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Practice area
Commercial debt recovery for receivables that need more than a reminder.
We recover overdue business-to-business debts in the UK and abroad, including the aged, large and contested receivables that standard collection agencies decline.
Overview
Commercial Debt Recovery
Late payment is rarely just an administrative problem. Behind most stubborn receivables there is a dispute, a cash-flow crisis or a counterparty testing your resolve. We find out which, and build the strategy around it.
Our approach is commercial and disciplined: a clear demand, a credible view of what is owed including statutory interest where it applies, and direct negotiation with the people who actually authorise payment.
Focus page: Debt recovery for freight forwarders and logistics firms
What we handle
Matters we take on.
Business-to-business matters only, resolved by negotiation and settlement before court wherever possible.
Overdue B2B invoices
Structured demand, follow-up and negotiation for unpaid invoices.
Aged & written-off debts
Re-opening receivables that internal teams have given up on.
Disputed receivables
Separating genuine disputes from payment avoidance, and settling both.
International debtors
Cross-border recovery with independent local agents where useful.
Statutory interest
Calculating interest and compensation under the Late Payment Act where it applies.
Instalment plans & security
Payment plans backed by guarantees, security or acknowledgements.
Counterparty checks
Solvency and business information before we choose a route.
Portfolio retainers
An outsourced claims desk for recurring receivables.
Escalation management
Coordinating independent solicitors when court action is warranted.
Our approach
Prepared properly. Negotiated firmly.
- 01
Review
Free assessment of merits, quantum, time limits and recoverability.
- 02
Strategy
A written engagement letter with the plan and the fee.
- 03
Preparation
Evidence, calculations and a clear claim or response.
- 04
Negotiation
Direct talks aimed at a documented commercial settlement.
Typical clients: Exporters and manufacturers · Wholesalers and distributors · Professional and technical service firms · Contractors and subcontractors · Logistics and freight businesses
FAQ
Questions about this practice.
General information only; every matter turns on its own facts and documents.
Do you collect consumer debts?
No. We act only on business-to-business debts. Consumer debt collection is a regulated activity in the UK and outside our scope.
Can you add interest to the debt?
For UK business contracts, the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 often allows statutory interest and fixed compensation unless the contract provides its own remedy. We calculate what applies to your invoices.
What happens if the debtor still refuses to pay?
We give you a clear recommendation. That may be a final negotiated offer, or escalation through independent solicitors to court or insolvency proceedings, with costs agreed by you in advance.
How is your service different from a collection agency?
Standard agencies handle volume and undisputed debts with letters and calls. We take on larger, older and disputed receivables, prepare the claim properly, and negotiate with decision-makers, often across borders.
Is there a minimum debt size?
There is no fixed minimum, but our approach is best suited to business debts where the amount justifies proper preparation. We will tell you honestly at the free review whether it is worth pursuing.
Can you recover debts from overseas customers?
Yes. Cross-border recovery is a core part of our work. See our international debt recovery page for how we approach it.
Related guides
Further reading.
Practical guides from our insights library. See also our glossary and FAQ.
- Preventing bad debt: the credit terms that make recovery easier8 min read
- When a customer becomes insolvent: what UK suppliers can still do9 min read
- Claiming interest and compensation on late B2B invoices5 min read
- Recovering a debt from a business in another country5 min read
- Letters before action in B2B disputes: what a good one contains5 min read
- Container demurrage and detention charges: how to check and dispute them4 min read
- How to choose a B2B debt recovery partner: 10 questions to ask4 min read
Other practice areas
Also handled by Atlas Claims.
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