Debt Recovery

We offer professional debt recovery services to help businesses and individuals recover outstanding debts.

Stage 1 : Pre-Action Correspondence
The first stage is to send a protocol letter before claim / action, setting out your case & remedy i.e. what you want to resolve the matter. The fee for the letter before action will depend on the value and complexity of your claim. Our fee range is £60 plus vat totalling £72 to £300 plus vat to £360.00 although we can agree a discount for multiple claims.

If a response is received, we are happy to review and advise for a fixed cost of £75 plus vat, totalling £90.

If you then require a further detailed reply preparing and / or a final demand or offer of settlement this will be at a fixed cost of £100 plus vat, totalling £120.

If settlement is then reached, we will prepare a settlement agreement for a fixed cost of £150 plus vat, totalling £180.

Stage 1 Disbursements

• Land Registry Fees. Costs start from £7 plus vat totalling £8.40 up to £60 plus vat, totalling £72.
• Electronic ID check for all clients. Costs range from £6.50 plus vat, totalling £7.80 to £8 plus vat, totalling £9.60.

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

Stage 2 : Court Proceedings (uncontested)
If the matter does not settle via correspondence then Court proceedings will need to be issued. The costs are detailed below if the Defendant does not dispute your invoice:

Debt value	Our fee	Total (inclusive of VAT @ 20%)
Up to £500	£140	£168
From £501 - £1,000	£150	£180
£1,001 - £5,000	£200	£240
£5,001 - £100,000	£500	£600
Over £100,001	Hourly rate applies (see below)

*These fees will still be charged if payment is made following instruction and drafting but prior to proceedings being issued.

Stage 2 (uncontested) Disbursements:

• The court fee to issue your claim depends upon the value of your claim. The current issue fees can be found here - Click here

Our fee for Stage 2 (uncontested) includes:

• Preparing the Court papers to issue Court proceedings
• Where no Acknowledgment of Service or Defence is received, apply to the court to enter Judgment in default
• When Judgment in default is granted by the Court, we will write to the Defendant to request payment
• If payment is not received within 14 days, we will provide you with advice on the next steps and likely costs

Anyone wishing to proceed with a claim should note that:

• The VAT element of our fee cannot be reclaimed from your debtor and the Court may grant costs lower than our fee claimed.
• 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.

Stage 2 : Court Proceedings (Contested)
If we know from the outset that the debt is or is likely to be disputed then we will provide you with a fee-based estimate as we will be unable to undertake this for a fixed fee. Costs will be charged at our hourly rates (see below). If after issuing Court proceedings, the debt becomes contested i.e. by the Defendant filing a Defence then the fixed costs above will no longer apply and you will be charged at our hourly rate as per the below.

Hourly Rates
Our hourly charging rates are £242 plus vat (totalling £290.40) to £282 plus vat (totalling £338.40) per hour depending upon the person dealing with your file (this applies for all fees).

Secondly, there is a charge of £24.20 plus vat totalling £29.04 - £28.20 plus vat totalling £33.84 for each letter or email written and for each telephone call made and received.

Thirdly, there is a charge of £12.10 plus vat totalling £14.52 - £14.10 plus vat totalling £16.92 for each letter or email received.

Timescales
Matters usually take 3-6 months (depending on complexity & negotiation) from receipt of instructions, to receipt of payment from the other side. The length of time your case takes depends entirely on how and / or whether the Defendant responds to the claim.

If it becomes necessary to issue Court proceedings, then clearly the matter will take longer. You should note that the Courts regularly experience backlogs of work and as such these are factors out of our control and whilst we will regularly chase the Court, there is little we can do other than to await the Court’s response.

Stage 3: Enforcement
If payment has still not been received, then enforcement action may be needed to recover the monies due under the Judgment from the Court.

There are various enforcement actions that can be taken which we are as follows:

1. Writ of control otherwise known as instructing a High Court Enforcement Officer to seize goods
2. Attachment of earnings
3. Warrant of execution
4. Charging order
5. Third party debt order
6. Order that debtor attends court for questioning/oral examination
7. Issue of statutory demand for companies and individuals
8. Bankruptcy proceedings
9. Company winding up

These will be discussed with you to determine which are appropriate and the costs of the same will be agreed before carrying out any work.

VAT is calculated at 20%