to deliver and install the fingerpost as ordered or return the £3,129 paid. You have failed to meet this reasonable deadline. It is now 17 months since we placed the order.
A list of all of our attempts to contact you is attached.
Your failure to provide and install the fingerpost, or refund the payment, constitutes a breach of contract. Accordingly, Outwood Parish Council will now give you a final opportunity to install the fingerpost (to standard of manufacturing and installation acceptable to us) or refund of £3,829 by no later than 2md October 2025.
Payment of the refund should be made by bank transfer to:
Bank details
Account Name: Outwood Parish Council
Sort Code: 60-83-01
Account number: 20467018
Unless we receive the goods or a full refund by this date, Outwood Parish Council will issue proceedings against you in the County Court (Small Claims Track) without further notice. In addition to the principal sum, the Council will also claim as applicable:
- Court fees
- Statutory interest under section 69 of the County Courts Act 1984 at 8% per annum
- Compensation and recovery costs under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.
This is a formal Letter Before Action. Please treat it as a final opportunity to resolve the matter without the need for legal proceedings.
Yours faithfully
,
Rodabe Rudin
Clerk/RFO
Outwood Parish Council
Timeline / Schedule of Contact
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DATE |
OUTWOOD PC CONTACT |
DATE |
MARC SLEGG RESPONSE |
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10/05/24 |
Order placed by Outwood Parish Council |
15/05/24 |
Acceptance of quote |
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26/06/24 |
Update requested |
26/06/24 |
Description of wood |
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14/10/24 |
Update requested |
29/10/24 |
Machined oak and fingers. Said would be installed by Christmas |
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06/01/25 |
Update Requested |
08/01/25 |
Moving quickly; letters made, promised by end of January |
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29/01/25 |
Wrote asking about signage re Cricket Club |
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01/02/25 |
Promised installation by end of week and sent invoice for balance |
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02/02/15 |
Confirmed signage re cricket club |
03/02/25 |
Again, promised to install ASAP. Gave home address |
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04/02/25 |
Asked for invoice for balance |
04/02/25 |
Gave bank details |
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07/02/25 |
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07/02/25 |
Thanked for paying on pro forma invoice plus the £300 for installation. Removed old sign |
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17/02/25 |
Actually asked where we would like sign erected as he would like to bring the sign over for installation |
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09/04/25 |
Update requested |
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16/04/25 |
Update requested |
17/04/25 |
On holiday. Promised installation after Easter. |
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23/05/25 |
Update requested |
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23/05/25 |
Update requested by Cllr. Helena Devlin |
23/05/25 |
Response to HD moaning about weather and vehicle problems. Promised installation ASAP |
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01/07/25 |
Update requested by HD |
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No response |
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26/07/25 |
Update requested by HD |
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No response |
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03/09/25 |
Letter sent by ‘signed for’ delivery to business address |
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No response |