Debt Recovery
If you are owed money and need legal advice to help you recover that money. Contact us at Willsons Solicitors, we can help.
Debt recovery process and fixed fees
Stage One
- Taking your instructions and reviewing documentation
- Undertaking appropriate searches
- Sending a letter before action
- Receiving payment and sending onto you
- If payment is not received within 14 days, or a response to the letter is received, providing you with advice on next steps and likely costs.
* Please note any correspondence received from the debtor indicating that the debt is disputed or negotiating payment terms is not included within our fixed fees. We will contact you discuss our likely costs before incurring any costs above and beyond the fixed fees.
Stage Two
- Drafting and issuing claim form
- Receiving and reviewing defence. Discussing next steps and costs with you (our fixed fee does not include providing advice on the defence or chances of success).
- If no defence is received applying for judgement in default
- If an admission is received, reviewing, taking your further instructions and applying for judgment
- Writing to debtor seeking payment of judgement debt.
Stage Three
- If judgement is obtained but no payment made providing you with advice on next steps
- Taking steps to enforce the judgment and recover debt.
Fixed Fees
Our fixed fees for straightforward debt recovery up to £25,000 are below. If you are seeking to recover a debt more than £25,000 please contact us to discuss costs.
Stage One – Letter before action costs
| Debt Value | Our Fee (ex. VAT) | |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol compliant letter | Non-protocol letter | |
| Up to £5,000 | £175 | £125 |
| £5,001-£10,000 | £225 | £175 |
| £10,001-£50,000 | £250 | £200 |
Please note any correspondence received from the debtor indicating that the debt is disputed or negotiating payment terms is not included within our fixed fees. We will contact you discuss our likely costs before incurring any costs above and beyond the fixed fees.
Stage Two – Issue of Court proceedings
(Please note that the Court fees may increase from time to time):
| Amount of Debt | Court fee for issue of proceedings | Fixed fee for issue of Court proceedings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our fee (VAT to be added) | Fee recoverable from debtor | ||
| Up to £300 | £35 | £100 | £50 |
| £300.01 - £500 | £50 | £125 | £50 |
| £500.01 - £1,000 | £70 | £150 | £70 |
| £1000.01 - £1,500 | £80 | £150 | £80 |
| £1,500.01 - £3,000 | £115 | £175 | £80 |
| £3,000.01 - £5,000 | £205 | £175 | £80 |
| £5,000.01 - £10,000 | £455 | £250 | £100 |
| £10,000.01 - £25,000 | 5% of the claim | £500 | £100 |
Stage Two – Applying for Judgement
| Amount of Debt | Our fee (VAT to be added) | Fee recoverable from debtor |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed fee for applying for judgement in default of acknowledgment of service | ||
| £25 - £5,000 | £22 | £22 |
| £5,000 and above | £30 | £30 |
| Fixed fee for applying for Judgment in default of defence | ||
| £25 - £5,000 | £25 | £25 |
| £5,000.01 and above | £35 | £35 |
| Fixed fee for applying for judgement following admission (if dealt with on paper by the Court) | ||
| £25 – £5,000 | £40 - £55 | £40 - £55 |
| £5,000.01 and above | £55 - £70 | £55 - £70 |
Please note:
- Fixed costs listed on our website only apply to debts covered by English law
- Fixed costs only apply where the debtor resides in England
- The VAT element of our costs cannot be recovered from the debtor
- Interest and compensation may take the debt into a higher banding, with a higher cost.
- The fixed costs above do not include costs for reviewing and dealing with any disputed debt (i.e. settlement negotiations), defence and/or counterclaim, or enforcement of judgments.
- There will be additional costs if it is necessary to locate the debtor
- There will be additional costs if there is more than one debtor or the claim form is served by any other means than first class post.
Stage Three – Enforcement costs
Please contact Elizabeth Ashford for more details.
Matters could take between four and twelve weeks from receipt of instructions from you, to judgement. If the issue of proceedings is necessary, the debt disputed or enforcement action required the matter will take longer to resolve.
The hourly rate for Elizabeth Ashford (Chartered Legal Executive) is: £175 + VAT
The hourly rate for Manjit Kaur-Heer (Solicitors) is: £200 + VAT
It is impossible to give a fixed estimate of disputed debts as the costs of a case will be influenced by numerous different factors. We will always update any costs provided to you as and when it is appropriate. We will inform you if any unforeseen additional work becomes necessary, for example due to unexpected difficulty or if your requirements or the circumstances significantly change during the course of the matter. We will also inform you of its estimated costs in writing before any extra charges or expenses are incurred. If, for any reason, this matter does not proceed to completion, we will charge you for the work done and expenses incurred.
As the case proceeds, we will give you an estimate of the time likely to be spent in dealing with this case as the time is, of course, a factor in the calculation of your legal fees. If you wish to set an upper limit on the costs which we incur on your behalf, you must let me know at this point. We will not exceed any agreed limit on your costs without first obtaining your permission.
Willsons Solicitors will also endeavour to explain what reasonable foreseeable payments you may have to make either to myself or a third party and when those payments are likely to be needed.
Additional Information
Cohabitee Disputes
Contested Probate
Debt Recovery
Meet The Civil Disputes Team
About Manjit
Manjit qualified as a Solicitor in 1990 and brings a wealth of legal experience in Litigation to Willsons. Manjit has a specialist interest in disputes involving property ownership, validity of Wills, estates and inheritance. A number of these claims have risen in the family contexts. Inheritance disputes may arise when the validity of the Will is in question and also when an individual feels someone who has died has not made enough provision in their estate for them.
Manjit has considerable expertise in Contentious Probate area of law having dealt with numerous claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 and around the validity of Wills arising from matters such as undue influence, forgery and lack of testamentary capacity.
Manjit often acts in these situations for children or disabled and/or venerable adults.
Manjit has experience and has represented individuals and business in connection with large money claims, has acted for share-holders in the protection of their minority interests, for company directors facing personal claims, for partners in partnership disputes, for Claimants in professional negligence claims, for employers and employees in connection with employment claims, for Landlords and tenants of business premises and advised in all manner of insolvency and contractual disputes.
Manjit is a Sikh and was born in the Punjab in India and has extended family in India, Canada and the United States. Manjit’s interests are varied and include walking, dance, music, Bollywood, reading, movies, cookery and fashion.