Debt Recovery transparency

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

Our hourly rate for debt recovery work is £250-£410 per hour (+20% VAT and disbursements) depending on the nature of the work and the seniority of the consultant handling the case. Fixed fees can usually be agreed at the start of a case for non-disputed matters.

The court fees for debt recovery are subject to change, and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fees-in-the-civil-and-family-courts-main-fees-ex50/civil-court-fees-ex50

At present the court fees are:

Anyone wishing to proceed with a claim should note that:

• 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
• Fees cannot as a rule be recovered from your debtor on claims less that £10,000

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 a court 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 demand payment
• If payment is not received within 30 days, providing you with advice on next steps and likely costs

Matters usually take 2-6 weeks from receipt of instructions from you to receipt of payment from the other side, longer if it is necessary to issue a claim. This is on the basis that the other side pays promptly on receipt of the letter of claim.  Our costs for dealing with a non-disputed debt claim up to the value of £100,000 and for carrying out the abovementioned works are likely to be in the region of £1,500 – £5,000.

Our Debt Recovery specialist is Mark Tunstill, a solicitor with more than 30 years experience.

The above are estimates, not fixed fees. Nothing above is an offer or intended to create a legal relationship. Nothing above constitutes legal advice.