Trade Debt
Recovery

Trade debt recovery is the process of pursuing money owed to one business by another business or trading customer after payment becomes overdue. The debt may arise from goods supplied, services completed, professional fees, contractual payments or an outstanding trade account.

A business may consider professional recovery when normal credit control stops producing results. Warning signs include ignored reminders, missed payment promises, repeated delays or a customer who stops communicating. Support can also be useful when chasing payment consumes too much internal time or begins to affect cash flow.

Debt Recovery Hub does not collect the debt itself. We assess the circumstances of your enquiry and help match you with vetted agencies whose experience is relevant to the type, value and complexity of the trade debt involved.

Trade debt recovery through Debt Recovery Hub starts with a short enquiry about the money you are owed. You provide details such as the debt value, age, debtor location, dispute status, number of accounts and the reason payment is due.

We use that information to identify agencies with relevant commercial recovery experience. Providers can differ in the debt values, sectors and locations they handle, as well as their experience with aged, disputed or higher-value accounts.

Debt Recovery Hub can provide up to three quotes from vetted, 5-star rated UK-based agencies. You can review the proposed approach and fees before deciding whether to proceed, with no obligation to appoint a provider simply because you submit an enquiry.

If you choose an agency, it handles the recovery activity directly with you and explains the documents, communication process and next steps required.

Trade debt recovery can apply to many forms of business-to-business debt where payment is properly due but has not been received. This may include unpaid invoices for supplied goods, completed services, trade account balances, professional charges, contractual fees, wholesale accounts and other commercial payments.

It can also help where several invoices are overdue from the same customer or multiple aged accounts require external support.

The recovery approach may differ depending on the circumstances. A recent and undisputed invoice with clear documentation may be handled differently from an older debt, a larger balance or an account where the debtor challenges delivery, quality, pricing or contractual terms.

Debt Recovery Hub considers these factors when assessing your enquiry. This helps us identify agencies whose experience is more closely aligned with the type of trade debt you need to pursue.

Useful documents for trade debt recovery can include invoices, contracts, purchase orders, terms and conditions, statements of account, delivery notes, completion records and previous correspondence with the debtor.

Messages acknowledging the balance, promising payment or proposing instalments may help show the account history. Records of part payments can clarify what remains outstanding.

Where the debtor has raised a dispute, include the complaint, your response and any evidence supporting your position. This can help the recovery provider understand whether the matter is straightforward late payment or whether additional assessment may be required.

You do not need every possible document before contacting Debt Recovery Hub. Provide the information available to you, and the agency you choose can explain what further evidence may be needed before recovery activity begins.

In some qualifying business-to-business cases, trade debt recovery may include statutory interest and certain recovery costs in addition to the principal amount owed. Whether these sums can be claimed depends on the transaction, the contract and the circumstances of the debt.

For qualifying commercial debts, statutory interest may apply where the contract does not provide a different applicable late-payment remedy. Fixed compensation may also be available, and reasonable additional recovery costs can be relevant in some circumstances.

These amounts should not simply be added to every unpaid invoice without checking that the debt qualifies and considering the contractual position.

The provider handling your case can review the available information and explain what may properly be included in the recovery request. Debt Recovery Hub does not provide legal advice and acts as a matching service between creditors and independent recovery providers.

Yes. You can submit an enquiry if a trade debt is disputed, although a disputed balance may require a different approach from a straightforward overdue invoice.

A debtor may challenge pricing, delivery, quality, work, contractual terms or whether the amount is due. Explain the disagreement clearly and provide supporting invoices, agreements and correspondence.

Debt Recovery Hub asks whether the debt is disputed because this can influence which provider is suitable. An agency with experience handling more complex commercial accounts may be more appropriate than one focused mainly on routine invoice collection.

The matched provider can review the circumstances and explain the next step. Some matters may be resolved through correspondence or negotiation, while more substantial disputes may require specialist legal input before formal recovery action is considered.

Yes. Trade debt recovery can involve an overseas customer or trading partner, although cross-border debts can require different expertise from a domestic UK case. The debtor’s country, contractual terms, currency, language and available enforcement options can all affect the recovery route.

Provide clear information about the debtor, transaction, amount outstanding, previous payment requests and any dispute. Contracts, invoices, delivery records and correspondence can be useful where the parties are in different jurisdictions.

Debt Recovery Hub can consider the debtor’s location and other case details when identifying suitable providers. This may include specialists with relevant international commercial recovery experience.

Professional recovery does not automatically mean beginning legal proceedings abroad. Depending on the circumstances, the first steps may involve structured payment demands, direct contact, negotiation or settlement. If escalation becomes necessary, the appointed provider can explain the options and likely costs before you decide how to proceed.