Debt Recovery Services

Bad debts have an impact on cashflow and can effect business performance. If your credit control procedures are failing then as one of the leading debt recovery solicitors in Cheshire we will be glad to see if we can assist. Any business has a right to be paid on time for the goods or services it has provided. If customers fail to pay we are here to chase the debt on your behalf.

Our clients range from small businesses to large public companies across Cheshire and the North West but no job is too small.

Our Approach as Debt Recovery Solicitors

We believe in a pro-active approach and whilst some debts can be recovered with a letter or a phone call we will, where necessary, commence legal proceedings on your behalf with a claim for interest, costs and compensation. We will remind the debtor of the compensation due under Late Payment of Commercial Debts Regulations. Once statutory interest begins to run in relation to a qualifying debt, the supplier becomes entitled to a fixed sum in addition to the statutory interest on the debt. 

Your Choice for Debt Recovery

We will take a commercial approach keeping in mind at all times the importance of keeping costs within sensible limits dictated by the size of the debt.

Then there are occasions when you have to decide whether to take the next step and issue Court proceedings. Again, for straightforward, unpaid invoices, we have a fixed fee approach to issuing claims. We can provide more information about this if you decide to contact us.

Pricing

Letter before action

Before any Court action is taken by us on your behalf, we will send out a letter before action to the debtor. The cost for this letter in the case of a straightforward unpaid commercial debt is between £25 and £40.

Court Claims

These costs apply where your claim is in relation to an unpaid invoice 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.

Costs for the issue of a Court Claim for straightforward unpaid commercial debt

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 1-25 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 Judgement in default. If enforcement action is needed, the matter will take longer to resolve.