Letter Before Action - Client Owes Money

A formal Letter Before Action for when a client owes money for a beauty treatment, referencing the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

Letter Before Action - Client Owes Money

Disclaimer: This is a template - always read the linked guide first. BeautyKiln gives general information, not legal advice.

LETTER BEFORE ACTION

From: [YOUR FULL NAME] Trading as: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME] Address: [YOUR BUSINESS ADDRESS] Date: [DATE]

To: [CLIENT'S FULL NAME] Address: [CLIENT'S ADDRESS]

Sent by: [RECORDED DELIVERY / EMAIL WITH READ RECEIPT]

Dear [CLIENT'S NAME],

RE: LETTER BEFORE ACTION - Unpaid treatment/service - £[AMOUNT OWED]

This is a Letter Before Action. It is a formal notice that I intend to start court proceedings if this matter is not resolved within 14 days.

What happened:

On [DATE OF APPOINTMENT], I provided the following treatment/service at [LOCATION - your salon, their home, mobile location]:

• Treatment/service: [DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DID - e.g., "full head of highlights, cut and blow dry"]
• Duration: [HOW LONG THE APPOINTMENT LASTED]
• Agreed price: £[AMOUNT] (agreed [HOW - verbally when booking / in writing via text / on your price list / via online booking])

[CHOOSE THE PARAGRAPH THAT FITS YOUR SITUATION:]

Option A - Client left without paying: At the end of the appointment, you left without making payment. I contacted you on [DATE] and [DATE] to request payment, but it remains outstanding.

Option B - Client's payment failed: You made a payment of £[AMOUNT] by [card/bank transfer] on [DATE], but this payment [was declined / bounced / was reversed]. I contacted you on [DATE] and [DATE] to request the outstanding payment, but it remains unpaid.

Option C - Client paid a deposit but not the balance: You paid a deposit of £[DEPOSIT AMOUNT] on [DATE]. The remaining balance of £[BALANCE] was due [at the appointment / within X days]. I contacted you on [DATE] and [DATE] to request the balance, but it remains unpaid.

Your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015:

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, when a service is provided with reasonable care and skill as agreed, the consumer is obliged to pay the agreed price. If no price was agreed in advance, a reasonable price is owed.

I provided this service as agreed, and you have a legal obligation to pay for it.

What you owe:

What I need you to do:

Within 14 days of the date of this letter (by [DATE 14 DAYS FROM NOW]), please either:

1. Pay £[TOTAL] by:

   • Bank transfer to: [ACCOUNT NAME], Sort code: [SORT CODE], Account: [ACCOUNT NUMBER], Reference: [YOUR REFERENCE]
   • Or by [OTHER PAYMENT METHODS]

2. Contact me to discuss a repayment arrangement

3. If you dispute this, write to me with your reasons

What happens next if you don't respond:

If I don't receive payment or a response within 14 days, I will file a claim through the county court (Money Claims Online) without further notice. This could result in:

• A County Court Judgment (CCJ) registered against your name
• Additional court fees added to your debt
• The CCJ staying on your credit record for six years
• Enforcement action to collect the debt

I would genuinely prefer to resolve this without going to court. If you're having financial difficulties, please contact me and we can try to work something out.

This letter is sent in compliance with the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR FULL NAME] [YOUR BUSINESS NAME] [YOUR PHONE NUMBER] [YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS]

Notes for you (delete before sending):

• Choose Option A, B, or C and delete the others before sending
• Send by recorded delivery AND email for proof of delivery
• Keep copies of everything
• If they respond disputing the quality of your work, that's a separate issue - they still owe you for the service provided
• If they claim the service was substandard, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives them the right to request a repeat performance or price reduction, but NOT to simply refuse to pay
• For claims under £10,000, use the small claims track - you don't need a solicitor