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Debt Recovery

Debt Recovery Processes

Pre-Action

  • Review of debt details and clarification of any issues arising
  • Letter to debtor demanding payment and threatening legal proceedings
  • Follow up telephone call if necessary
  • Update on payment, dispute or other outcome

Issue of Claim

  • Issue and service of County Court Claim
  • Notification of issue
  • Update on payment, defence or other outcome

Judgment

  • Entry of Judgment

Enforcement

  • Issue of execution against debtor’s goods (Writ/Warrant of Control)
  • Update on Enforcement Officer’s initial report

Insolvency

  • Individuals – Bankruptcy
    • Statutory Demand for payment & Bankruptcy Petition
  • Companies – Winding Up
    • Demand for payment & Winding up Petition

Disputes & Further Work

  • Disputes and Defences to Claims are dealt with on an individual basis
  • Work required outside standard debt recovery procedures/fixed charges are dealt with on an individual basis

Costs for Pre-Action Recovery

GWL’s charges are based on the amount of Compensation that is allowed by the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 as set out in the table below.

Where the debtor is a business, all of the Compensation is added to the debt and is recoverable if the debt is paid in full.

Where the debtor is an individual the Compensation is not recoverable from the debtor.

Compensation allowed under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 for each invoice or debt overdue
Value of invoiceCompensation
Up to £1,000£40
£1,000 – £10,000£70
Over £10,000£100

Court Fees & Costs on Issue of Claim

Court FeeGWL Costs
Up to £300£35£50
£300 – £500£50£50
£500 – £1,000£70£70
£1,000 – £1,500£80£80
£1,500 – £3,000£115£80
£3,000 – £5,000£205£80
£5,000 – £10,000£455£100
£10,000 – £200,0005% of the value of the claim£100
Over £200,000£10,000£100

NOTE Court Fees and GWL Costs are added to the debt and are recoverable if the debt is paid in full

Costs on Judgment (in default of Defence)

GWL Costs
Up to £5,000£22
Over £5,000£30

NOTE GWL Costs are added to the debt and are recoverable if the debt is paid in full

Enforcement of Judgment by Control of Goods (Execution on Goods)

Court FeeGWL Costs
Up to £600
Warrant of Control
County Court Bailiff
£83£2.25
Over £600
Writ of Control
High Court Enforcement
£78£51.75

NOTE GWL Costs are added to the debt and are recoverable if the debt is paid in full

Over £600 the High Court Enforcement Officer (“HCEO”) adds a standard minimum charge of £75 + VAT (£90.00) but this is recoverable if enforcement is successful

Enforcement of Judgment by other Methods

Court FeeGWL CostsOther Expenses (Disbursements) Approximately
Payment Plans£10 per instalment
Order to obtain information from Judgment Debtor£59£250£125
Court attendance fee if required
Attachment of Earnings£119£250
Charging Order£119£350£150
Court attendance & Land Registry fees
Third Party Debt Order£119£350£125
Court attendance fee if required

NOTE The Court may allow some limited costs depending on each case

Insolvency Procedures

Court FeeGWL CostsOther Expenses (Disbursements) Approximately
Statutory Demand£250£125
Process Server’s fee
Bankruptcy£302£500£1,500 Official Receiver’s Deposit
£250 Process Server’s & Court attendance fees
Winding Up Demand£250
Winding Up£302£550£2,600 Official Receiver’s Deposit
£400 Process Server’s, advertisement & Court attendance fees

Disputes and other Work not covered by Fixed Charges

Equivalent Grade for Guideline RatesDescription of Case HandlerGWL Hourly Rate
Grade APartner/Senior Solicitor£295
Grade BSolicitor£230
Grade CSolicitor/Legal Executive/Senior Paralegal£190
Grade DParalegal/Trainee Solicitor£150
Grade EOther£105

VAT

VAT is payable at the appropriate rate on all GWL charges and some disbursements.

NOTES

This edition of GWL Charges for Debt Recovery is correct as from 1st April 2024 (V04)

These charges are subject to review by us on 1st April each year. The figures will also be amended, where necessary, each time the Court fees, fixed costs, other disbursements or Court procedures change