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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. Tell us what happened and we will write yours, free. You choose how it gets sent once you have read it.

Letters like yours, and what came back

What happenedAmountResolutionWho owes you

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 it 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

Choose how it gets sent

For £15 we post it first class with proof of posting, watch the 14 day deadline, and turn it into your court claim in one tap.

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 fill in the court forms and file your claim online, starting from £39.
Do you send the letter for me?▾
Only if you choose that when your draft is ready. The letter itself is free either way. You can read it, download it, print it and post it yourself. For £15 we post it first class with proof of posting, hold it for 48 hours so you can edit it or send it early, watch the 14 day deadline for you, and put a one-tap court claim in your dashboard with the £15 back off our fee. It is the same letter; the difference is what happens after it goes out.
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?▾
Writing the letter is free. You get the full letter to keep, and you can print it and post it yourself at no cost. If you would rather we sent it, that is £15 one off: we post it first class with proof of posting, watch the 14 day deadline, and take the whole £15 off our fee if you go on to file a court claim.

Letter didn't work? Take them to court.

If they still will not pay, we can start your court claim online. You tell us what happened, we fill in the court forms and file them for you.

Start a court claim from £39→