Congested courts the only option for debt enforcement

While the restricted use of statutory demands and winding-up petitions will provide a lifeline for many struggling companies, the move also forces creditors chasing overdue debts into an already overburdened court system. As it stands, the only remedy to enforce payment of a debt is through a High Court enforcement officer. You may send out…

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How to deal with disputed invoices

Dealing with disputed invoices can be challenging, especially if your customer is squabbling simply to avoid payment. The most important thing is to take time to understand what the dispute is. Then, isolate and seek to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. If you believe the dispute is bogus, explain your reasons and press…

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Stat Ds and undisputed, but overdue invoices

Issuing a Statutory Demand (or Stat D) is an effective way to encourage prompt payment of overdue invoices and debts, but it’s not the only method. A Stat D is a formal document requesting payment of an outstanding debt within 21 days. By issuing one, you give creditors another 3 weeks to pay a debt…

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CCJs, winding-up petitions and undisputed debts

Sometimes, you may need to issue a County Court Judgment (CCJ) or a Winding-Up Petition on an insolvent company that owes you money. But what’s the difference? County Court Judgments usually come about when a company refuses to pay an overdue debt. The creditor (claimant) who’s owed money commences proceedings by visiting the Government’s website,…

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Tips for collecting long-standing debts

Earlier this year, I&L received a phone call from a distressed subcontractor (subbie). They claimed that for months, West Midlands construction firm the Shaylor Group had been ignoring their requests for payment of an overdue invoice. After a brief consultation, they instructed us to recover the debt on their behalf. Although we were made to…

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Statutory Demand vs Pre-action letter

Pre-action letters and Statutory Demands (also known as Stat Ds) are useful tools for chasing longstanding and undisputed debts. But how do they differ? Firstly, the names of the participants involved. Whoever issues the Statutory Demand is an ‘applicant,’ but the sender of pre-action letter is a ‘claimant’. Likewise, the recipient of Stat D is…

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