Consultant or freelancer chasing an unpaid invoice?
For independent consultants, contractors and freelancers, trading as sole traders or through their own companies, working for business clients.
How can a freelancer or consultant get paid by a business client without a solicitor?
Send a letter before action, then propose Dispute Neutral. You set out your case in writing yourself, and an independent lawyer issues a binding decision within 10 business days of the matter being ready, for a fixed fee from £650 + VAT.
Disputes we decide
Common reasons payment stops in your sector.
Day-rate invoices
Days worked that the client disputes or will not sign off.
Project fees
A fixed-price project where the client says it was not finished.
Expenses
Travel and other agreed expenses left unpaid.
Early termination
A contract ended early without the agreed notice or payment.
Why use Dispute Neutral
- Built for people without a legal department: you set out your case yourself, in writing.
- Fixed fee from £650 + VAT, so smaller invoices are worth pursuing.
- Statutory late payment interest and compensation apply to business clients.
- A binding written decision within 10 business days of the matter being ready.
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.
- Example
- A freelance consultant is owed £4,800 for 8 days’ work. The Dispute Neutral fee is £900 + VAT, fixed.
- Amount in dispute
- £4,800
- Dispute Neutral fee
- £900 + 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 contract or terms of engagement.
Questions
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 £4,800 dispute costs £900 + 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
- Debt recovery without solicitorsPractical ways to recover a business debt without paying legal fees.Article
- Statutory interest and compensation on unpaid invoicesWhat you can add to an overdue invoice automatically, with no court order.Article
- Letter before action for unpaid invoicesWhat to include, how to send it and what to do if it is ignored.Guide
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.