Unpaid invoices
Recover an unpaid invoice
Late invoices are the most common commercial debt in the UK — and the easiest to leave too long. The older an invoice gets, the harder it is to collect. A specialist agency puts structured pressure on the debtor: formal demands, credit-file consequences and, where needed, escalation to legal action.
Compare agencies for this →Sound familiar?
- The debtor keeps promising payment that never arrives
- Emails and statements are being ignored
- You don't want to damage the relationship — but you need the money
- You're not sure whether legal action is worth it for the amount
What the right agency does differently
Formal demand and escalation
A letter from a collection agency lands differently to another chaser email from you. Most straightforward invoice debts settle at this stage, before any court involvement.
Statutory interest and compensation
On commercial invoices you can usually add statutory interest (8% plus the Bank of England base rate) and a fixed compensation fee under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 — often enough to offset the cost of collection.
Escalation to legal action
If demands are ignored, an agency can prepare a letter before action and, with your agreement, escalate to a county court claim and enforcement.
Common questions
How much does it cost to use a debt collection agency for an invoice?
Most agencies work on commission (a percentage of what's recovered, often 5–15% for commercial debt) or no-win-no-fee terms. Some charge fixed fees for demand letters. The comparison shows each agency's model side by side.
Will using an agency destroy the business relationship?
Not necessarily. Reputable agencies collect firmly but professionally, and many creditors find the relationship was already gone — the agency just gets the money back. You stay in control of how far things escalate.
Is my invoice too small to bother with?
Agencies set minimum debt values — commonly between £150 and £1,000. The comparison only shows you agencies whose minimums fit your debt.
Compare agencies that take unpaid invoices
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