- Price
- €9.95incl. VAT, 2 pages included
- Delivery time
- Next working dayusually, after posting
- Proof
- Recipient's signature+ tracking
- Handed to the post
- Upload by 14:00UK time on a working day, posted the same day
- Counts as
- Inland Royal Mail letterprinted and posted in United Kingdom
Why send a letter before action Signed For?
The courts in England and Wales expect you to write to the other side before you issue a claim, and to give them time to answer. If you skip it or cannot show it arrived, the judge can refuse you costs or interest.
Royal Mail Signed For records the day the letter arrived and who signed for it. That date starts the reply period you set.
How long must you give them to reply?
| Who owes you | Rule | Reply period |
|---|---|---|
| A consumer or sole trader, for a debt | Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims | 30 days, with the information sheet and reply form |
| A company, for a debt or another claim | Practice direction on pre-action conduct | Usually 14 days for a simple claim |
| A company that paid you late | Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 | Statutory interest and fixed compensation can be added |
How do you send it?
- Write the letter and, for a consumer, add the information sheet and reply form.
- Save it as one PDF with the debtor's address in the window area.
- Upload the PDF and choose the United Kingdom.
- Diary the end of the reply period from the delivery date.
Sample letter before action
For a debt owed by a company. Adjust the amount, the invoices and the deadline.
[Debtor company name]
[Registered address]
[Date]
Letter before action
Dear Sirs,
You owe us [amount] for [goods or services] supplied under invoice [number] dated [date], due for payment on [date]. Despite our reminders of [dates], the invoice remains unpaid.
Please pay the full amount to [bank details] within 14 days of receiving this letter. If you dispute the debt, tell us why in writing within the same period.
If we do not receive payment or a reply, we will issue a claim in the County Court without further notice, and claim statutory interest and compensation under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 and our costs.
Yours faithfully,
[Name, company, address]
What to check before you send
- Claiming from a consumer or a sole trader? Use the 30-day period and enclose the information sheet and reply form from the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims.
Frequently asked questions
Is a letter before action the same as a letter of claim?
Yes. Both names are used for the letter you send before starting a claim. The debt protocol calls it a letter of claim.
Does it have to go by recorded delivery?
No rule says so. Signed For gives you a delivery date and a signature, which settles any argument about when the reply period started.
What if they refuse to sign?
Royal Mail records the attempt and keeps the letter for collection. Email a copy too, and keep both records for the court.
Can I send it from outside the UK?
Yes. A Dutch or German company can upload the letter from home. It is printed and posted in the UK and arrives as an inland letter.
Can I claim interest on a late business invoice?
Yes. Between businesses, the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 gives statutory interest of 8% above the Bank of England base rate, plus fixed compensation.