You've done the work, sent the invoice, and now your client won't pay. It's frustrating, but you have clear legal options to recover your money. Here's exactly what to do.
Step 1: Check there's no dispute
Before escalating, make sure:
- The invoice was received - Did you send it to the right email/address?
- The work was delivered - Can you prove you completed what was agreed?
- There's no quality issue - Have they raised any complaints?
- Payment terms are clear - Did your invoice state when payment was due?
If they have a genuine complaint, you may need to address it. If they're just not paying, move to step 2.
Step 2: Send payment reminders
Day 1-3 after due date: Friendly reminder
Keep it light. Many late payments are just oversights.
"Hi [Name], just a quick reminder that invoice #1234 for £X was due on [date]. Could you let me know when I can expect payment?"
Day 7: Firmer reminder
More direct, requesting confirmation.
"Invoice #1234 is now 7 days overdue. Please confirm when payment will be made."
Day 14: Final reminder with warning
Make clear you'll escalate.
"This is my final reminder for invoice #1234. If payment isn't received within 7 days, I'll have to take further action to recover the debt."
Step 3: Send a letter before action
If reminders don't work, send a formal letter before action (LBA). This is a legal requirement before starting Court proceedings.
Your letter must include:
- The exact amount owed
- What it's for (invoice numbers, their dates, etc.)
- A deadline to pay (30 days)
- Warning that you'll file a court claim if they don't pay
Many people pay at this stage to avoid going to court.
Step 4: File a court claim
If the letter is ignored, you have two options:
Option 1: DIY with Money Claims Online (MCOL)
The government's free online system at gov.uk. You'll need to:
- Complete the N1 claim form yourself
- Calculate interest and fees manually
- Track deadlines and responses
- Handle all court correspondence
- Prepare your own evidence bundle
Time required: 10-20+ hours over several months
Risk: Easy to make errors that delay or weaken your claim
Option 2: Garfield (recommended)
Garfield automates the entire process:
- Generates all documents automatically
- Calculates interest and compensation correctly
- Files electronically with the court
- Tracks everything and notifies you of updates
- Provides hearing preparation if needed
Time required: 5 minutes to start
Cost: Fixed recoverable fees - if you win, the Court can order the defendant to pay the majority of Garfield's fees, making it very cost effective
Court fees (same for both options):
These can be found in the Court's document EX50, here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fees-in-the-civil-and-family-courts-main-fees-ex50/civil-court-fees-ex50.
The Court can order the Defendant to reimburse you for these fees if you win.
Step 5: Get judgment and enforce
After you file:
- They have 14 days to respond
- If they pay Your case is concluded and you have recovered your money
- If they don't respond: You should apply for default judgment. Garfield can help you with this.
- If they defend: The case goes to a hearing
- Once you have judgment: You can enforce it
Enforcement options:
- County Court bailiffs
- Attachment of earnings (money from their wages)
- Charging order (on their property)
- High Court enforcement officers
What about interest and compensation?
For business-to-business invoices, if you don't have a contractual clause giving you an entitlement to interest, you can claim:
Statutory interest: 8% above Bank of England base rate, calculated from when payment was due.
Compensation for late payment:
- £40 for debts up to £999.99
- £70 for debts £1,000 - £9,999.99
- £100 for debts £10,000+
These are your legal rights under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.
For business-to-consumer invoices, this depends on whether your contract entitles you to interest. If not, you can make a claim under the County Courts Act 1984.
Common excuses and how to handle them
"I forgot" They've had reminders. Proceed with the LBA.
"I'm waiting on payment from my client" Not your problem. The debtor owes you, regardless of their cash flow. If you are willing, you could offer a payment plan. If not, proceed with the next step.
"The work wasn't what I expected" If they didn't raise this before, it's suspicious. Ask for specific complaints in writing. If it's vague, proceed.
"I can't afford it right now" Offer a payment plan if you're willing. If not, proceed with formal action.
"Your invoice never arrived" Resend it immediately. Give them 7 days to pay now they have it.
How long do you have to recover?
For most debts, you have 6 years from when the debt became due to bring a court claim. But don't wait - the longer you leave it:
- The harder it is to collect
- Evidence becomes stale
- They may think you've given up
- Your cash flow suffers
Start chasing within days of the due date, not months.
Prevention for next time
Clear contracts: State payment terms, what happens if they don't pay (interest charges), and when work is considered complete.
Deposits: For larger projects, take 25-50% upfront.
Stage payments: For long projects, bill at milestones rather than at the end.
Credit checks: For new clients with large orders, consider a credit check first.
How Garfield helps
Chasing non-paying clients manually is time-consuming and stressful. Garfield automates the entire process:
- Professional letter before action sent by tracked post
- One-click court filing if they still don't pay
- Progress tracking so you always know the status
You upload the invoice, we handle the recovery.