Recover unpaid invoices
An unpaid B2B invoice is the most recoverable kind of debt there is — the paperwork exists, the law is on your side, and a professional approach usually gets attention that your reminders didn’t.
Under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 you can add statutory interest — 8% plus the Bank of England base rate — to an overdue commercial invoice, plus a fixed compensation fee of £40, £70 or £100 per invoice depending on its size. In many cases you can also pass the reasonable costs of recovery on to the debtor, which is why instructing an agency on a commercial debt often costs you little or nothing in the end.
Agencies differ more than you’d think: some work no-win-no-fee, some charge commission on what they recover, some quote fixed fees. Collect Compare shows you vetted agencies side by side — fees, specialisms and verified track record — without names, so you choose on merit rather than marketing. It’s free for you: the agency pays us for the introduction, only when you choose them.
Before you escalate, work out exactly what you’re owed with our free late-payment calculator — it adds the statutory interest and compensation for you and generates a ready-to-send letter before action.
What to compare
- Fee model — no-win-no-fee, fixed fee, or commission — and what each means for your recovery
- Sector fit: consumer debt, commercial debt, or rent arrears specialists
- Verified track record and independent ratings, not marketing claims
- Whether they handle escalation — legal action and High Court enforcement — if the first approach is ignored
See your options in about a minute
Describe the debt — or let AI fill the form in from a sentence — and compare vetted agencies side by side, free.
Common questions
How much interest can I add to an unpaid invoice?
Statutory interest on commercial debts is 8% plus the Bank of England base rate, fixed on the reference date for when the invoice fell overdue, plus a one-off compensation fee of £40, £70 or £100 per invoice depending on its value. Our free calculator works it out and dates it correctly.
How long do I have to recover an unpaid invoice?
In England and Wales the limitation period is six years from when the debt became due (five in Scotland under prescription rules). The clock can reset if the debtor acknowledges the debt in writing or makes a part-payment — but the older a debt gets, the harder recovery becomes, so acting early matters.
What does a debt collection agency cost for an invoice debt?
It depends on the fee model. No-win-no-fee and commission agencies take a percentage of what they recover; fixed-fee agencies quote up front. On commercial debts you can often add reasonable recovery costs to what the debtor owes. Comparing models side by side is exactly what this site is for.
Will using an agency destroy the business relationship?
Reputable agencies recover debts professionally precisely because they’re a neutral third party — often a firm but courteous agency letter resolves things without the personal friction of you chasing directly.
Is Collect Compare really free for creditors?
Yes. Comparing is free and the agencies stay anonymous until you choose one. We make money when an agency pays for the lead you choose to send them — you never pay us.
General information, not legal advice. Statutory interest and compensation apply to qualifying commercial debts under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 — our free calculator works out what you can add, at the correct rate for your dates.