Commercial (business to business) Debt Recovery Costs Information

At Borneo Martell Turner Coulston we specialise in providing clients with tailored debt recovery advice and procedures, utilising the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims (“the Protocol”).

We do not provide volume debt recovery services and pride ourselves in going that extra mile by providing clients with bespoke advice relevant to the particular debt in question. On this basis we recommend that clients contact us in the first instance to discuss the proposed fees in recovering the debt, not only so we have a better understanding of the debt itself but also so the estimate is as close as possible to the amount which you are charged.

The following lawyers deal with debt recovery work: –

• Tim Vaughan – Consultant (Qualified in 1975)  £285 per hour plus £57 VAT charged at the current rate of 20% – £342 total
• Sharon Hundal – Partner (Qualified in 2005)  £265 per hour plus £53 charged at the current rate of 20% – £318 total
• Tom Bodkin – Solicitor (Qualified in 2016)  £245 per hour plus £49 VAT charged at the current rate of 20%- £294 total
• Connor Williams – Litigation Executive  £230 per hour plus £46 VAT charged at the current rate of 20% £276 total

Although we are unable to give a fixed price for our costs, assuming that the debt is undisputed and legal proceedings/ enforcement action is not required we offer the following guideline costs estimates:

An undisputed debt claim of up to £100,000:

• £750 – £2,000 plus VAT charged at the current rate of 20% to take instructions and review limited documents ancillary to the debt and send a letter of claim to the defendant.
• £2,000 – £4,000 plus VAT charged at the current rate of 20% to include the items listed above and issuing a Claim Form at Court.

A disputed debt claim of up to £100,000:

• A range of between £20,000 – £30,000 plus VAT charged at the current rate of 20% which will include taking instructions from you, reviewing relevant documents ancillary to the debt, sending a letter of claim to the defendant and all procedures taking the claim through to trial.

Please note that the above fees exclude VAT and any third-party disbursements.

If the matter were to become unduly complex or protracted, then it is likely that our fee estimate will change and if this is the case then we would discuss this with you in the first instance, so you are aware of any potential further costs.  

Should legal proceedings need to be issued at court then your matter will separately necessitate payment of a court fee, details of which are set out below:

Claim Amount	Claim Fee
Up to £300	£35
£300.01-£500	£50
£500.01-£1,000	£70
£1,000.01- £1,500	£80
£1,500.01- £3,000	£115
£3,000.01-£5000	£205
£5,000.01-£10,000	£455
£10,000.01-£100,000	5% of the claim

Anyone wishing to proceed with a claim should note that:

• The VAT element of our fee cannot be reclaimed from your debtor.
• Interest and compensation may take the debt into a higher banding, with a higher cost.
• The costs quoted above are not for matters where enforcement action, such as a bailiff, is needed to collect your debt.

Our fee includes:

• Taking your instructions and reviewing documentation.
• Undertaking appropriate searches.
• Sending a letter before claim.
• Receiving payment and sending onto you, or if the debt is not paid, drafting and issuing the claim.
• Where no Acknowledgment of Service or Defence is received, applying to the court to enter Judgment in default.
• When Judgment in default is received, write to the other side to request payment.
• If payment is not received within 14 days, providing you with advice on next steps and likely costs.

Matters usually take 6-9 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. This is on the basis that the other side pays promptly on receipt of the Judgment in default. If enforcement action is needed, the matter will take longer to resolve.

Should you require any assistance with collecting any commercial debt then please do not hesitate to contact our dispute resolution department on 01604 622101 who will be delighted to help.