These costs apply where your claim is in relation to an unpaid invoice which is not disputed and enforcement action is not needed. The fees below assume the debt does not exceed £100,000 inclusive of interest and costs.

If the other party disputes your claim at any point, 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.

Our current hourly rates are:

Helen Boddy (Solicitor/Partner) £325 plus VAT at 20%
Kate Matthews (Solicitor/ Partner) £325 plus VAT at 20%
Dominic Maillot (Paralegal) £100 plus VAT at 20%
Debt Value Court Fee (no VAT payable on Court fees) Our Fees (subject to VAT @ 20%)
Up to £10,000 £35 to £455
(No VAT
payable on
this fee)		 Claims for less than £10,000 do not usually need the involvement of a solicitor. They are allocated to the “small claims” track of the county court. Proceedings can be issued online using Money Claims On-Line. You will be offered a compulsory free Mediation.

You will not usually be able to recover your legal fees for a claim worth less than £10,000 even if you win. If you did wish to instruct us, our fees are likely to be £1,000 plus VAT @ 20% plus disbursements for initial advice and a further £850 plus VAT @ 20% for a letter before action under the Court Protocol.

For undisputed debt claims over £10,000 but below £25,000, Fast track rules will apply. Recoverability of costs is limited to the Fixed Recoverable Costs Regime and will depend on bands for the level of complexity and value. Our fees are likely to be £1,500 plus VAT @ 20% plus disbursements for initial advice and a further £1500 plus VAT @ 20% for a letter before action under the Court Protocol.

For claims falling between £25 000 and £100 000, these will be allocated to the Intermediate track. Recoverability of costs is limited to the Fixed Recoverable Costs Regime and will depend on bands for the level of complexity and value. Our fees are likely to be £2,500 plus VAT @ 20% plus disbursements for initial advice and a further £2500 plus VAT @ 20% for a letter before action under the Court Protocol.
£10,001 – £200,000 5% of the value of the claim
(no VAT payable on this fee)		 Our fees for an undisputed debt action overall are likely to be between £2,500 to £20,000 plus VAT plus disbursements under the Court Protocol. *See below.

Broadly speaking we would expect our fees to be between £2,500 and £20,000 (plus VAT @ 20% and excluding any disbursements) for the work involved in relation to an undisputed debt action as set out below. Please note, however, that if some of the stages are not required, our fees will be reduced.

For an undisputed debt action our fee includes:

  • Taking your instructions and reviewing documentation
  • Undertaking appropriate searches
  • Sending a letter before action
  • If the debt is not paid, drafting and issuing a claim
  • Where no Acknowledgment of Service and/ or no Defence is received, applying to the court to enter Judgement in default
  • When Judgement in default is received, write to the other side to request payment
  • If the debt is undisputed, negotiations for payment may include an agreed payment schedule
  • If payment is not received within 28 days, providing you with advice on next steps and likely costs. This will include enforcement action. However costs for those next steps are not included in the fees above.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as a barrister also known as counsel, and Court fees.

If you issue a claim at Court you will be required to pay a Court fee. The Court fees are based on the amount claimed, including interest as set out above. Court fees are not subject to VAT.

Sometimes we will engage a barrister (Counsel) to advise and as necessary draft the claim on your behalf. Counsel’s fees will depend on the experience of the advocate and the work they are to carry out. We will advise you on likely fees on a case by case basis. Counsel’s fees are subject to VAT @ 20%.

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 the debt is disputed, where it relates to insolvency proceedings, or for any post judgment enforcement action, such as the bailiff, is needed to collect your debt.

How long will it take

Matters usually take 2-8 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 Judgement in default. If a claim is issued, it will take much longer as there can be severe delays in processing claims and the next steps at Court. If enforcement action is needed, the matter will take longer to resolve.

Complex and Disputed cases

For complex and defended cases, we will advise on likely costs for each stage of the action.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

We will also advise on strategy for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) procedures to seek to resolve the dispute without the need for Court action, in undisputed or complex cases. See our ADR section for further information.