You finished the work. You sent the claim. Then the payment date passes and nothing happens.
For a small contractor, that gap can swallow wages, materials, tax, and sleep. The issue is not just cash, it is whether you are being treated fairly for work already delivered.
What a construction payment claim is
A construction payment claim is a way to recover money you are owed for building and civil works. It commonly arises when a principal, head contractor, or developer disputes a progress claim, holds back retention, or refuses to pay for variations or delays.
These disputes often turn on documents, such as the contract, payment claims and schedules, site records, and quantity surveying evidence. That makes them well suited to a fast, structured approach.
When people bring one
People usually seek advice when payment is withheld without a clear explanation, when a payment schedule is late or inadequate, or when a project ends and the final account remains unpaid. A common pattern is a disagreement about whether work was within scope, whether variations were approved, or whether defects justify withholding payment.
How the process can be made practical
In many cases you can use a statutory adjudication process to obtain a quick decision about what must be paid, and when. Holland Beckett has experience representing construction companies in adjudication proceedings concerning payment claims, defective works, and variations.
Some clients ask about a no win no fee or contingency fee option because funding a dispute while chasing payment feels backwards. Litigation funding can be available for suitable matters. It involves an external funder (separate from our firm) funding some or all legal costs in return for an agreed share of any recovery.
Litigation funding is one tool, sitting alongside pro bono work and civil legal aid, that can help provide access to justice. Holland Beckett actively works in all three areas and we look for practical ways to keep a strong claim moving.
Talk to us
If you are owed money on a project, talk to us early. We can assess the documents, explain the quickest pathway, and discuss cost options, including whether litigation funding may be available.
Thomas Refoy-Butler
Tauranga
Mikaela Sotutu
Tauranga