Letter Before Action (Debt Recovery)

[senderName]
[senderAddress]

03/07/2026

[recipientName]
[recipientAddress]

BY RECORDED DELIVERY AND EMAIL

LETTER BEFORE CLAIM — Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims
Our ref: [ourRef]    Debt: £[principal]

Dear [recipientName],

We refer to invoice number [invoiceNumber] dated [invoiceDate] in the sum of £[principal], which fell due for payment on [dueDate] and remains outstanding despite our reminders.

This letter is written in compliance with the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims (in force since 1 October 2017) and constitutes a Letter Before Action for the purposes of civil proceedings in the County Court.

1. THE DEBT
   • Invoice number:                 [invoiceNumber]
   • Invoice date:                   [invoiceDate]
   • Original principal:             £[principal]
   • Payment due date:               [dueDate]
   • Days late (to date of letter):  [daysLate]

2. STATUTORY INTEREST AND COMPENSATION
Under sections 4 and 5A of the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, we are entitled to statutory interest at the Bank of England base rate + 8 percentage points (currently [annualRate]% per annum) and a fixed compensation sum for the costs of recovery.

   • Statutory interest accrued:     £[interest]
   • Fixed s.5A compensation:        £[compensation]
   • TOTAL NOW DUE:                  £[total]

Interest continues to accrue daily at £[dailyInterest] until the debt is paid in full.

3. WHAT YOU MUST DO
Payment of the total sum of £[total] must be made within THIRTY (30) DAYS of the date of this letter (or such longer period as the Protocol requires for a debtor who is an individual) to:
   Account name:  [bankAccountName]
   Sort code:     [sortCode]
   Account no.:   [accountNumber]
   Reference:     [ourRef]

Enclosed with this letter are:
   (a) an up-to-date statement of account;
   (b) a copy of the underlying contract or invoice;
   (c) an Information Sheet, Reply Form and Financial Statement form as required by the Protocol.

If you dispute the debt, please complete and return the Reply Form within thirty days, setting out the grounds and enclosing any documents you rely on. Failure to reply within thirty days will entitle us to commence court proceedings without further notice.

4. CONSEQUENCES OF NON-PAYMENT
If we do not receive payment or a substantive reply within thirty days, we will issue a claim in the County Court without further notice, seeking judgment for the debt, statutory interest, fixed costs and, where applicable, an entry on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines that may affect your credit rating.

Yours faithfully,

[senderName]