Debt Recovery for You and Your Family
We proactively resolve money disputes, including bringing and defending debt claims
Unpaid debts owed to you can cause you financial hardship, as can unfair claims against you if not properly defended.
Regardless of who owes you money, our experienced debt recovery specialists take the time to understand the issues at stake and your circumstances. We can then provide an objective and realistic assessment of your options and likelihood of success in recovering the cash.
Based in Hertford, we work with people all over the country, including London and the South East. We can advise anyone, from sole traders and business owners bringing or facing personal debt recovery action (such as under a directors’ guarantee), to individuals looking to recover or defend private loans, sales & purchases or any other kind of debt.
Flexible Fixed Fee and bespoke debt recovery services
For people looking to recover undisputed invoice debts, we offer a fast, convenient Fixed Fee Debt Recovery service which works for 95% of our clients.
Our tried and tested method covers a full range of recovery and enforcement options, from issuing Letters Before Action to fixed fee court claims. Fixed fees means that you can move forward with your debt recovery action with certainty – you will know exactly where you stand in terms of costs.
We also offer a bespoke debt recovery scheme where our Fixed Fee Debt Recovery Scheme is not appropriate or where you want a more personal service. We will discuss exactly what you need us to do and agree a strategy, then provide a tailored quote for undertaking the work. We understand that costs will be an important factor, so can discuss anticipated costs well in advance and agree a budget or fee caps, depending on what works for you.
Helping you recover as much money as possible, as quickly as possible
We find that just a hint that our solicitors are getting involved can give a debtor the motivation they need to engage in settlement discussions. If you want us to help with settlement discussions, we can apply our expert negotiation skills to help you come to the best possible outcome, maximising your recovery while minimising costs.
Similarly, if you are faced with debt claims you wish to defend, our experts can help represent you.
In appropriate cases, our Dispute Resolution team can help you negotiate an amicable resolution out-of-court, saving you the time, trouble and expense of going through the legal money claims process.
Where alternative approaches such as mediation fail, our debt recovery solicitors can help you take further action. For example, we can help you:
- Pursue county court or High Court judgments against debtors
- Instruct enforcement agents to seize debtors’ assets to pay a county court judgment
- Obtain court orders that the debtor’s bank, or their employer, pay the debt directly from the debtor’s bank account or wages
- Arrange to secure a judgment against a debtor’s assets such as their home or other property (Charging Orders)
- Forcing the sale of secured assets to repay debts (Orders for Sale)
- In cases involving dishonesty or fraud, we may be able to seek special court orders to freeze the debtor’s assets or suspend their bank accounts to prevent further loss to you.
Where an unfair claim is made against you, we can help you to defend it with rigour.
Speak to our debt recovery solicitors
Get in touch with our friendly, practical debt recovery solicitors for advice about how we can help you and your family.
Simple Interest Calculator 01992 300333 ASK A QUESTION
Find the information you need
- Get to know the Longmores’ Debt Recovery team
- How our debt recovery solicitors can help you and your family
Get to know the Longmores’ Debt Recovery team
Trust is a vital part of choosing the right debt recovery lawyer for you. We have a great success rate and receive excellent client feedback for our debt dispute resolution services.
But we’d never expect you to just take our word for it. So, here’s the part where we try to convince you that we’re the right choice.
Otherwise, feel free to skip the introductions and get directly in touch with us. We are always available to answer questions and are happy to provide a quote with no obligation to move forwards with us.
Who are Longmores’ debt recovery solicitors?
We are one of the leading Litigation teams in the region, having been independently recognised by prestigious client guide, the Legal 500.
Our team is headed by John Wiblin, a highly skilled lawyer and higher courts advocate with over 20 years’ experience helping people with all types of disputes. John is ranked by the Legal 500 for his expertise and is an accredited civil mediator and arbitrator.
Our team also includes Nat Young, an expert in all insolvency related matters, including bringing and defending bankruptcy claims.
We also have Lauren MacKenzie, an experienced litigator and accredited mediator with particular expertise helping people resolve even the most complex and hostile of legal disputes out of court.
Both Nat and Lauren have been identified by the Legal 500 as recommended lawyers and Nat has also been recognised as a Next Generation Partner.
Who do we work with?
We could have just named this section ‘who don’t we work with’ and left it blank because we help all individuals, no matter who you are or what walk of life you’re from.
If you need advice about recovering a debt or help defending yourself against a debt claim, we are here for you.
Whether the debt concerns a breach of contract, a loan to family or friends that has gone unpaid, unpaid wages or any other issue, we can help you recover as much of your money as possible while:
- Helping you keep your costs low
- Preserving relationships (where possible)
- Minimising how much time and stress you have to go through
How our debt recovery lawyers can help you and your family
Some of the types of personal debts we can assist with include:
- Breach of contract
- Personal loans to relatives, friends or partners
- Loans to business associates and businesses
- Unpaid wages for work done
- Debts arising from private sales and purchases, such as cars
- Constructions debts, such as unpaid invoices or recovering the costs of correcting poor work
- Deposit claims
- Refund claims
We handle commercial debts as well as personal debts, so feel free to get in touch no matter what kind of debt you need help with.
If your debt is related to property, such as rent arrears, service charge disputes or property damage claims, we also have a dedicated Property Litigation team led by experienced solicitor and Longmores Partner, John Wagstaffe.
Here’s how we can help:
Pre-action
We know just how frustrating being owed money is, or being chased for a debt you do not owe or cannot afford to repay just now. Our approach is designed to help people settle out-of-court wherever possible, taking away as much of the potential stress of the situation as possible while still achieving the best possible result for you.
We’ll help you take fast, efficient action to secure the resolution you need to put the matter behind you and move on with your life. Our pre-action service includes:
- Issuing Letters Before Action/Letters of Claim
- Follow up and chaser letters
- Tracing debtors and investigating a debtor’s financial circumstances
- Engaging in informal settlement negotiation and providing advice to you about any offers
- Drafting settlement contracts
- Advice about using alternative dispute resolution such as mediation and arbitration.
Taking legal action
Where out-of-court settlement is not possible, our debt recovery lawyers and court advocates can provide advice about taking further action and fiercely represent you at all court levels. Our expertise includes:
- Making and defending county court money claims
- Obtaining county court judgments (CCJ)
- Applications to set aside CCJs
- Handling complex and high value court proceedings
- Orders for questioning to obtain more information about a debtor’s finances
- Representation in court and/or arranging specialist representation
- Insolvency proceedings, including:
- Statutory Demands
- Issuing bankruptcy proceedings against individuals
- Issuing winding up proceedings against companies
Taking enforcement action
Our dispute resolution solicitors can help you take action to enforce a county court judgment, providing practical advice about the options available and helping you make informed decisions about how to move forwards. Available options could include:
- Instructing county court bailiffs or High Court enforcement officers to attend a debtor’s home or place of business to recover the debt or seize goods.
- Attachment of earnings (where an employer is ordered to deduct from a debtor’s salary and pay you)
- Third party debt orders (diverting money owed to the debtor by third parties such as a bank or creditor to you)
- A Charging Order (securing the debt against the debtor’s property)
- Sale orders (orders to sell the debtor’s property to convert a Charging Order into money)
- Injunctions (including freezing orders that suspend bank accounts or prevent disposal of assets (perhaps by transfer into the name of a third party) to avoid payment.
Speak to our debt recovery solicitors in Hertford
Get in touch with our friendly, practical debt recovery solicitors for advice about how we can help you and your family.