Short answer: Commercial debt recovery means getting paid on invoices owed by another business, from a single overdue invoice to a high-value corporate ledger. Debt Collection UK introduces claims against UK limited companies, LLPs and PLCs to an independent partner agency, which recovers the debt.
The fee is 15% of what is recovered, payable only when you have been paid. Recovery is not guaranteed.
Worked example: if £10,000 is recovered, the fee is £1,500 and £8,500 goes to you.
Enterprise claims
Corporate debt recovery for high-value UK claims
Complex ledgers and high-value invoices need a partner that can trace assets, talk to directors and escalate lawfully. Submit the file here.
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Asset tracing and director checks
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Pre-legal resolution first
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Insolvency options discussed, not assumed
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B2B only
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Partner agencies
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No collection, no fee options
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Secure upload
Corporate debt is a different file
High-value invoices, group structures and disputed ledgers are not the same as a single SME invoice. Limited companies, PLCs and LLPs can stall behind subsidiaries, “review periods” and contested SLAs. This page is for those files. Debt Collection UK introduces the claim to a partner with commercial recovery experience; we do not collect it in-house.
Phoenix risk
Some debtors place a company into liquidation to shed liabilities and reopen under a new name. Swift tracing of assets and directors is the practical response. It is not always possible to unwind a phoenix; partners will say so if the trail is already cold.
What partners look at before litigating
- Asset and property traces on the debtor company.
- Director history: dissolved companies, disqualification, personal guarantees.
- Current credit data, so you do not spend court fees on an empty shell.
Statutory demands and winding up
For an undisputed debt of £750 or more, a statutory demand and, later, a winding-up petition are powerful tools. They are also expensive and can be defended. Partners should give you a cost-benefit note before you authorise a petition. Pre-legal collection is often still no-collection, no-fee; insolvency filings are not.
What we are not
We are not a law firm. We are not authorised by the FCA. We do not take consumer debt. A specialist partner agency is assigned to collect. Recovery is not guaranteed.
Can directors be held personally liable?
Usually the corporate veil protects limited-company directors. Exceptions include personal guarantees, wrongful or fraudulent trading, and certain fiduciary breaches. Partners will look for those before recommending personal pursuit.
What is the difference between commercial and corporate recovery?
Commercial recovery typically covers standard SME invoices. Corporate recovery is used here for higher-value or structurally complex debts — PLCs, groups, disputed ledgers — where tracing, negotiation and insolvency strategy may be required.
How are complex contractual disputes handled?
The partner reviews the contract, SLAs and correspondence. Invalid disputes are challenged; genuine ones are scoped before money is spent on litigation.
What are the costs of a winding-up petition?
Pre-legal collection through a partner is often no-collection, no-fee. A winding-up petition has court fees, an Official Receiver deposit and legal costs. The partner should provide a cost-benefit note before you authorise that step.
Will the debtor know an agency has been instructed?
Yes. Third-party notice is part of the leverage. The debtor will receive correspondence on the partner’s letterhead or a notice of assignment, not from this portal acting as a collector.
Frequently asked questions
How is commercial debt recovery charged?
The fee is 15% of what is recovered, payable only when you have been paid. Recovery is not guaranteed. Worked example: if £10,000 is recovered, the fee is £1,500 and £8,500 goes to you.
Can you recover debts from group companies or PLCs?
Yes, provided the debtor is a UK limited company, LLP or PLC. Upload the invoice naming the company that placed the order; the partner agency checks the correct legal entity before chasing.
Is corporate debt recovery guaranteed?
No. Recovery is not guaranteed. If nothing is recovered, there is no fee.