Debt Recovery for Businesses - Salusbury Harding & Barlow - Solicitors and Notaries

Debt Recovery for Businesses Owed Money by Other Businesses Where the Debt Is Not in Dispute

Note: In our below figures “VAT” refers to Value Added Tax, a government tax which we are required to charge on our fees, currently at the rate of 20%

Court Claims

These costs apply where you are business and your claim is in relation to an unpaid invoice owed to you by another business which is not disputed and enforcement action is not needed.

If the other party disputes your claim at any point, we will discuss any further work required and provide you with revised advice about costs if necessary, which could be on a fixed fee (e.g. if a one off letter is required), or an hourly rate if more extensive work is needed.

In addition to our fees there will be a court fee to pay. The amount of the court fee will depend upon the amount of the debt to be recovered. Please click on the link for the amount of the court fee that will be payable.

https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money/court-fees

Anyone wishing to proceed with a claim should note that:

The VAT element of our fee cannot be reclaimed from your debtor.
Interest and compensation may take the debt into a higher banding, with a higher cost.
The costs quoted above are not for matters where enforcement action, such as the bailiff, is needed to collect your debt.

Our fee includes:

Taking your instructions and reviewing documentation
Undertaking appropriate searches
Sending a letter before action
Receiving payment and sending onto you, or if the debt is not paid, drafting and issuing claim
Where no Acknowledgment of Service or Defence is received, applying to the court to enter Judgement in Default
When Judgement in Default in received, write to the other side to request payment
If payment is not received within X days, providing you with advice on next steps and likely costs

Matters usually take 6- 8 weeks from receipt of instructions from you to receipt of payment from the other side, depending on whether or not it is necessary to issue a claim. This is on the basis that the other side pays promptly on receipt of Judgment in Default. If enforcement action is needed, the matter will take longer to resolve.

As part of our service we will provide you with a dedicated and experienced litigation solicitor or legal executive to work on your matter.

For further information please telephone or email our Andrew Whitfield to discuss any queries that you might have.