Sole traders are not businesses for these purposes but are deemed to be individuals under the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims, and different costs apply.

These costs apply where your claim is in relation to an unpaid invoice owed to a business by another business which is not disputed and enforcement action is not needed to obtain payment and the amount of the debt falls within the bands specified below. If the debt is larger than £25,000 you will need to contact us.

If a judgment (order for payment) is obtained but not paid by the debtor, then the costs associated with seeking payment will be in addition to those below

A business wishing to proceed with a claim for an unpaid invoice should note that:

• If the debt is less than £10,000, the court awards fixed costs no matter what the costs are of the legal action.
• If you are registered for VAT and the debt is more than £10,000, there are different rules on costs, in which case the VAT element of our fee may not be reclaimable from your debtor.
• Interest and compensation may take the debt into a higher banding, with a higher cost, although you can limit your claim to a particular band.
• The costs quoted are not for a matter where there is any dispute, including dealing with any issue in connection with payment or enforcement of a judgment, such as the instruction of the bailiff to collect your debt.
• The costs are in relation to debts up to £25,000. Larger debts may be a fixed fee or are required to be paid at an hourly rate.

Our fee includes:

• Receiving a copy of the undisputed invoice and your instructions to issue a letter before action.
• It does not include any consideration of your right to make a claim or consider whether there may be a defence or check to up on the debtor company. This will fall outside our fixed fee.
• Drafting and sending a letter before action with instructions to the debtor to pay you directly.
• Receiving instructions if payment is not received to issue proceedings. Including drafting and issuing the claim.
• Where no Acknowledgment of Service or Defence is received, applying to the court to enter judgment in default

Matters usually take 2-6 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.

The impact of complying with the Court imposed Pre-Action protocol, and then, if unresolved, the cost (inclusive of VAT) of issuing proceedings are as follows in respect of a debt which is not disputed.

If the debt is disputed, further costs and expenses will become payable.

Cost of our Services (inclusive of VAT)

For the Recovery of an Undisputed Debt up to £5,000
For each Letter Before Action – £45.00
For the issue of County Court Proceedings for the recovery of an undisputed Debt up to £5,000 – £150.00
For the entry of Judgment – £80.00
The fee to be paid to the Court to Issue the claim – up to £205.00

Total: £275 plus the cost of the issue fee*

For the Recovery of an Undisputed Debt up to £10,000
For each Letter Before Action – £45.00
For the issue of County Court Proceedings for the recovery of an undisputed Debt up to £10,000 – £150.00
For the entry of Judgment – £80.00
The fee to be paid to the Court to Issue the claim – up to £455.00

Total: £275 plus the cost of the issue fee*

For the Recovery of an Undisputed Debt between £10,001 and £25,000
For each Letter Before Action – £45.00
For the issue of County Court Proceedings for the recovery of an undisputed Debt between £10,001 and £25,000 – £150.00
For the entry of Judgment – £100.00
The fee to be paid to the Court to Issue the claim at 5% of value of the claim – up to £1250.00

Total: £295 plus the cost of the issue fee*

For the Recovery of an Undisputed Debt over £25,000 up to £100,000
For each Letter Before Action – £245.00
For the issue of County Court Proceedings for the recovery of an undisputed Debt between £25,000 up to £100,000 – £512.00
For the entry of an undisputed Judgment – £100.00
The fee to be paid to the Court to Issue the claim – 5% of the value of the claim

Total: £857.00 plus the cost of the issue fee*

*The above costs do not include either:

• The cost of dealing with a matter becomes disputed by the debtor. Our costs of dealing with a disputed debt will be charged at the hourly rates of: –
  • Paralegals £192.00 per hour
  • Solicitor £354 per hour
• It is your obligation to take enforcement action for the recovery of the debt after judgment. The cost and expense involved in taking enforcement action depend upon the amount of the judgment and the method(s) used to enforce the judgment and are in addition any fees or expenses stated above.
• If the debtor is worthless then taking any debt action may be pointless as the costs may exceed any benefit you may obtain. This is a decision for you.

For recovery from an individual or sole trader under the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims and different costs apply.

These costs apply where your claim is in relation to an unpaid invoice owed to a business by an individual which is not disputed and enforcement action is not needed to obtain payment and the amount of the debt falls within the bands specified below. If the debt is larger than £25,000 you will need to contact us.

A business wishing to proceed with a claim for an unpaid invoice should note that:

• If the debt is less than £10,000 the court awards fixed costs no matter what the costs are of the legal action.
• If you are registered for VAT and the debt is more than £10,000 there are different rules on costs in which case the VAT element of our fee may not be reclaimable from your debtor.
• Interest and compensation may take the debt into a higher banding, with a higher cost, although you can limit your claim to a particular band.
• The costs quoted are not for a matter where there is any dispute including dealing with any issue in connection with payment or enforcement of a judgment, such as the instruction of the bailiff to collect your debt.
• The costs are in relation to debts up to £25,000. Larger debts may a fixed fee or be required to be paid by on an hourly rate.

Our fee includes:

• Receiving a copy of the undisputed invoice and your instructions to issue a letter before action.
• It does not include any consideration of your right to make the claim the debt or consider whether there may be a defence or check to up on the debtor company. This will fall outside our fixed fee.
• Drafting and sending a letter before action with instructions to the debtor to pay you direct.
• Receiving instructions if payment is not received to issue proceedings. To include drafting and issuing the claim.
• Where no Acknowledgment of Service or Defence is received, applying to the court to enter Judgement in default

Matters usually take 5-10 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.

Cost of our Services (inclusive of VAT)

For the Recovery of an Undisputed Debt up to £5,000
For each Letter Before Action – £45.00
For the issue of County Court Proceedings for the recovery of an undisputed Debt up to £5,000 – £150.00
For the entry of Judgment – £80.00
The fee to be paid to the Court to Issue the claim – up to £205.00

Total: £275 plus the cost of the issue fee*

For the Recovery of an Undisputed Debt up to £10,000
For each Letter Before Action – £45.00
For the issue of County Court Proceedings for the recovery of an undisputed Debt up to £10,000 – £150.00
For the entry of Judgment – £80.00
The fee to be paid to the Court to Issue the claim – up to £455.00

Total: £275 plus the cost of the issue fee*

For the Recovery of an Undisputed Debt between £10,001 and £25,000
For each Letter Before Action – £45.00
For the issue of County Court Proceedings for the recovery of an undisputed Debt between £10,001 and £25,000 – £150.00
For the entry of Judgment – £100.00
The fee to be paid to the Court to Issue the claim at 5% of the value of the claim – Up to £1250

Total: £295 plus the cost of the issue fee*

For the Recovery of an Undisputed Debt between £25,000 up to £100,000
For each Letter Before Action – £245.00
For the issue of County Court Proceedings for the recovery of an undisputed Debt between £25,000 up to £100,000 – £512.00
For the entry of an undisputed Judgment – £100.00
The fee to be paid to the Court to Issue the claim – up to 5% of the claim

Total: £857 plus the cost of the issue fee*

*The above costs do not include either:

• The cost of dealing with a matter becomes disputed by the debtor. Our costs of dealing with a disputed debt will be charged at the hourly rates of: –
  • Paralegals £192.00 per hour
  • Solicitor £354 per hour
• It is your obligation to take enforcement action for the recovery of the debt after judgment. The cost and expense involved in taking enforcement action depend upon the amount of the judgment and the method(s) used to enforce the judgment and are in addition any fees or expenses stated above.
• If the debtor is worthless then taking any debt action may be pointless as the costs may exceed any benefit you may obtain. This is a decision for you.