Letter before claim: disputed debt claim
An example of a letter before claim in respect of a disputed debt in England and Wales, with integrated drafting notes. This letter is intended to be used before issuing a claim to recover a disputed debt from a potential defendant, where none of the specific pre-action protocols apply, including the Pre-action Protocol for Debt Claims (Protocol) in force as of 1 October 2017. The wording of this example letter accords with the Practice Direction on Pre-action Conduct and Protocols (Pre-action PD).(For an example letter that can be used by a business (including sole traders and public bodies) claiming payment of a debt from an individual (including a sole trader), see Standard document, Letter before claim: debt claim (under the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims).) This example includes integrated drafting notes that explain how to structure the letter, detail the claim, and manage the exchange of key documents. The notes offer guidance on crucial pre-litigation steps, including Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), the potential instruction of experts and navigating the extended fixed recoverable costs regime and the intermediate track and address the implications of Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil CBC [2023] EWCA Civ 1416 for ADR.
Already a Practical Law customer? Sign in
Get access to this document with Practical Law
The value of Practical Law
Deliver results and stay ahead with the help of Practical Law's built-in network of legal experts
As a legal professional, your time is a precious resource. Whether you need insights on a market-leading precedent, help navigating a new topic, how-to guidance on the law with an integrated drafting note, or a checklist to help mitigate risk, you can rely on Practical Law.
Practical Law is the only legal know-how solution supported by a team of over 650 full-time global editors who obsessively monitor the law and create resources to help you navigate the unknown and practise more efficiently.
Learn more about Practical Law
Make the most of your time and resources
Jumpstart your work
Easy-to-use tools deliver a great starting point, so you spend less time searching for templates, building presentations, or delving into unfamiliar areas.
Get how-to guidance
Practical resources provide you with in-depth expert knowledge and insights to help you work more efficiently and make informed decisions confidently.
Rely on worldwide expertise
We offer global and comparative content with thousands of assets covering critical legal topics in more than 100 countries, including weekly updates and daily alerts for EU Law.