What can be done before starting legal action for a debt?

Legal action should always be seen as the final step in debt collection. There are other alternatives steps to consider resolving the issue before embarking on a legal route. The first step to recovering the money you are owed is to use a pre-legal approach. We offer fixed fee pre-legal collection. We use email, letters and telephone to chase debts on your behalf. We report back to you at all stages, with a final review report. At this point, based on the outcome, you can decide to take matters further and use court action. This service allows you to utilise the Late Payment Legislation, so you can add compensation and interest to the debt you are owed. We can also carry out credit checks on your debtors and advise on the most appropriate route to recover your money.

If pre-legal collection fails, what is the next step?

Court action should never be used as the first port of call. Our pre-legal approach has great success in most instances. If the pre-legal approach isn’t successful, though, we are able to escalate matters and take legal action through the courts. The first stage in the process is to issue a ‘Letter Before Action’ which gives the debtor a set deadline to pay the money owed before you follow a legal procedure. In many cases, this enough, and the debt is paid. If the payment isn’t paid by the deadline outlined in the ‘Letter Before Action’ you can move to a more formal legal claim and instruct a litigation solicitor to issue a claim for you. Chasing a debt should never be feared; it is your money. In most cases, it never reaches this stage, so it is always worth seeking advice before commencing enforcement action. If the Letter Before Action fails to resolve your issue, and you still haven’t been paid, the next step is to issue a Claim. We will prepare the Claim Form, Evidence Pack and Particulars of Claim on your behalf and submit these to the court. As a debt collection agency managing high volumes of debt claims, we are able to send claims electronically, which means reductions in both time and cost.

How may a judgment be enforced?

We are able to offer a range of options to enforce judgements if payment is not received within 14 days of the County Court Judgement. Tailored to the specifics of the account, our range of options include: Charging order Order for sale Warrant of control Attachment of earnings High Court Enforcement (for debt over £600 not regulated by Consumer Credit)

What happens if a claim is defended?

In certain instances, if a claim is defended but not complex, we may be able to continue to manage this for you in the debt recovery unit. If a matter is complex, we will discuss all options with you, including moving the matter to the solicitors in our Commercial Litigation team, who are expert in resolving disputes.

Are there alternatives to pursuing a matter in court?

For debts that are disputed by the debtor, another option before taking a legal route is to consider using an independent mediator to help both parties to negotiate an agreement which works for both sides. These are voluntary agreements, so neither side can be forced to adhere to the agreement, which may mean resorting to court action further down the line. Another option may be to use a debt collection arbitrator an independent person who works with both the creditor and the debtor to find an appropriate solution. However, unlike mediation, arbitration is legally binding, so it can be a better route to secure the money owed to you. Please bear in mind though that once an arbitrator has made a decision, it is not possible to go to court.

Home / Expertise / Dispute resolution / Bulk Debt Recovery

Bulk Debt Recovery

If you need ongoing debt recovery from various debtors or for multiple unpaid invoices, our award-winning bulk debt collection service will help you to secure the money you are owed.

Our commercially aware, pragmatic service offers an optimal, cost-effective solution to recovering large volumes of debt as quickly and efficiently as possible with the experience and knowledge of a law firm determined to be the experts of choice for businesses seeking a debt collection agency in the commercial and consumer worlds.

Our expertise

Our debt recovery lawyers and support staff have significant experience in recovering debts for banks, financial and insurance institutions, corporates, retailers, SMEs and individual traders. Our team are experts in the recovery of both commercial and consumer debt, across a range of industry sectors.

We provide a complete a debt recovery solution that is based on maximising recovery potential from every account. We put ourselves in our client’s shoes and treat the recovery of the debt as if it was our own money. This is done using high degrees of technology mixed with well trained staff working to recover the debt whilst delivering excellent brand protection. Our debt team is made up of over 40 debt collection professionals using the most advanced technology and tools. This gives us the systems, expertise and size to offer volume and bulk debt recovery services to a wide range of businesses. Through our subsidiary, we are members of the Credit Services Association and are authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

If you want a modern innovative legal service – with collaboration, communication and mutual respect at its heart – designed to not only help protect your business but help it succeed, then please get in touch.

We are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). We operate in a fair and consistent manner, compliant with all regulatory guidance and best practice.

Have you been contacted about an outstanding debt?

If you have received a call, SMS or letter from us please see our customers page for more information.

FAQs

What can be done before starting legal action for a debt?

Legal action should always be seen as the final step in debt collection. There are other alternatives steps to consider resolving the issue before embarking on a legal route. The first step to recovering the money you are owed is to use a pre-legal approach. We offer fixed fee pre-legal collection. We use email, letters and telephone to chase debts on your behalf. We report back to you at all stages, with a final review report. At this point, based on the outcome, you can decide to take matters further and use court action.

This service allows you to utilise the Late Payment Legislation, so you can add compensation and interest to the debt you are owed. We can also carry out credit checks on your debtors and advise on the most appropriate route to recover your money.
If pre-legal collection fails, what is the next step?

Court action should never be used as the first port of call. Our pre-legal approach has great success in most instances. If the pre-legal approach isn’t successful, though, we are able to escalate matters and take legal action through the courts.

The first stage in the process is to issue a ‘Letter Before Action’ which gives the debtor a set deadline to pay the money owed before you follow a legal procedure. In many cases, this enough, and the debt is paid.

If the payment isn’t paid by the deadline outlined in the ‘Letter Before Action’ you can move to a more formal legal claim and instruct a litigation solicitor to issue a claim for you. Chasing a debt should never be feared; it is your money. In most cases, it never reaches this stage, so it is always worth seeking advice before commencing enforcement action.

If the Letter Before Action fails to resolve your issue, and you still haven’t been paid, the next step is to issue a Claim. We will prepare the Claim Form, Evidence Pack and Particulars of Claim on your behalf and submit these to the court. As a debt collection agency managing high volumes of debt claims, we are able to send claims electronically, which means reductions in both time and cost.
How may a judgment be enforced?
We are able to offer a range of options to enforce judgements if payment is not received within 14 days of the County Court Judgement. Tailored to the specifics of the account, our range of options include:
- Charging order
- Order for sale
- Warrant of control
- Attachment of earnings
- High Court Enforcement (for debt over £600 not regulated by Consumer Credit)
What happens if a claim is defended?

In certain instances, if a claim is defended but not complex, we may be able to continue to manage this for you in the debt recovery unit. If a matter is complex, we will discuss all options with you, including moving the matter to the solicitors in our Commercial Litigation team, who are expert in resolving disputes.
Are there alternatives to pursuing a matter in court?

For debts that are disputed by the debtor, another option before taking a legal route is to consider using an independent mediator to help both parties to negotiate an agreement which works for both sides. These are voluntary agreements, so neither side can be forced to adhere to the agreement, which may mean resorting to court action further down the line.

Another option may be to use a debt collection arbitrator an independent person who works with both the creditor and the debtor to find an appropriate solution. However, unlike mediation, arbitration is legally binding, so it can be a better route to secure the money owed to you. Please bear in mind though that once an arbitrator has made a decision, it is not possible to go to court.