Introduction

As part of our professional rules, we aim to ensure that anyone using our services has the information they need to make an informed choice of legal services provider, including understanding what the costs may be.

Why instruct Peter Dunn Solicitors?

From our offices in Sunderland and Seaham, Peter Dunn Solicitors can provide expert advice to businesses across the region. Civil Litigation is the court process for resolving disputes between individuals or individuals and companies. In the County Court arena, disputes can still also be settled by mediation and negotiation. The range and value of disputes can vary enormously from a few hundred pounds to hundreds of thousands of pounds. If you are endeavouring to chase debts or become involved in a contract dispute, we can advise you on your chances of success and the potential cost involved. We can commence or defend proceedings in the County Court or High Court.

We can represent clients in a number of areas, including the following:

• Debt collection of undisputed debts
• Contract disputes
• Possession proceedings, both domestic and commercial

Our Debt Recovery Team

Andrew Tilbury
Director-Solicitor

Undisputed Business to Business Debt Recovery

Scope of work

These costs 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, 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.

Anticipated charges and expenses

Our fee includes:

• Taking your instructions and reviewing documentation
• Undertaking appropriate 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 Acknowledgment 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 28 days, providing you with advice on next steps and likely costs

Additional notes

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 the bailiff, is needed to collect your debt.

How long will this take?

It is difficult to estimate with any precision how long debt recovery matter will take as it will be influenced by many factors, some of which are outside of our control. Matters usually take 6 to 52 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 enforcement action is needed, the matter will take longer to resolve.

Updated: January 2021