Mr Syed Kamal Hossain solicitor with 10 PQE and Mr Z T Simret Legal Cilex with 7 years’ experience. Both fee earners are experience in civil litigation and debt recovery.
EXAMPLE: These are our hourly fees rates for a business-to-business debt. Court fees
and any other disbursement payable to third parties are not included in the fees. They are
payable by the client. Monies must be paid on account to cover our costs and court fees and
disbursements.
| Value of the Claim | Hourly Fee Rate | Estimated Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Small Claim below £10,000 |
£150+vat £30 = £180 p/h | Taking instruction, considering documents, and drafting and sending letter before action: 1-2hrs |
| Fast Track Claim £10,000 and £25,000 |
£175+vat£35 = £210 p/h | Drafting and issue of the claim with court: 2-8hrs |
| Multi-Track Claim Over £25,000 |
£282+vat = £338.40 p/h | If acknowledgment of service or defence is not received entering Default
Judgment: 0.5 hrs. However, if defence is filed, the matter become litigious, hours will vary case to case. 10-50hrs |
COURT FEE: Please click the link https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money/court-fees
If the matter goes to the court, there may be situation that you have to pay additional fee to a third party such as:
| Counsel fees: ½ day to 1 day Hearing excluding vat | £1500 - £2500 |
| Judgement transfer fee county court to high court: | £71 |
| Bailiff or high court enforcement officer costs (Stage 1): | £190 excluding vat |
| Tracing fee Estimated: | £75 excluding vat. |
| Expert fee for example signature verification: | £500 excluding vat. |
Anyone wishing to proceed with a claim should note that the VAT element of our fee cannot be reclaimed from your debtor. Interest and compensation may take the debt into a higher banding, with a higher cost. In small claim only fixed cost is recoverable not anything other cost.
| Up to letter before action: | 1hrs X £150 | £150 |
| Drafting and issue the claim: | 2hrs X £150 | £300 |
| Default Judgment | 0.5 hr X £150 | £75 |
| Vat | £105 | |
| Subtotal | £630 | |
| Disbursement Court fee |
£455 | |
| Total | £1085 |
Defence filed and the matter become litigious.
| Compliance with practice directions and reaching to the hearing (estimated hours 10hrs@£150) | £1500 |
| Attending Hearing including travelling and waiting at court (4hrsX£150) | £600 |
| Vat | £420 |
| Court fee for Hearing (Disbursement) | £346 |
| Estimated Total | £3951 |
Average our fee and disbursement costs of claim of £5000 is between £1100 - £3950 including vat.
Taking your instructions and reviewing documentation
Undertaking appropriate searches
Sending a letter before action
Receiving payment and sending onto you
or if the debt is not paid, drafting, and issuing claim.
Where no Acknowledgment of Service or Defence is received, applying to the court to enter Judgement
in default.
When Judgement in default in received, write to the other side to request payment.
If payment is not received within X days, providing you with advice on next steps and likely
costs.
Matters usually take:
Pre-action protocol 4-6 weeks
Online issue of Claim 2-3 working days
Default judgment 4-6 weeks
If the claim is defended the matter become litigious and estimated time is impossible to predict. It could take anywhere from 9 months - 2 years depending on the court schedule.