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Letter Before Action

This is the formal letter you send to warn someone you will take them to court if they do not pay or put things right. Pick how you want to send yours.

★★★★★

“The guidance received and prompt action made this difficult process very easy, thank you!!! Would definitely recommend.”

Margaret, Essex

★★★★★

“Your excellent pre-action letter did the trick; thank you so much. The loan has been repaid to us in full.”

Nadia, Leeds

Free basic letter, or Pro?

You can write a simple letter for free. Or let us draft a stronger one, with all your legal rights laid out powerfully, and send it for you.

Free basic
£0
RECOMMENDED
Pro
£15
The letterCovers the basicsWritten in a solicitor's style, naming the laws on your side
Your legal rightsA simple demandAll your rights spelled out
Posting itYou print and post itWe post it 1st class. Physical mail gets taken more seriously.
If they don't payYou file the claimOne-click court claim
Chance they pay upGoodHigher
Get the Pro letter for £15Or write the free basic letter below
What happenedAmountResolutionWho owes youYour detailsYour letter

What happened?

Describe the dispute in your own words. Include dates, what was agreed, and what went wrong. The more detail, the stronger the letter.

How the Basic version works

1

Tell us what happened

Enter the details of your dispute — who owes you, how much, and what went wrong.

2

We generate your letter

Our AI creates a professional Letter Before Action that follows the Pre-Action Protocol.

3

Send it & get paid

Download your letter, send it, and give them 14 days. If they don't pay, file a court claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Letter Before Action?▾
A Letter Before Action (LBA) is a formal letter sent to someone who owes you money or has breached a contract, warning them that you intend to take court action if they don't resolve the matter. It's a required step under the Pre-Action Protocol before you can file a court claim in England and Wales.
Do I need to send a Letter Before Action before going to court?▾
Yes. Under the Civil Procedure Rules, you must follow the Pre-Action Protocol before issuing court proceedings. Failing to send an LBA can result in cost penalties from the court, even if you win your case.
How long should I give them to respond?▾
The standard timeframe is 14 days for a straightforward debt claim. For more complex disputes, 28 days may be appropriate. Our generator uses the appropriate timeframe based on your situation.
What happens after I send the letter?▾
If the other party pays or resolves the dispute, the matter is closed. If they don't respond or refuse to pay within the deadline, you can file a court claim. JustClaim can help you file your N1 court form online, starting from £39.
Is this letter legally valid?▾
Yes. Our AI generates letters that comply with the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims and general pre-action conduct. The letter includes all required elements: a clear summary of the claim, the amount owed, a deadline to respond, and a warning of court proceedings.
How much does this cost?▾
The Basic Letter Before Action generator is completely free. You draft, print, and send the letter yourself. If you want a stronger, solicitor-style letter with all your legal rights set out, posted 1st class for you, with a one-click court claim if they don't pay, Letter Before Action (Pro) is £15.
What's the difference between Basic (free) and Pro (£15)?▾
Basic gets you a simple Letter Before Action you can copy or print. You handle the printing, the postage, and the next step if they ignore you. Pro is a stronger letter: written in a solicitor's style with all your legal rights set out in full. We post it 1st class for you, and if the deadline passes without payment there is a one-click 'file my court claim' option in your dashboard.

Letter didn't work? File a court claim.

If your Letter Before Action doesn't get results, JustClaim can file your N1 court claim online. We handle the paperwork — you get your money back.

File a Court Claim — from £39→