Use a mediation service, go to court, send a statutory demand or make someone bankrupt if a person or business owes you money.
Mediation
Mediation is when an impartial person - trained in dealing with difficult discussions between 2 opposing sides - acts like a referee in a dispute.
There can be a fee for mediation but it is cheaper than hiring a solicitor and taking court action. The fee is based on how much is owed.
You can find a mediation (external link)service to start the process.
Court Action
You can make a court claim for your money (external link) if mediation does not work.
You can make a claim online (external link) if the money owed is less than £100,000 and owed by no more than 2 people or 2 organisations.
The court can order the money to be paid.
Make an Official Demand for Money you are Owed
You can use a statutory demand (external link) to ask for money you’re owed from a person or business.
If they ignore the statutory demand or cannot repay the money, you can apply to a court to:
make someone bankrupt (external link)- if you are owed £5000 or more by an individual, including a sole trader or a member of a partnership
get a company wound up (external link) (liquidated) - if you and any other creditors are owed £750 or more
However, the costs are high and you may not get any of your money back. Get legal advice (external link) before doing this if you’re unsure.
Get Money you are Owed from a Bankrupt Person or a Company that is Being Liquidated
You must register your claim (external link) to money from a bankrupt person or a company so that if there is any money available to pay debts, you can get a share.