Construction Invoice Dispute

[ks1]

Looking for advice on next steps we can take please.

We carried out some construction works last year. Towards the end of the job there was a disagreement between our company and the company who had the main contract. Due to this fallout they have now not paid us the final balance due even though all works have been completed and signed off by the client. this is for around £28,000. We have tried to liase via email, to which they have replied with a counter claim of costs, which has various unjustified costs on it at ridiculous prices that we can prove we are not liable for, ie plant hire. We then instructed a solicitor to send a letter of claim detailing the facts of our case and the payment due to us (this solicitor was not construction based so couldnt advise us any further beyond this letter), we then issued a without prejudice letter. All has been ignored and no payment made.
Can anyone advise please on what we can do next without having to spend thousands of pounds to get this money back?
Mediation may not be an option as we dont think they will agree to it.

Thankyou

[atticus]

You may be learning that the construction industry is peopled by sharks. Contractors shafting subcontractors is par for the course.

If your contract specifies a dispute resolution method, you will have to use that.

Otherwise, you might consider a formal adjudication under Section 108 of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996. Read this link: https://www.cic.org.uk/services/adjudication