Debt Recovery

Debt Recovery

Outstanding debt owed to you can be frustrating and unsettling. We understand that it can have a significant effect on your livelihood and business if you are unable to pay your own bills or pay your employee’s wages.

Debt Collection Solicitors

Our team of specialist lawyers can assist in the recovery of debt that has not been paid to you or your business. Contact Us.

We recognise that you need certainty about the fees which we will ask you to pay. This is why the majority of our debt recovery work is set with ‘fixed fees.’ Our fees are based on the value and complexity of your case and they are set out as follows:-

Initial Review of Case and Supporting Documentation

This includes initial advice at the outset of your case, as well as a review of all documentation in respect of your debt recovery. This work is charged at an hourly rate of £90.00 per hour (plus VAT) and is charged depending on the volume of documents.

An estimated sum is to be provided at the outset of your case.

We offer a fixed fee arrangement for each step of the recovery process.

Step 1: Letter before Court Action

The cost of writing a ‘Letter before Action,’ giving the Debtor 30 days to make payment, is charged as follows:

Value of case Our Fee Total
Up to £1,000 £75 + VAT £90
£1,001 – £5,000 £120 + VAT £144
£5,001 – £10,000 £175 + VAT £210
£10,000 – £49,999 £250 + VAT £300

Pre-Action Negotiations (where instructed in step 1):-

  • If agreement to pay in full – no additional charges
  • If negotiate repayment plan – work is charged at an hourly rate of £90 per hour (plus VAT).
  • If management of repayment plan required – fixed fee of £100 per annum and additional work for default charged at an hourly rate of £90 per hour (plus VAT).
  • If unable to negotiate settlement – proceed to step 2 as below:

Step 2: Starting Court Action – Issuing Proceedings

Should you not receive a payment within 30 days of completing step 1, you are able to issue a claim to the County Court against the Debtor. The below fees include drafting a claim form and filing the same to the Court.

There are also Court fees payable depending on the value of your claim, set out below:-

Value of case Our Fee Court Fee Total
Up to £1,000 £150 + VAT £35 – £70 £215 – £250
£1,001 – £5,000 £230 + VAT £80 – £205 £356 – £481
£5,001 – £10,000 £375 + VAT £455 £905
£10,000 – £49,999 £950 + VAT 5% of the value of the claim £1140 + 5% court fee

*Subject to change

Step 3: Obtaining Default Judgment

If the Debtor does not respond to the claim or settle the debt within 14 days of step 2, we can apply for default Judgment on your behalf. This is a request to the Court to find in your favour and enter judgment against the Debtor if they have failed to engage with the Court process. The fees are as follows:

Value of case Our Fee Total
Up to £1,000 £25 + VAT £30
£1,001 – £5,000 £40 + VAT £48
£5,001 – £10,000 £75 + VAT £90
£10,000 – £49,999 £100 + VAT £120

Please note that if the Debtor acknowledges the claim and files a defence, then the fixed fees will no longer apply and a quote will be provided for further work in respect of the disputed case.

Step 4: Enforcement

Once we have obtained default Judgment, we will advise you on the best course of enforcement action against the Debtor to recover the sums owed. There are a variety of options available, including:

  • High Court Bailiffs
  • Attachment of Earnings Order
  • Charging Order against the Debtors Property or Land
  • Order to Attend Court

This work is charged at an hourly rate of £90.00 per hour (plus VAT) and an estimate of our costs will provided at the outset of enforcement.

The Court fee varies, depending on which course of enforcement action you choose to take.

Our charges do not extend to any work needed to commence insolvency proceedings, and if this is required, we will discuss the costs with you at this stage.

All fees set out above are based on undisputed debt collection cases. If the debt becomes contested then our standard terms of business will apply and we will provide a bespoke quote based on the complexity of the case and the nature of the dispute.

If the value of your debt is £50,000 or above, please contact us directly to receive a free consultation of up to thirty minutes where we are able to discuss funding arrangements and provide you with a bespoke quote.

Why Watson Woodhouse?

  • There is a legal procedure that must be followed when recovering an outstanding debt. Our debt recovery team have specialist knowledge and experience in this area of law, making the process much easier for you.
  • We will ensure that you are kept up to date throughout your case, and we will advise you of the best course of action throughout the proceedings.
  • We will provide you with a realistic expectation of the likely outcome, with the aim to recover all outstanding debt owed to you.
  • We can use specific methods of debt recovery, that are unable to individuals making a claim independently. We can also represent you in Court, if necessary.

We are here to help

Call us for a confidential consultation with a specialist solicitor today on 01642 247656 or on our 24/7 Emergency Helpline 01642 917175

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Contacting Us

01642 247656 info@watsonwoodhouse.co.uk 24 Hour Arrest Helpline 01642 917175

Head Office

102-108 Borough Road
Middlesbrough
Teesside
TS1 2HJ
United Kingdom

Company Registration Number: 10868114 VAT Number: 499 468 172

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Middlesbrough

Our Head Office, York House

102-108 Borough Road
Middlesbrough
Teesside
TS1 2HJ
United Kingdom

info@watsonwoodhouse.co.uk 24 Hour Arrest Helpline 01642 917175