Writing a Letter Before Action isn't complicated, but it needs to be done correctly. Miss something important, and the court might dismiss your claim or not award you everything that you are seeking. Use the wrong tone, and you could undermine your case.
Here's exactly what to include and how to write it.
What to include
Your Letter Before Action must contain:
1. Your details
- Full name or company name
- Address
- Contact details (phone, email)
2. Their details
- Full legal name (check Companies House if it's a business)
- Full address
3. Debt details
- Exact amount owed
- Invoice or reference number
- Date payment was due
4. Breakdown of the total
- Original debt: £X
- Interest: £X (show how calculated)
- Compensation: £X (statutory fees if applicable)
- Total: £X
5. Deadline to pay
- Give them 30 days to pay or respond
- Be specific: "You must pay by [exact date]"
6. Warning of court action
- State clearly that you will file a court claim if they don't pay
- Mention that court fees and legal costs will be added
7. Attach the required forms (for individual debtors only)
- Information Sheet - Explains the debtor's rights and what they should do next, including details about Citizens Advice and debt advice services
- Reply Form - Standard form the debtor must use to respond within 30 days
- Financial Statement Form - Income and expenditure form for the debtor to complete
Note: These forms are not required if you're claiming from a limited company
Tone and language
Be professional and factual. Don't be aggressive, emotional, or threatening. Stick to the facts.
Bad example: "You've been ignoring us for months and this is completely unacceptable. Pay immediately or we'll take you to court and ruin your credit rating."
Good example: "Despite several reminders, the invoice remains unpaid. If full payment is not received by [date], I will have no option but to issue court proceedings without further notice."
Sending the letter
You must send it by post. Sending it by email is also a good idea but post is required.
DIY vs professional help
Doing it yourself:
- Takes 4-6 hours (research + drafting + sending)
- Risk of missing legal requirements
- Risk of wrong tone (too aggressive or too weak)
Solicitor:
- Costs £150-£400 just for the letter
- Those costs won't be recoverable from the debtor
Garfield:
- Generates the letter in minutes
- Includes all legal requirements automatically
- Calculates interest correctly
- Sends via email and post
- Progresses to court filing if ignored
You get professional-quality debt recovery without spending hours on research or hundreds on a solicitor.