Frequently asked questions
The useful answers, before you make the call.
If your question is not here, tell us what is happening and we’ll explain the next sensible step.
How much does the service cost?
We charge 10% of the full claim value, including late payment fees and VAT, subject to a minimum charge of £100 + VAT. Because the first step is No Win, No Fee, there is no charge if we recover nothing.
Are there any upfront or monthly fees?
No. We do not charge an upfront fee or monthly retainer for the B2B collection service. Our fee becomes payable only after the debtor has paid you.
Do you collect personal or consumer debts?
No. We focus on commercial, business-to-business debts. We can act for limited companies, sole traders and partnerships where the underlying transaction is commercial.
Is there a minimum invoice value?
There is no minimum invoice value for us to consider. Please note that the service has a minimum charge of £100 + VAT if money is recovered.
What do you need to get started?
We can begin with the invoice and your customer’s contact details. More detail about the transaction and your correspondence can strengthen the case and speed up recovery.
How quickly can you recover an overdue invoice?
Every case is different. Our experience suggests that 37% of debtors pay within seven days of our initial contact. Accurate information gives the best chance of a fast payment.
How old can the debt be?
Commercial debts can generally be pursued up to six years old. Newer debts are usually easier to collect because the transaction and correspondence are still fresh.
Will using a third party damage our customer relationship?
Our professional, assertive approach removes the emotion from the conversation and lets you stay focused on the commercial relationship. It signals that payment matters without requiring you to make the difficult call.
Do you only deal with Limited Companies on your OVERDUE INVOICES debt recovery service?
We deal with all a wide range of clients ranging from Limited Company, Sole Trader and Partnerships. As long as it is a commercial debt (B2B) transaction then Overdue Invoices can act on your behalf.
To start the process all that you need to do is register here. We will then contact you regarding the additional information that we require to start the process for you, at this point we will take care of the rest for you.
NO WIN, NO FEE = NO RISK
What do you need to force a Customer to pay OVERDUE INVOICES or a Bad Debt?
Unfortunately it is not possible to force somebody to pay.
However, Overdue Invoices have an excellent process that combines our knowledge of payment recovery legislation and outstanding technology that significantly improves the likelihood of recovering our clients debts in a timely manner.
To start the process all that you need to do is register here. We will then contact you regarding the additional information that we require to start the process for you, at this point we will take care of the rest for you.
NO WIN, NO FEE = NO RISK
My customer paid my OVERDUE INVOICES straight after I instructed you to act for us. Do I still have to pay?
It is not unusual for a Debtor to pay their Overdue Invoices as soon as we make contact with them, 37% of debtors will pay within 7 days of our initial contact. The fact that you have employed us sends a very strong message to the debtor telling them that you are serious about collecting the debt. The quick payment proves that our service works, so the fees are valid and need to be paid.
However, many of our customer find that debtor that have been chased by us pay future invoices more quickly because they know that the consequence of paying late will/could be late payment charges. This is because you have climbed the pecking order of preferential creditors.
To start the process all that you need to do is register here. We will then contact you regarding the additional information that we require to start the process for you, at this point we will take care of the rest for you.
NO WIN, NO FEE = NO RISK
Can you help with legal action on my OVERDUE INVOICES or a Bad Debt?
Yes, Overdue Invoices are able to introduce you to our legal associates that offer a full legal service.
However, we believe that this should be the last resort after all other avenues have been exhausted.
In the first instance we would recommend that you try our highly effective No Win, No Fee debt collection service.
If for some reason we are unable to recover the monies then the fact that we have been through this process, with our documented collection process, will strengthen your case if it does need to go to court.
To start the process all that you need to do is register here. We will then contact you regarding the additional information that we require to start the process for you.
How will my OVERDUE INVOICES get paid if my customer legitimately can’t pay their debts?
One of the first things that we do at Overdue Invoices when we receive an instruction from our client is try to establish your customers ability to pay.
It is not unusual for a debtor to convince suppliers that they aren’t able to pay in order to buy time to pay other preferential suppliers who are more persistent, or more important to their operation, than you.
If your customer is genuinely unable to pay then we can work collaboratively with the debtor to negotiate a payment plan, whilst ensuring that your debt is prioritized over others.
Every business has a hierarchy of who gets paid first. If you are near the bottom of that list you are unlikely to get paid on time, or worse still, not at all. We are here to try to minimise the risk of this.
You might also want to consider our software solution that reduces the risk of offering overly generous credit terms to debtors that are too risky. Prices start from just £45 per month. You can find out more information here .
To start the process all that you need to do is register here. We will then contact you regarding the additional information that we require to start the process for you, at this point we will take care of the rest for you.
NO WIN, NO FEE = NO RISK
What information do you need to initiate the collection of my OVERDUE INVOICES?
The minimum information that we require to start the process for collecting payment on Overdue Invoices is;
- Debtor Company Name
- Debtor Contact details (email/phone/address).
- Copies of Invoices and Statement
In addition to this any of the following information/correspondence will significantly improve our chances of recovering the debt.
- Contracts/Agreements
- Purchase Order
- eMails promising payment
- Bounced Cheques/Payments
To start the process all that you need to do is register here. We will then contact you regarding the additional information that we require to start the process for you, at this point we will take care of the rest for you.
NO WIN, NO FEE = NO RISK
How do I send the debtor details to you for my OVERDUE INVOICES?
Please register your account with Overdue Invoice here. We will then contact you regarding the additional information that we require to start the process for you, then we will take care of the rest for you.
NO WIN, NO FEE = NO RISK
How will you keep me updated on my OVERDUE INVOICES claim?
All of Overdue Invoices clients have a dedicated Account Manager who will regularly update you on the progress of your claim.
To start the process all that you need to do is register here. We will then contact you regarding the additional information that we require to start the process for you, at this point we will take care of the rest for you.
NO WIN, NO FEE = NO RISK
Can you recover commercial debt from OVERDUE INVOICES if the customer hasn’t agreed to my Terms & Conditions?
Yes, Overdue Invoices can still help you to recover this debt for you.
However, one of the key pillars of good Credit Management is ensuring that you have good, legally binding Terms and Conditions, and that your customers are aware of them and have agreed to them as part of your trading agreement.
We have a lot of experience with this and can offer you guidance on this. We also have a lawyer that can draw up personalised Terms and Conditions at a very competitive price.
To start the process all that you need to do is register here. We will then contact you regarding the additional information that we require to start the process for you, at this point we will take care of the rest for you.
NO WIN, NO FEE = NO RISK
If we use a third party to collect our OVERDUE INVOICES, will it damage the relationship with the customer?
This is a difficult question to answer as there are so many variables at play here. Not least the attitude of the customer and the collection third-party collection agent that represents you.
All that we can say is that we pride ourselves on being professional and have absolutely no desire to damage relations between you and your customer. In our experience, more often than not, the reason that you are not getting paid is because your customer has cashflow problems.
If we can establish this, then we believe that our role is to work collaboratively with your customer to ensure that your debt is prioritized ahead of their other suppliers and that you get paid promptly.
To start the process all that you need to do is register here. We will then contact you regarding the additional information that we require to start the process for you, at this point we will take care of the rest for you.
NO WIN, NO FEE = NO RISK
If you are unable to collect our OVERDUE INVOICES, what are the next options?
On the rare instances that Overdue Invoices are unable to recover your debt, the next option is taking legal action. This is not a decision to be taken lightly, as this can be costly with no guaranteed outcome.
We can help and advise you on what your options are, but ultimately it is down to you the client to evaluate the risks against the potential rewards with this next step. Should you decide to proceed through the courts then we can introduce you to solicitors that specialise in this field.
The fees for this service will need to be agreed with the solicitor.
To start the process all that you need to do is register here. We will then contact you regarding the additional information that we require to start the process for you, at this point we will take care of the rest for you.
NO WIN, NO FEE = NO RISK
If we aren’t successful at collecting all of the money owed to you during step one you can utilise one of the solicitors on our panel. Like us they work on a No Win No Fee basis, and charge a % of monies recovered. However, they will require court fees to be paid in advance of carrying out this work for you.
All fees are dependent on the value of the claim, see below:
| Debt Value | Court Fees* (Payable up front) | Legal Fees If Unsuccessful | Legal Fees if Successful* (inc. VAT) |
| Up to £1,000 | £70.00 | Nil | £350.00 (Minimum Charge) |
| £1,000.01 to £1,500 | £80.00 | Nil | 35% of amount recovered |
| £1,500.01 to £3,000.00 | £115.00 | Nil | 35% of amount recovered |
| £3,000.01 to £5,000 | £205.00 | Nil | 30% of amount recovered |
| £5,001 to £10,000 | £455.00 | Nil | 25% of amount recovered |
| £10,001 to £50,000 | 5% of the total claim | Nil | 20% of amount recovered |
*The Solicitor will also seek to claim all court and legal fees from the defendant as part of your claim.
What do I do if my customer pays the original invoice in full, but not the late payment charges?
It is not unusual for the debtor to just pay the original invoice value, minus the late payment charges, in the hope that the late payment charges will be waived.
However, these fees are permissible under UK law and you are entitled to charge them.
At this point, it is down to you to decide if you wish to pursue the matter, as each case is different.
However, should you wish to enforce these legitimate charges then we will be more than happy to pursue the case for you or put you in touch with one of our associated law firms.
To start the collection process all that you need to do is register here. We will then contact you regarding the additional information that we require to start the process for you, at this point we will take care of the rest for you.
NO WIN, NO FEE = NO RISK
Is it always worth chasing a B2B debt?
Absolutely. As long as the invoice is less than 6 years old, the business is still registered as trading, and you have up to date contact details, then it is definitely worth pursuing with our No Win No Fee debt recovery process.
Obviously, the more communications that you can provide us with that support the validity of your claim the better opportunity of success.
What if the debtor has disappeared?
Whilst this does reduce the likelihood of a successful outcome, we can still serve the paperwork on the registered address of the company.
Obviously, the more communications that you can provide us with that support the validity of your claim the better opportunity of success.
My customer is disputing my invoice, can you still collect it for me?
Yes, we can, but it is really important for us to understand the facts behind the dispute, as quite often this is just a delaying tactic used by a debtor to buy time. It is incredibly helpful in these situations if you can provide records of communications between both parties.
Will you be able to collect a debt from my customer who have been liquidated or dissolved?
There is very little that we can do if a business has been liquidated or dissolved.
However, don’t be put off by a debtor that tells you that the business has been liquidated or dissolved, as quite often they will tell a creditor this to stop them from pursuing them for the debt.
Our advice is to check the status of the business at Companies House.
If they are in the process of being liquidated then you can contact the administrator to submit your proof of debt and request that the process is suspended until such time the company has paid its creditors.
How long does your debt collection process work?
There is no simple answer to this question, as there are so many factors involved here.
What we can say is that currently 37% of the debts that we chase are paid within 7 days of us engaging with the debtor, and 87% within step one of our collection process, which can take up to three months to complete.
Why should we use Overdue Invoices rather than a solicitor?
In our experience, most solicitors will charge you by the hour, and therefore their fees can increase from the amount of communication they have with the other party. This makes it very difficult to budget for these services as you have no idea how much work will be involved and how long it will take.
This becomes a big issue for most businesses as they have to evaluate the risk of spending £X amount in the hope of recovering £Y amount, with no guarantees of success. Which can just exacerbate the loss.
This is exactly the opposite of our fee system.
We work on a no Win No Fee basis, therefore no risk for our clients. We charge 10% of whatever we recover, so our clients understand what the costs are.
This fee structure means that we are keen to resolve matters as quickly as possible, which is obviously what our clients are looking for.
However, it isn’t always possible for us to recover all debts, so we do offer legal services from our partners. However, like us they work on a No Win No Fee basis (excluding Court Fees), which enables our clients to budget for these cases.
Does the debtor pay us or Overdue Invoices?
We always instruct the debtor to pay the money to the bank account on the invoices that are overdue, as this overcomes any concerns that the debtor may have regarding the legitimacy of a third-party bank account.
Once you have cleared funds we will then invoice you for our services, which are 10% of all monies recovered (Min charge £100) + VAT.
What do I do if my debtor won’t pay the County Court Judgement (CCJ)?
Just because a CCJ has been awarded in your favour doesn’t mean that you are guaranteed to be paid by the debtor. If you find yourself in this situation, here are the options available to you to enforce the judgement:
- If the CCJ is under £600 it can be enforced using a ‘Warrant of Control’ this is issued to the county Court Bailiff.
- If it is over £600 it can be enforced using a ‘Writ of Control’ this can be issued to a High Court Enforcement Officer.