Undisputed debts up to £100,000
These fees apply where your claim relates to an unpaid invoice that is not disputed and enforcement action is not needed. If the debtor disputes the claim at any point we will discuss the further work required and give you revised costs advice, which could be a fixed fee (for example where a single letter is required) or an hourly rate where more extensive work is needed.
| Debt value | Court fee | Our fee | Our fee including VAT | Total including VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to £5,000 | up to £205 | £750 | £900 | up to £1,105 |
| £5,001 to £10,000 | £455 | £1,500 | £1,800 | £2,255 |
| £10,001 to £100,000 | 5% of the claim | £5,000 (estimated) | £6,000 | for example £8,500 on a £50,000 claim |
Court fees are set by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (checked 23 September 2026) and do not attract VAT. For claims under £3,000 the court fee is lower, from £35 for claims up to £300. VAT on our fee is charged at 20%.
Anyone wishing to proceed with a claim should note that:
- the VAT element of our fee often cannot be recovered from your debtor;
- interest and statutory compensation may take the debt into a higher band, with a higher court fee and fee;
- the costs above do not cover matters where enforcement action, such as instructing bailiffs or High Court enforcement officers, is needed to collect the debt.
What our fee includes
- Taking your instructions and reviewing the documentation
- Undertaking appropriate searches against the debtor
- Sending a letter before action
- Receiving payment and remitting it to you, or if the debt is not paid, drafting and issuing the claim
- Where no acknowledgment of service or defence is received, applying to the court to enter judgment in default
- When judgment in default is received, writing to the debtor to request payment
- If payment is not received within 14 days, advising you on the next steps and their likely cost
Timescales
Matters usually take 4 to 24 weeks from receipt of your instructions to receipt of payment from the debtor, depending on whether it is necessary to issue a claim and on the basis that the debtor pays promptly once judgment in default is entered. If enforcement action is needed, the matter will take longer to resolve.
Who will do the work
Debt recovery is handled by our litigation team, led by Jamie Waller, Senior Associate Solicitor (admitted 1997), who has more than 25 years’ experience of civil litigation and recovery work. He is supported by two consultant solicitors, Clive Hyer (admitted 1986) and Ashley Bean (admitted 1990), both highly experienced litigators. All work is supervised by a partner of the firm.
Related information
- Debt recovery — our three-stage approach, including defended and enforcement matters
- Contract disputes
Last reviewed 23 September 2026. This information is published in accordance with the SRA Transparency Rules. Every matter is different: the figures on this page are a guide to typical costs, and we will always confirm a written estimate before work begins.