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Debt recovery solicitors in Staffordshire and the West Midlands

 

Recover what you are owed quickly and cleanly, without burning the relationship unless you have to.

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Call: 01543 263 456

Speak to our dispute resolution team

Early advice usually means a quicker, cheaper outcome. Tell us what has happened and we will set out your options.

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Get paid what you are owed

Unpaid invoices drag on cash flow and tie up time you do not have. Whether it is one stubborn debtor or a string of late payers, the goal is simple. Recover the money owed to you in the quickest, most cost-effective way, and keep your business moving.

Our team acts for businesses and individuals across Lichfield, Cannock, Sutton Coldfield, Dudley and the wider West Midlands.

We start with a firm, professional approach that often gets the debt paid without court, and we are ready to escalate through the courts and enforcement where a debtor will not engage.

 

Make an enquiry

What our debt recovery solicitors can help with

From a single overdue invoice to ongoing late payment problems, we help you recover what you are owed.

Letters before action and formal demands

Recovering unpaid invoices and trade debts

Disputed debts and counterclaims

Late payment interest and compensation claims

Statutory demands

County court claims and judgments

Enforcing a county court judgment (CCJ)

Charging orders, attachment of earnings and bailiffs

Insolvency-based recovery routes

Personal guarantees and director liability

Credit control and clear payment terms

Negotiated payment plans and settlements

Make a confidential enquiry

Tell us what has happened and we will put you in touch with the right person. 

How a dispute is resolved

 

Most disputes settle long before a courtroom. The courts actually expect both sides to try to resolve things first, so a structured, commercial approach is usually the fastest way to a result.

1

Early advice

We review the position, the evidence and your goals, then set out your options and the likely cost.

2

Letter before action

We set out your claim clearly to the other side, which often opens the door to settlement.

3

Negotiation

We try to agree a sensible outcome without proceedings, protecting your position throughout.

4

Mediation and ADR

Where it helps, a structured settlement process can resolve matters faster and at lower cost.

5

Issuing a claim

If settlement is not possible, we issue court proceedings and manage the case for you.

6

Resolution

The dispute ends in a negotiated settlement or, where it goes the distance, a court judgment.

How debt recovery works

Most debts are recovered without ever reaching a courtroom. A clear, formal letter before action, setting out the debt and the consequences of not paying, is often enough to prompt payment from a debtor who has simply been stalling.

If that does not work, the next step is usually a court claim. Where the debt is not genuinely disputed, judgment can follow fairly quickly, after which a range of enforcement options is available to actually get the money in. Where a debtor disputes the debt, it becomes a contractual matter and we advise on the strength of your position.

For commercial debts you may also be entitled to interest and compensation on top of the sum owed, which can make pursuing the debt more worthwhile than it first appears.

Key things you should know

  • Most debt claims must be brought within six years under the Limitation Act 1980, so do not let an old debt drift.
  • For business to business debts, the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 lets you claim interest and a fixed compensation sum on top.
  • A statutory demand can be a powerful tool for undisputed debts, but it is not the right route for a genuinely disputed one.
  • Getting judgment is only half the job. Enforcing it is what actually recovers the money, and the right route depends on the debtor.
  • Acting early matters. The longer a debt sits, the harder it can be to recover.
  • Clear written terms and credit control make future debts far easier to chase.

Why getting the right advice matters, and why Ansons

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Commercial advice

We keep one eye on the outcome and the other on the cost, so the strategy always makes business sense.

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We aim to settle

Court is a tool, not the default. We push for the sensible outcome wherever we can.

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Experienced disputes team

A team that handles commercial disputes day in, day out.

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Plain English

Clear advice without the legal jargon, so you always know where you stand.

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Costs explained clearly

You will understand the likely cost and the options before you commit to anything.

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Local offices

Offices in Lichfield, Cannock, Sutton Coldfield and Dudley, with clients across the West Midlands.

Ready to talk to a dispute resolution solicitor?

Tell us about your dispute and we will explain your options before you commit to anything

Enquire

Frequently asked questions

How quickly can I recover a debt?

It varies. An undisputed debt can sometimes be paid within days of a firm letter before action. Where a court claim and enforcement are needed it takes longer, but we always push for the quickest route that fits your situation.

Can I charge interest on a late payment?

Often yes. For business to business debts the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 allows statutory interest and a fixed compensation sum, unless your contract sets out its own terms. We will tell you what you can claim.

What is a statutory demand?

It is a formal demand for payment that can lead to insolvency proceedings if ignored. It can be very effective for an undisputed debt, but it is not appropriate where the debt is genuinely disputed, so it needs using with care.

Your Dispute Resolution Team

Our Dispute Resolution team helps individuals and businesses deal with conflict quickly, proportionately and with as little stress as possible. From contract and property disputes to inheritance claims, neighbour issues and workplace disagreements, they focus on practical solutions, explaining your options clearly, weighing up risk and cost, and working towards the outcome that best protects your interests, whether through negotiation, mediation or the courts.

Latest Insights.

Explore Ansons Insights for the latest legal updates, case reviews, and practical advice from our team across commercial, property, family, and private client law.

Serving clients across Staffordshire and the West Midlands

 

Ansons has offices in Lichfield, Cannock, Sutton Coldfield and Dudley, supporting clients across the wider region including Tamworth, Burntwood, Rugeley, Walsall, Birmingham and beyond.

St Mary's Chambers, 5-7 Breadmarket Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6LQ

T: 01543 263 456
E: info@ansons.law

Commerce House, Ridings Park, Eastern Way, Cannock, Staffordshire, WS11 7FJ

T: 01543 466 660
E: info@ansons.law

316-318 Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B74 2UG

T: 0121 716 3716
E: info@ansons.law

Unit 10, Castle Court 2, Castlegate Way, Dudley, DY1 4RH

T: 0121 550 0010
E: info@ansons.law

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Ansons Solicitors Limited (trading as Ansons Solicitors and Ansons) is a UK law firm registered in England and Wales as a limited liability company No. 09425410 whose registered office is at St Mary’s Chambers 5-7 Breadmarket Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6LQ. Ansons Solicitors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA No. 627635.

A list of directors and their professional qualifications is available for inspection at the registered office. The term director in relation to Ansons Solicitors Limited is used to refer to a director of Ansons Solicitors Limited or an employee of equivalent standing and qualification.