{"id":772,"date":"2025-11-10T10:50:08","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T10:50:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/isquaredemo.com\/MLT\/threegraceslegal\/?page_id=772"},"modified":"2025-11-13T08:39:12","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T08:39:12","slug":"defendant-debt-recovery","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/isquaredemo.com\/MLT\/threegraceslegal\/business\/debt-recovery\/defendant-debt-recovery\/","title":{"rendered":"Defendant Debt Recovery"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Defendant Debt Recovery\n<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Home<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Defendant Debt Recovery Solicitors Liverpool\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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If your business has been served a Statutory Demand, it is vital that you act quickly. Our\u00a0commercial debt\u00a0recovery lawyers<\/a>\u00a0here at Three Graces Legal are on hand to provide expert advice when you need it most.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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If you are based in England or Wales, you have to act within 21 days, otherwise this could lead to the winding-up of your company. Our debt recovery team will lay out your options for you clearly and concisely during the debt recovery process. We understand that you may be facing financial difficulty and as a result, we offer a flexible and affordable fee structure that can be tailored to your circumstances. There is no time to delay, contact Three Graces Legal today by calling\u00a00151 453 6705<\/a><\/span>\u00a0or complete our\u00a0online enquiry form<\/a>\u00a0and one of our debt recovery solicitors will get back to you right away.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Experienced Debt Recovery lawyers, Liverpool, Wirral, Merseyside and across England & Wales\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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If you are served a Statutory Demand and the debt is genuinely owed, you should take steps to pay the debt or make arrangements with the Creditor to settle it.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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There are situations where a Statutory Demand is served when it should not have been, such as where there is a genuine dispute or where there is a counter-claim equal to or exceeding the creditor’s claim. Even if this is the case, the Statutory Demand still needs to be addressed, otherwise Insolvency Proceedings may be commenced.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Depending on how much time you have, you may seek to contact the Creditor to set out exactly why the debt is not owed. You need to seek an undertaking from the Creditor (or their agent) that they will not commence Insolvency Proceedings. You need to act quickly, however, because this will reduce the time you have to deal with the Statutory Demand, and if the Creditor declines your request, you may struggle to prevent Insolvency Proceedings against your business.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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You may \u2013 in the absence of any undertaking to desist from Insolvency Proceedings \u2013 make an Application to the Court seeking an Injunction which restrains the Creditor from commencing Winding-Up Proceedings.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What if my company disputes the debt? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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You may challenge a Statutory Demand where you believe the debt is not due, as long as there are genuine grounds for dispute. A disputed debt for the purposes of a Statutory Demand is a debt claimed by the Creditor which the debtor says is not owed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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The statutory demand makes reference to a 'liquidated sum'. What is this? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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A good petitioning debt is one which is a liquidated sum, payable now or in the future, and the debtor has no reasonable prospect of paying. It must be a specific amount and one which has been fully and finally ascertained.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The effect of an unsatisfied Statutory Demand is to create a presumption of Insolvency. If you dispute the debt and have genuine grounds to challenge it, then your position is that the debt is not due, and your Company is not Insolvent. In such circumstances, then it is likely that the Statutory Demand route is not the right route to recover the debt.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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How much is owed? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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For corporate debtors, the minimum amount of debt which can be demanded by way of Statutory Demand is \u00a3750.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Once the Statutory Demand has been served on your company you need to take immediate steps to deal with it. You will have to either arrange with the Creditor to pay the debt or defend the petition.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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This process is technical and the consequences of getting it wrong can result in your business suffering closure as a result. When a Winding-Up Petition is presented against your company – and subsequently advertised – it can have a devastating effect on your ability to trade. This is because other creditors or suppliers may believe you cannot pay your debts and they may cease to continue trading with you.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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What Is Meant By \u201cBeing Advertised\" <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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If time permits, we would send a letter to the creditor setting out the grounds on which the debt is disputed and that issuing a Winding-Up Petition is not appropriate. We would seek a solicitor’s undertaking that the Winding-Up Petition will not be issued. If it has already been issued, then we would seek an undertaking that it will not be advertised.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Where a Winding-Up Petition has been issued at the High Court, it follows that the Petitioning Creditor must also advertise this in The Gazette. This is because, as mentioned above, the unsatisfied Statutory Demand creates the presumption of Insolvency, i.e. that a Company cannot pay its creditors. Therefore, in view of the Winding-Up Petition being issued, the Petitioning Creditor is effectively notifying your Company’s other creditors, including your bank, that it has fallen into a difficult financial situation, and your Creditors need to take steps to protect themselves against any loss stemming from the Insolvency. This could include seeing your Company’s assets frozen.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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What if my company's bank account or other assets are frozen? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Where the Company bank account has been frozen, owing to your lender being notified of the Petition via the Gazette, then you will need to apply for a Validation Order to authorise the bank to release funds to make any payments that fall due from the frozen account.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The application must follow a specific form and so legal assistance is required. The application must be made at the same Court where the Petition is being heard. For example, if the Petition has been issued at Leeds District Registry, then just because you are based in Liverpool is irrelevant \u2013 the application must go to Leeds, even though your home District Registry, as Debtor, is Liverpool.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Court will consider the application and its enclosures, which should include things like a cash flow forecast and a list of proposed payments detailing why they should be paid. The Variation Order will usually only be granted where the Court is persuaded the Petition will be dismissed, either because the Company is solvent and so the Petition is not appropriate, or where a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) has been agreed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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What if the undertaking is not given? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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If, following our letter, the Undertaking is not provided within the time requested, then we shall apply to the Court seeking an Injunction restraining the Petitioning Creditor from issuing a Winding-Up Petition, under the Insolvency Rules.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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If the application succeeds, that will effectively ‘buy’ you more time to determine whether the debt is due, in which case, payment arrangements should be made, or whether the debt is disputed. If there are genuine grounds to defend the debt, then we will ask that you gather all necessary evidence together in order to present to the Court and seek the Petition be struck out. If such a finding is made, we are able to seek our wasted costs from the Petitioning Creditor so that you are not out of pocket for their actions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Can I challenge the petition against my company? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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If the Creditor does not agree to withdraw the Petition, then a Defence needs to be filed with the Court at least 5 days before the Hearing. The Defence is a vital legal document, and so care should be taken to ensure it is properly drafted in the appropriate form. For this, you should seek legal assistance. The purpose of the Defence is to challenge the claim referred to in the petition. If any part of the claim is not in dispute, then you should take steps to pay this and any costs.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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What If I pay the petitioning creditor? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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You must ensure you are clear as to what you have agreed to pay and whether this is in full and final settlement and whether it includes legal costs.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Even if you pay the Creditor, where the Petition has been advertised does not necessarily spell the end of the matter. This is because another Creditor who is able to issue a Petition against your Company can adopt the existing Petition.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Can I get more time to pay the debt? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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As soon as is possible you should try to reach an agreement with the Petitioning Creditor over terms of a payment plan and to get them not to advertise the Petition.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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If a payment plan can be agreed, then you must also seek agreement to have the Petition withdrawn as it is unlikely the Court will allow an adjournment beyond 12 weeks to facilitate a payment plan.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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If the Petitioning Creditor will not agree to a payment plan, then you may ask the Court for time to pay. However, this is a discretionary remedy, and without any agreement with the Creditor, the Court is only likely to adjourn for six weeks.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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What if I need more than six weeks? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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If you are unable to settle the debt within the period agreed, then you have no option but to enter a formal insolvency procedure.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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This will take effect by considering one of the following options:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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