Final notices and letters before action

These are the formal steps, for business clients only.

The final notice

Says the invoice is still unpaid, sets out any statutory interest and compensation, gives a new total and a date to pay by, and says a letter before action comes next.

PaidStraight doesn't send it until you've read it. When it's due, it appears under Waiting for you on the dashboard and on the invoice page. Change any word, then Send it, or Hold it, which also pauses reminders for that invoice.

The letter before action

At least 7 days after the final notice, PaidStraight fills in a letter before action from the invoice and tells you it's ready. You send it yourself: PaidStraight never sends it to your client.

On the letter page you can:

• read and change the text,
• download it as a PDF,
• copy a short covering email to send with it.

The letter sets out the debt, the reminders already sent, how the amount is worked out, and the date to reply by: 14 days for a company, or 30 days for a sole trader or partnership in England and Wales. For a sole trader or partnership in England and Wales, the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims also asks you to send its Information Sheet and Reply Form; get them from gov.uk.

Only send either step if the work was done and the client hasn't raised a problem. You are responsible for what you send. PaidStraight is not a law firm and this is not legal advice; if you're unsure, ask a solicitor.

If it's still not paid after the reply date, read the guide to small claims.