
Debt Recovery Services
At Duffield Harrison LLP Solicitors, we offer professional debt recovery services to help individuals and businesses recover outstanding debts. Whether you are pursuing a single debt or a portfolio of unpaid invoices, our expert team is ready to assist clients in Hoddesdon, Hertford, Enfield, and beyond.
The Debt Collection Process
We have extensive experience in helping clients recover debts of all sizes. Here’s a breakdown of our approach to debt collection, focusing on non-complex invoice collection for debts up to £100,000:
1. Letter Before Action
The first step in any debt recovery process is to issue a Letter Before Action (LBA). This is a formal demand for payment, sent in accordance with the Civil Procedure Rules. We typically allow the debtor 7 to 14 days to pay. If the debt is settled at this stage, we charge a flat fee of £150 plus VAT. For multiple invoices, we will agree on the cost with you in advance.
2. Negotiations
If there’s a dispute over the debt, we can negotiate on your behalf to reach a settlement. We offer 1.5 hours of negotiation for a fixed fee of £275 plus VAT. If the negotiations exceed this, we’ll notify you beforehand. This step often results in debtors paying up to avoid legal proceedings.
3. Issuing Proceedings
If negotiations fail, we will proceed to court. There are two sets of fees involved: Court Fees and Our Fees. These fees cover claims up to the point of obtaining a Default Judgment. If the case is defended, we will discuss an hourly rate with you.
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Small Claims (up to £10,000): £2,500 - £5,000 plus VAT
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Fast Track (between £10,000 and £25,000): £5,000 - £15,000 plus VAT
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Multi-Track Cases: Fees to be reviewed based on the complexity.
Court Fees
Value of Debt:​
Value of Debt:
Court Fee:
£35-£205
£455
5% of the Value of the Claim
5% of the Value of the Claim
Our Fees
Value of Debt:
Up to £4,999
£5,000 to £9,999
£10,000 to £25,000
£25,000 to £100,000
Court Fee:
£300 plus VAT = £360
£400 plus VAT = £480
£500 plus VAT = £480
£800 plus VAT = £960
4. Enforcement Options​
Once a Judgment is obtained, we can help you enforce it through several options, including:
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County Court Enforcement: £90 - £180 plus VAT
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High Court Enforcement (for debts over £600): £90 - £270 plus VAT
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Charging Order: £300 - £400 plus VAT (additional court and registry fees apply)
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Attachment of Earnings Order: £130 - £150 plus VAT
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Third Party Debt Order: £225 - £275 plus VAT
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Statutory Demand (pre-cursor to Bankruptcy): £130 - £150 plus VAT
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Bankruptcy Proceedings: £700 - £800 plus VAT (additional court and process server fees)
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Winding Up Proceedings: £900 - £1,100 plus VAT (disbursements extra)
For debts under £10,000, recovery of legal costs from the debtor is unlikely. If the case is defended, we will charge hourly rates, which will be agreed with you in advance.

For more information about debt recovery, contact Duffield Harrison LLP Solicitors.

Hoddesdon: 01992 442911

Hertford: 01992 587065

Enfield: 020 8804 5271