Scrap feeling unsupported and alone when it comes to an unpaid invoice! 

An unpaid invoice can cause anxiety, sleepless nights, and stress, especially when, as a business owner, you still have to pay members of staff and third-party suppliers regardless of whether you have steady cash flowing into your business or not.     Your business expenses will not go on hold because your customer has not yet paid either.    

You may feel incredibly upset at the prospect of either spending lots of money to recover the debt or losing lots of money by writing it off.  These two options are not your only ones! There are others. Below are 5 tips to help you move forward and get paid.

Tip 1 – How much are you owed?

First, take time to properly understand the amount of money that your business is owed.  Find out how many invoices are overdue and how much the debt totals.

Tip 2 – How has the debt arisen?

Do you have a contract with your customer that specifies when you should be paid? 

Are there any grey areas?  For example, did you provide additional goods or services without first properly setting out in writing what you agreed to and your fee?

Tip 3 – Gather your evidence.

Pull together all documents relating to your unpaid invoice.  This will help you to prove that you should be paid for the goods or services that you have provided.

An example of the types of evidence that you can pull together are: –

–         the contract that you signed with your customer.

–         your business terms if they are separate to your contract. 

–         all letters, emails, text messages, WhatsApp messages and any other form of written communication between you and your client. 

Tip 4 – Do not let numerous unpaid invoices accumulate.

If your customer has fallen into arrears with your invoice, this may be a red flag that they are not running their business as they should.  Speak to your customer. Find out what is going on.  Have they not seen your invoice, or are they deciding not to pay you? 

Tip 5 – should you suspend your service?

Decide whether to suspend your services.  This action may encourage your customer to find the money to pay you swiftly especially if your service is crucial. 

Tip 6 – Speak to your customer.

Call your client to try and find out why they have not paid. 

Can they pay? Have they missed your invoice or forgotten to pay? Or are they genuinely experiencing financial difficulties?

Tip 7 – Take legal advice

If you have completed stages 1 to 6 above and your client still has not paid, take legal advice as soon as possible. Many lawyers offer low fixed fees to support businesses with debt recovery leaving you to do what you do best, run your business!

You can do this! You do not have to roll over and accept that you have not been paid. Follow the above stages and get paid.

Time to feel supported!

How we can help you

Johnson May are debt recovery solicitors and we offer low fixed fees to help our clients get invoices paid. 

We are based in Beckenham, London but we service clients throughout England.

Our debt recovery process follows an approach that champions communication to recover payments swiftly for our clients.

Make a free enquiry

Call us on 020 8150 7171, email info@johnsonmay.com or complete a Free Online Enquiry for a free, no-obligation discussion and let us explain your legal rights and options.