Guide

Letter Before Action: the complete UK guide

A Letter Before Action (also called a Letter Before Claim) is the formal letter the civil courts in England & Wales expect you to send before you issue a money claim. It is required by the Practice Direction on Pre-Action Conduct and Protocols. Skip it and the court can penalise you on costs — even if you win.

What it is

A Letter Before Action is a written notice that sets out who owes what, why, how much, and by when the recipient must respond before court proceedings are issued. It gives the other side one last chance to pay, dispute, or negotiate — and it produces a paper trail the court can see.

When you need one

• An unpaid invoice or overdue debt.
• A deposit or refund the other side is refusing to return.
• A tradesperson job that was botched or unfinished.
• Any money dispute up to £10,000 you plan to take to the small claims track.

Specialist protocols exist for some claim types (personal injury, housing disrepair, professional negligence, construction). For a straightforward debt or refund, the general Practice Direction applies.

What it must contain

1. Your full name and address (the claimant).
2. The full name and address of the person or company you are claiming from (the defendant).
3. A clear summary of the facts — what was agreed, what happened, what went wrong.
4. The exact sum you are claiming, and how it is calculated.
5. Any interest you are claiming (usually statutory interest — see our late-payment interest guide).
6. A list of the documents you are relying on, with copies enclosed.
7. A reasonable deadline for the recipient to respond — typically 14 days for an individual, 30 days for a business.
8. A statement that if the deadline passes without payment or a substantive reply, you will issue court proceedings without further notice.

How to send it

Send by first-class post and email where you have an address for either. Keep the proof of posting or the sent email — the court will expect to see it. Do not send by tracked delivery only; some recipients refuse it and use that to argue they never received the letter.

What happens next

Around a third of recipients pay or open negotiations once they see a properly structured Letter Before Action. If yours doesn't, you can issue a claim through Money Claim Online for £35 to £455 depending on the amount. Sending the letter first is what makes the claim viable.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. For complex or high-value disputes, speak to a solicitor.