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Debt Recovery solicitors in 2024 – A Useful guide

Last modified: January 2, 2024

Debt Recovery solicitors in 2024 - A Useful guide Frontline Collections

Debt Recovery Solicitors – How they can help?

Debt Recovery solicitors offer services that can support the collection of unpaid debts. In the UK, debt recovery is governed by a range of legal frameworks and principles that outline what creditors can and cannot do when attempting to recover a debt from a debtor. Understanding these frameworks is crucial for any creditor seeking to recover a debt from a debtor.

Legal Framework and Key Principles

The legal framework for debt recovery in the UK is set out in several key pieces of legislation, including the Consumer Credit Act 1974, the County Court Act 1984, and the Insolvency Act 1986. These acts govern the process of debt recovery in the UK and provide important legal principles that creditors and debt recovery solicitors must adhere to.

One of the key principles that govern debt recovery solicitors in the UK is the right of a creditor to recover the full amount owed to them. This means that a creditor has the right to take action to recover unpaid debts, including the use of legal processes.

Types of Debts

There are several types of debts that may need to be recovered in the UK via debt recovery solicitors. These include:

  • Personal debts, such as credit card debts, personal loans, and overdrafts
  • Business debts, such as unpaid invoices and outstanding payments from customers
  • Tax debts, such as unpaid VAT, PAYE, and corporation tax

Legal Options Available

There are several legal options available to creditors via debt recovery solicitors when attempting to recover a debt. These include:

  • Informal negotiations
  • Statutory demand
  • County Court Judgements (CCJs)
  • Enforcement action, including seizing assets and bankruptcy proceedings

Informal Negotiations

The first step in debt recovery is often to attempt to resolve the issue through informal negotiations. This can be done via debt recovery solicitors or directly. This may involve sending a letter before action or emails to the debtor or making phone calls to try and reach an agreement. Informal negotiations are often the fastest and most cost-effective way to resolve a debt issue, but they are not always successful.

Statutory Demand

If informal negotiations fail, a creditor can issue a statutory demand against the debtor. This is a formal document that gives the debtor 21 days to pay the outstanding debt in full. If the debtor fails to pay the debt within the 21-day period, the creditor can commence legal proceedings against the debtor using a CCJ or other legal options.

County Court Judgements (CCJs)

A CCJ is a court order that requires a debtor to pay the outstanding debt in full. A creditor can apply for a CCJ if the debtor fails to pay the debt after receiving a statutory demand. To apply for a CCJ, a creditor must complete a claim form and submit it to the County Court.

Enforcement Action

If a debtor still fails to pay the outstanding debt after a CCJ has been issued, a creditor can take CCJ debt collection  action against the debtor. This can include the seizure of assets, including property, cars, and other valuables, to cover the outstanding debt.

Insolvency

If a debtor becomes insolvent, a creditor may find it difficult to recover the outstanding debt. In such cases, the creditor may be able to make a claim against the debtor’s assets, but this will depend on the debtor’s specific circumstances.

Best Practices

To increase the likelihood of recovering a debt, creditors should try to follow some best practices, such as:

  • Communication: Maintain communication with the debtor to try and resolve the issue amicably.
  • Documentation: Keep records of all correspondence and agreements reached between the creditor and debtor.
  • Legal advice: Seek appropriate legal advice before commencing legal proceedings to ensure that all legal requirements are met.

Positive attributes of Debt Recovery solicitors

Debt recovery solicitors are usually well versed in all aspects of civil law. Most have a good working knowledge of the civil procedure rules. They can help creditors obtain a county court judgment and this ratifies a debt in the eyes of the law.

Debt Recovery solicitors are especially useful where the debt is subject to a complex dispute. They will also normally conduct themselves in a professional manner.

Negative attributes of Debt Recovery solicitors

Debt Recovery solicitors are usually not cost effective for debts under £5,000 especially. A standard Debt Recovery solicitor will normally charge per hour and charge disbursement fees. This is in addition to court fees.

The court process can be very lengthy and costs can run into tens of thousands of pounds. If it a difficult recovery, you can effectively be writing a blank cheque for the debt recovery solicitors fees. There is also no guarantee of a recovery.

Debt Recovery solicitors or Debt Recovery Agency?

This is a common question many have asked themselves. The growing popularity of Debt Collection Agencies would suggest more and more are turning to Professional Debt Collection Agencies. High level and highly professional Debt Collection Agencies such as Frontline Collections are now the acceptable face of Debt Recovery in modern day commerce.

Protractile Court action and expensive litigation are the last resort for many now. Some County Courts have backlogs which means it can take months for a hearing. The swift nature of a Professional Debt Collection Agency’s efforts mean this is also significant factor. This is also causing many to turn to Debt Collection Agencies as a first port of call rather than out of sheer desperation.

This article entitled debt collector or money claims online can also be of beneficial reading.

Conclusion

Recovering a debt via the legal channels in the UK can be a complex and challenging process. Debt Recovery solicitors can help in understanding the legal frameworks and can help creditors to navigate the litigation process successfully. By following best practices and taking the appropriate legal steps, creditors can maximise their chances of recovering outstanding debts, even when faced with difficult debtors or complex legal requirements.

However, it is worth noting: Even if a CCJ is obtained you may well need the services of a Debt Recovery Agency to help enforce it.

For straight forward Debt Recovery, a trusted and professional debt recovery agency is the best option. At Frontline Collections we deliver fixed fee solutions and can even assist with Legal action if absolutely necessary via our Law firm partners. Less than 1% of the cases we deal with require legal action, food for thought maybe!

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