Range of fees for debt recovery action in relation to unpaid invoices
When comparing fees for debt recovery there will be a difference in pricing between a Solicitor firm offering a properly qualified solicitor to handle the work personally and a debt recovery department where much of the work is done by unqualified or less experienced personnel subject to the overall nominal supervision of a qualified solicitor.
Here at Newstead & Walker only a qualified Solicitor will handle your case from start to finish and in most cases the same solicitor throughout the case for continuity. To check if the person dealing with your file on a daily basis is a qualified solicitor you can check the law society register here. Law Society find a qualified Solicitor link
Do follow recommendations from people you trust. The vast majority of our business comes from our existing clients who come back to us for repeat business or recommend their friends and family. We welcome the responsibility to provide a good service so as to earn our recommendations.
Please ring us up for a quote. We do not leave that process to an interactive website or to our administrative staff – you will be put through to a qualified solicitor who will not only give you a detailed estimate of fees but will be able to talk you through the process and give you chance to weigh us up in the process!
These costs below 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, or if it is necessary to proceed with other court 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. To see the current hourly charging rate for our debt recovery solicitors please click here.
Court fees listed below are correct as at 10 July 2024. They do vary from time to time and we will inform you of the current court charge at the time of instructions.
| Debt value | Court fee | Our fee (plus VAT) | Total |
| Up to £5,000 | £35-205 (depending on value) | Letter before action £100 (plus £20 vat)
Issue £200 (plus £40 vat) Request for judgment £25 (plus £5 vat) |
£325 plus £65 vat
Plus current applicable court fee |
| £5,001 – £10,000 | £455 | Letter before action £150 (plus £30 vat)
Issue claim £200 (plus £40 vat) Request for judgment £30 (plus £6 vat) |
£380 plus £76 vat
Plus current applicable court fee |
| £10,001 – £50,000 | 5% value of the claim | Letter before action £275 (plus £55 vat)
Issue claim £550 (plus £110 vat) Request for judgment £100 (plus £20 vat) |
£925 plus £185 vat
Plus current applicable court fee |
| £50,001 – £100,000 | 5% value of the claim | Letter before action £410 (plus £82 vat)
Issue claim £825 (plus £165 vat) Request for judgment £100 (plus £20 vat) |
£1335 plus £267 vat
Plus current applicable court fee |
Anyone wishing to proceed with a claim should note that:
- If a default judgement is entered then unless you have a contractual claim for cost, you will only be able to recover fixed costs which are less than our charges.
- The VAT element of our fee will be claimed on top of the charges listed and cannot be reclaimed from your debtor if you are registered for VAT.
- Interest and compensation may take the debt into a higher banding, with a higher cost.
- After a judgement has been obtained you may need to take enforcement action to be paid the amount of the judgement. The costs quoted above do not include our costs with advising over or taking any enforcement action. We shall discuss these separately with you at the time and the costs involved.
- If a defence is filed there will be a contested claim and we shall then discuss the further cost incurred separately with you.
- Where required – online ECOS ID check – £8.00 plus £1.60 vat (per person) a AML check – £4.50 plus £0.90 vat (per person)
Our fee includes:
- Taking your instructions and reviewing documentation
- Undertaking appropriate companies house searches
- Sending a letter before action
- Receiving payment and sending onto you, or if the debt is not paid, drafting and issuing claim
- Where no Acknowledgement of Service or Defence is received, applying to the court to enter Judgement in default
- When Judgement in default in received, write to the other side to request payment
- If payment is not received within 21 days, providing you with advice on next steps and likely costs
Matters usually take 1-4 months 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. This is on the basis that the other side pays promptly on receipt of Judgement in default. This does however depend on the speed of the court. If enforcement action is needed, the matter will take longer to resolve.
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