The power of a letter before action in a business dispute
If you are involved in a business dispute, then it is sensible to try to resolve the matter as quickly and cost-efficiently as possible to
To discuss your specific debt recovery requirements, please contact us:
Telephone: 020 8367 3230
Email: sgl@martinshepherd.co.uk
Your matter will be dealt with by one of our 2 very experienced solicitors.
Their full profile is in the Our People section of this website.
These costs apply where your claim is in relation to an unpaid invoice 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.
We do not accept instructions for debt recovery where the sum claimed is less than £10,000.
Our fee is based on an hourly rate of £275 plus VAT.
It will take an average of 5 hours to obtain judgment in default and the court fee is 5% of the sum claimed.
If payment is received after the initial letter before action you can expect to pay £550 plus VAT plus the court fee.
If payment is received after the judgment in default, the fee is £1375 plus VAT plus the court fee.
Matters usually take 4-18 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. The shortest time period is based on court proceedings not being required and the longest on obtaining the judgment in default. This is on the basis that the other side pays promptly on receipt of Judgement in default.
If an Acknowledgment of Service or a Defence is filed, we will be able to advise you of the likely costs for a defended claim and the timescales at that time. We will continue to charge you at an hourly rate of £275 plus VAT.
If enforcement action is needed, the matter will take longer to resolve. The matter will be transferred to the High Court for enforcement for which there is a court fee of £66 and the time to enforce is an average of 3 hours and the fee will be in the region of £825 plus VAT. We will be able to advise you of the most appropriate enforcement at the time and provide you with an estimate of our fee and the court fees and disbursements involved (payments to 3rd parties).
To discuss your specific debt recovery requirements, please contact us:
Telephone: 020 8367 3230
Email: sgl@martinshepherd.co.uk
If you are involved in a business dispute, then it is sensible to try to resolve the matter as quickly and cost-efficiently as possible to
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Do you have any questions that we haven’t answered on this page? Click the button to get in contact with a member of our team.
The legal information on this website cannot be regarded as a definitive statement of the law or of the effect of the law, and does not comprise, and should not be relied on as giving, legal advice.
It has been prepared in good faith, but none of the individuals responsible for or involved in its preparation accept any legal responsibility or liability for anything done in reliance on it.
Martin Shepherd Solicitors LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England & Wales, registration number OC356132, Potters Bar – Head Office, Maple House, High Street Potters Bar London EN6 5BS where a list of the members is kept.
Martin Shepherd Solicitors LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority numbers: 560729 (Potters Bar – Head Office); 562353 (Finchley office); 615079 (Hertford office). VAT Registration Number 116 9785 78
