Goods delivered, invoice disputed?
For wholesalers, distributors, manufacturers and food and drink suppliers selling to other businesses.
How can a supplier recover payment when a business customer rejects the goods?
Refer the dispute to Dispute Neutral. An independent lawyer decides on the order, specification, delivery records and correspondence, with a binding decision within 10 business days of the matter being ready and a fixed fee.
Disputes we decide
Common reasons payment stops in your sector.
Rejected batches
Goods rejected as faulty or not to specification.
Short deliveries
The customer says less arrived than was invoiced.
Price and discount disagreements
Disputes about agreed prices, rebates or volume discounts.
Account arrears
Trade accounts that have stopped being paid.
Why use Dispute Neutral
- Orders, specifications, delivery notes and correspondence usually decide the case.
- Fixed fee from £650 + VAT.
- Private, so you can keep the trading relationship if you want to.
- Statutory late payment interest still runs 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. A retention of title clause in your terms may also help with unpaid, unused goods.
- Example
- A manufacturer is owed £32,000 for a batch the customer says was faulty. The Dispute Neutral fee is £1,500 + VAT, fixed.
- Amount in dispute
- £32,000
- Dispute Neutral fee
- £1,500 + 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 terms and conditions of sale.
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 £32,000 dispute costs £1,500 + 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
- 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.