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. 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
- What the debt is for (goods, services, loan)
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 14-30 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."
Basic template structure
[Your name/company]
[Your address]
[Date]
[Their name]
[Their address]
LETTER BEFORE ACTION
Dear [Name],
RE: Outstanding debt of £[amount]
I am writing to you regarding the unpaid invoice [number] dated [date], which remains outstanding.
**Details of the debt:**
- Original amount: £[X]
- Statutory interest: £[X]
- Compensation: £[X]
- **Total owed: £[X]**
Despite my previous requests for payment on [dates], this debt remains unpaid.
**What you must do:**
You must pay the full amount of £[X] by [specific date: 14-30 days from now].
Payment should be made to:
[Bank details or payment method]
**If you do not pay:**
If I do not receive full payment or a satisfactory response by [date], I will issue a claim in the County Court without further notice. Court fees and legal costs will be added to the amount you owe.
If you dispute this debt, you must respond in writing before the deadline with full details and supporting evidence.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
Sending the letter
You must send it by Recorded Delivery or Signed For post. Courts need proof of delivery.
You can also email a copy for speed, but the posted version is what counts legally.
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
- Often overkill for straightforward debts under £10,000
Garfield:
- Generates the letter in minutes
- Includes all legal requirements automatically
- Calculates interest correctly
- Sends via trackable delivery
- Progresses to court filing if ignored
You get professional-quality debt recovery without spending hours on research or hundreds on a solicitor.