Debt recovery instruction form

This decides which pre-action rules apply, so it changes the deadline and what has to be enclosed. If you are not sure, say so — checking it is the first thing we do.

Exactly as it appears on your invoice, and the registered company name if you know it is different.

An oral agreement is still a contract and still enforceable. It just means the evidence is the correspondence and conduct rather than a signed document.

The fixed compensation sum attaches to each late invoice, so this materially changes what the debt is worth.

The date payment was due, not the invoice date. Interest runs from the day after.

With no agreed terms the statutory default is 30 days.

This is the test that decides whether the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act applies. If your customer bought as a private individual rather than for their business, the statutory interest and compensation route is not available and we would tell you that.

If they do and the rate is a substantial remedy, it may displace the statutory rate. A token rate usually leaves you worse off than the statute.

Please tell us if they have, even informally. A debt with a live dispute in it is a different job, and pursuing it as though it were undisputed can expose you to costs.

The invoice, plus the order, contract or correspondence if you have them. One file — zip them together if there are several, up to 8MB. If it is easier, email them to hello@businessdebtrecovery.co.uk.

This is not the instruction itself. If we take the matter on you will receive a letter of instruction setting out the scope and the fixed fee, to sign electronically — nothing is sent to your debtor before that.