Supplied the materials but not been paid?
For builders’ merchants, timber, steel, concrete, roofing, electrical and plumbing suppliers, and manufacturers selling to construction businesses.
How can a builders’ merchant or materials supplier recover a disputed invoice from a construction company?
Suppliers who only deliver materials usually have no statutory right to adjudication. Dispute Neutral gives them a quick alternative: an independent lawyer decides the disputed invoice on the documents, with a binding decision within 10 business days of the matter being ready, for a fixed fee.
Disputes we decide
Common reasons payment stops in your sector.
Disputed delivery quantities
The customer says less was delivered than invoiced.
Quality complaints
Materials rejected or said to be the wrong specification, often after they have been used.
Trade account arrears
A credit account that has built up and stopped being paid.
Price disputes
Disagreement about the agreed price, discounts or price rises.
Returns and restocking charges
Charges for returned or cancelled orders.
Why use Dispute Neutral
- Supplying materials without installing them is generally not a "construction contract", so you usually have no statutory right to adjudication. Dispute Neutral gives you a quick, low-cost route to a binding decision instead.
- Delivery notes, orders and your account terms are usually all the evidence needed.
- Fixed fee from £650 + VAT.
- Statutory late payment interest and compensation still run on what turns out to be owed.
Both businesses must agree to use Dispute Neutral, either through a clause in your terms or once the dispute has arisen. How to ask them.
Customers in financial difficulty
Act early. Once a customer enters administration or liquidation, we cannot help. A binding decision obtained before then gives you an established figure for what you are owed, and you may also be able to rely on a retention of title clause in your terms for unpaid, unused goods.
- Example
- A timber merchant is owed £12,400 on a trade account; the customer disputes two deliveries. The Dispute Neutral fee is £1,200 + VAT, fixed.
- Amount in dispute
- £12,400
- Dispute Neutral fee
- £1,200 + VATfixed; can be split 50:50
- Decision
- 10 business daysfrom when both sides’ documents are in
Settle future disputes before they start
Add our clause to your trade account terms and conditions of sale, so disputes over deliveries, quality or price go straight to an agreed route.
Questions
Does the Late Payment Act apply?
Yes, for sales to businesses. Statutory interest and fixed compensation can be added to overdue invoices, and still run on a disputed invoice if the debt turns out to be owed.
What if we also install the materials?
Then the contract is likely to be a construction contract, with a statutory right to adjudication. You can still agree to use Dispute Neutral instead.
How much does it cost?
One fixed fee set by the amount in dispute: £650 + VAT up to £4,000, £900 up to £10,000, £1,200 up to £25,000 and £1,500 up to £150,000. For example, a £12,400 dispute costs £1,200 + VAT. The fee can be split 50:50.
Does the other business have to agree?
Yes. Both businesses must agree, either through a Dispute Neutral clause in your terms or once the dispute has arisen. We provide a ready-made invitation you can send, and free clauses you can add to your terms so future disputes come to us automatically.
Is the decision binding?
Yes. Both businesses sign an agreement to accept the decision before the case starts. It is final and binding except for fraud or manifest error. If it is not followed, it can be enforced; depending on the matter, by applying straight for summary judgment or serving a statutory demand.
How long does it take?
The decision is issued within 10 business days of the matter being ready, meaning both businesses have signed and uploaded their documents. There is no hearing.
Useful guides
- Recover unpaid trade invoicesFor trades and suppliers, including quality disputes and work with no written contract.Article
- Statutory interest and compensation on unpaid invoicesWhat you can add to an overdue invoice automatically, with no court order.Article
- My final demand didn’t work: what next?Your options when a final demand is met with silence.Article
- Add Dispute Neutral to your contractsFree clauses for your business terms, so any dispute comes straight to an independent decision.Clauses
Get a binding decision in 10 business days
Fixed fees from £650 + VAT. Both businesses agree, send their documents, and an independent lawyer decides.
Prevent the next one: add our free clause to your terms of business.