AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
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The short answer
Go back to the contract: what was the agreed scope, how was acceptance defined, and how many revisions were included. Put your position in writing with the evidence, offer a fix or a partial settlement for any real shortfall, and suggest mediation if talks stall. Court is a last resort; in Lagos, the Small Claims Court hears liquidated money claims up to ₦5 million, starting with a formal demand that gives 14 days.
A dispute usually starts with a message like "this is not what we asked for" just as the final invoice goes out. For a UK-based freelancer with a client in Lagos or Abuja, distance makes it harder: you cannot sit in a room together, the payment may already be late, and both sides assume the other country's law is on the other side. Most disputes are settled long before law matters, if they are handled in order.
Step 1: separate the complaint from the payment
Work out what is being disputed. It is usually one of three things:
- Quality: the work was done but the client says it falls short.
- Scope: the client expected something that was never agreed.
- Payment: the work is not really in question, but the client is short of cash or delaying.
Before replying, wait long enough to read the complaint twice. A quick defensive answer by chat tends to harden positions, while a short holding reply ("Thanks, I am reviewing this and will respond in full by Thursday") buys time and shows good faith.
Each needs a different answer. A quality complaint deserves a proper look; a scope complaint is answered by the contract; a payment delay disguised as a complaint is answered by your invoice and a firm timetable.
Step 2: read what you actually agreed
Find the contract, statement of work, proposal or the email chain where terms were set. Look for:
- The deliverables, described as specifically as possible.
- Acceptance: whether the client had to approve within a set period, and what happens if it stayed silent.
- Revision rounds included in the fee.
- Payment terms and what triggers each payment.
- Governing law and how disputes are to be resolved (negotiation, mediation, arbitration or a named court).
If the contract chose UK law, the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act may let you add statutory interest to an overdue invoice. Section 12 of that Act limits this: where UK law was chosen but the contract has no significant connection with the UK and would otherwise be governed by foreign law, the Act does not apply. If there is no written contract, the emails and messages where you agreed the work are your contract.
Step 3: respond in writing, with evidence
Write one clear email rather than a stream of chat messages. Set out what was agreed, what you delivered and when, what the client approved along the way, and what you are prepared to do now. Attach the brief, the drafts, the approval messages and delivery records. Keep the tone factual; the email may be read later by a mediator or a judge.
If part of the complaint is fair, say so and offer a remedy: a further revision, a reduced fee for one element, or a credit against the next project. A partial settlement paid quickly is often worth more than full payment after months of chasing.
Step 4: mediation before court
If talks stall, propose mediation: a neutral third party helps both sides reach an agreement, which is then written up and signed. It is cheaper and faster than court, works well over video, and keeps the relationship alive. If your contract names a mediation or arbitration process, follow it, because skipping it can be held against you later.
Step 5: if it has to be a claim
Where the dispute has become a debt (the client owes a fixed sum and will not pay), you can sue. For a client in Lagos, the Lagos State Practice Direction on the Small Claims Court (2023) covers liquidated money demands up to ₦5,000,000, excluding interest and costs, where the defendant lives or does business in Lagos or the claim arose there. It starts with a letter of demand on Form SCA 1, which gives 14 days to pay; the directions aim for judgment within 60 days of filing. For larger sums, or claims you would bring in the UK, see suing a Nigerian company from the UK.
Preventing the next one
- Write deliverables and revision rounds into every contract (contractor agreements with Nigerian clients).
- Agree an acceptance window: approval or comments within, say, five working days, or the work is treated as accepted (example wording; agree your own).
- Take a deposit or stage payments so you are never owed the whole fee at once (deposits upfront).
- Get sign-off in writing at each stage.
Where Pryme fits
Clear payment records help in any dispute. A Pryme Business Account keeps each payment in the currency it arrived in, and a verifiable receipt or statement generated through VerifyDoc.ai shows exactly what was paid and when (receipts and statements). The Nigeria library's guide to evidence for payment disputes covers the Nigerian side.
Questions people ask
What should I do if a client says my work is not good enough?
Check the contract for scope, acceptance and revisions, reply in writing with evidence, and offer a fix for any fair point.
Can I charge interest on a disputed invoice?
If UK law governs the contract and the Late Payment Act applies, yes on the overdue sum, though section 12 can exclude contracts with no real UK connection.
What is the Lagos Small Claims Court limit?
Liquidated money claims up to ₦5,000,000, excluding interest and costs, under the 2023 Practice Direction.
Is mediation binding?
The process is voluntary, but a settlement both sides sign is a contract and can be enforced.
Sources
- Lagos State Practice Direction on the Small Claims Court 2023 (LSMEPB copy) · accessed Oct 2026
- legislation.gov.uk: Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, section 12 · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Late commercial payments, interest and debt recovery (updated 16 Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.