Check the debtor and debt
The correct legal name, contract, due date and account history are important. A trading name is not always the party that should receive a claim.
Business Disputes
Debt Recovery
Unpaid invoices take time away from running a business. We can help establish what is owed, assess any dispute and choose a recovery step that makes financial sense.
Understanding your next steps
How we can help
Make the next demand count
The appropriate pre-action procedure depends on who owes the money and the nature of the debt. We can review correspondence and prepare the next formal step within the agreed instructions.
Consider recovery, not only judgment
A judgment does not guarantee payment. The debtor’s circumstances, enforcement options and further costs matter when deciding whether to proceed.
A clear way forward
What happens next
What to have ready
Have the contract, invoices, statements, delivery or completion evidence and correspondence ready. Identify any dispute, part payment or repayment proposal.
Your next step
Tell us the amount, the due date and what has been tried. We can discuss an initial demand or review and the cost of later stages separately.
Planning ahead
Fees and timescales
01 / Fees
What the costs cover
A demand letter, an undefended claim, a defended case and enforcement are separate stages. Ask for the work and charges at each stage to be explained, including VAT and court fees. Further expense should be weighed against the amount owed and the prospects of payment.
02 / Timescales
Timing and deadlines
Time for payment, pre-action requirements and court deadlines vary. Tell us about any existing claim, judgment or insolvency notice so we can assess the right next step.
Read our published Price Guide, then contact us to confirm the work you need and the costs involved.
View Price GuideUseful to know
Your questions, answered
Can you recover a disputed invoice?
We can assess the dispute and evidence. A contested debt may need a contract claim rather than a straightforward collection step.
Can I add interest and recovery costs?
The contract and applicable law need checking. Do not assume every charge added to an invoice will be recoverable.
Does winning mean I will be paid?
No. If payment is not made, enforcement may be needed and recovery can still be uncertain. We consider that risk before recommending further expense.
What if the debtor offers instalments?
A payment plan may be practical. Its terms, evidence of agreement and consequences of missed payments should be considered carefully.
General information for England and Wales. Contact us for advice about your circumstances.
SJS Solicitors · Balham