Sole Traders

Our Sole Trader Experience

5,000+

We've helped hundreds of clients like you to recover debt

79m+

AED recovered for our sole trader clients

38 days

Average time taken to recover unpaid debt for sole traders

Commission only charged on monies recovered

Our rate remains the same whether it takes us a single day to recover your debt or an entire year. It’s in our interest to act as quickly as possible.

All Services

Ancillary Services

Our ancillary services are available to all our clients. If a case requires a specific service such as legal action or debtor tracing, the associated issuing cost will be explained to you before any speculative action is taken and we will require your express instruction before undertaking any fee incurring work.

No collection, no commission

In most cases, our typical commission rate is 15%, and we only charge commission if we successfully collect. Which means we’re fully focused on getting results.

Dependent on our clients’ terms and conditions, or relevant legislation, costs may also be recovered where we are legally able to do so.

Easing the burden

Credit control can be a time-consuming process. For a small business, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to dedicate to chasing debt, while even larger companies with credit control staff frequently need a hand with stubborn debtors. Which is where a partner with experience, expertise and a persistent, professional approach can prove priceless.

Above and beyond

For cases requiring additional lean, we are vastly experienced in knowing the right kind of legal action to instigate against your debtors. We drive forward legal action in-house, saving our clients from over-involvement.

Unlike other debt collection agencies, we also retain a panel of expert, highly regarded solicitors, and insolvency practitioners. Which all adds up to a professional, respectful, and highly effective solution to your enforcement needs. One offered at exceptionally competitive rates, and one that dovetails neatly with our core debt recovery services.

Communication and reporting

A dedicated account manager is assigned to every one of our clients. Each has extensive experience, and all will respond to debt referred requests on the same day, quickly getting up-to-speed on the case and establishing a dialogue with you as soon as possible. In addition, we supply regular reports with 24/7 online access to your case readily available.

No joining fee or long term contract

Unless requested, we won't ask our cloients to enter a fixed term contract and we won't charge a joining fee. To be honest, we want our clients to return for the quality of our results-driven service, rather than being contractually obligated to do so.

Helping you grow stronger

Easing the burden of chasing debt leaves you free to focus on what you do best. Growing your business. Your brand will benefit with improved cash flow enhancing your reputation, building respect in your sector, and ultimately helping you grow stronger as a business.

Debt recovery for
sole traders

For a sole trader, one outstanding payment can affect how much is available to cover business expenses or fund the next job, and when you're responsible for earning the income and collecting it, only so much time can be put into pursuing payment.

Our focus is recovery so your focus is the business. A dedicated account manager takes over contact and works through any issues raised by the debtor. Supporting evidence guides the approach to recovering overdue retention payments and resolving disputes where completed work is being questioned. Regular updates keep you informed of how your case is progressing.

Recovery support is available for a single unpaid invoice or several overdue accounts, with no minimum debt value. If additional services are needed, any associated costs are explained, with no action taken without your authorisation.

Commonly asked questions

Can I recover payment without a signed contract?

A signed contract isn't the only evidence of an agreement. Emails, text and whatsapp messages that show an accepted quote alongside evidence of the completed work can help establish what was agreed and what's owed. The more supporting documentation you have, the harder it is for the debtor to dispute.

What happens if my customer disputes the payment?

If a customer disputes a payment, your account manager will request the details in writing and send them to you for comment. They’ll then review the circumstances and supporting documents to assess the likelihood of payment and explain the available routes to recovery, so you can make an informed decision on how to proceed.

How much does debt collection cost?

We charge 15% commission on monies collected, operating on a no collection, no commission basis. Ancillary services incur additional costs and are discussed with your account manager. We require your signed authorisation before proceeding with any further action, so there are no surprise fees.

What if I want to continue working with my customer?

Referring a debt to us doesn't have to mean the end of the working relationship. We offer a softer recovery approach through Redwood Credit Management, specifically for clients who prioritise preserving the relationship.

'We appointed Redwood Collections to help us retrieve monies owed and they were great from start to finish. They were never pushy and were always professional and offered great advice.

Unlike some debt companies we have used in the past which when using it took great expense and time and took its toll on both our business and our health. Redwood was brilliant and it took no time at all to get the monies owed. Simple and efficient!

We shall definitely be using them again if required and advise others to do so if they need help.
Great service, friendly and professional service.'

DVB Hire

'I had an unpaid invoice from a client and after several attempts via phone, mail and email I had zero response and had to pass the debt on to Redwood Collections.

It was easy to chat to them and after sending all the evidence required, they got straight onto it and issued the client the necessary paperwork within 24 hours. They were on the case and a week later, I received a phone call to say they had received the payment in full.

Brilliant service and will definitely use again.'

Libra Carpet Care

'I am a small plumbing and heating business from Oxford. I had been contracted by a builder to complete a full refurbishment of the plumbing and heating in a 3-bed house he was renovating. The final payment was reduced by him by £700 for snagging. After 3 months, no snags had been brought forward. I asked time after time for payment to be made but I was ignored.

The builder agreed that the amount owed was correct, and after 5 months told me that the bill would be settled within a week. After getting fobbed off for another 4 weeks, I contacted Redwood Collections. After explaining my case to their agent, I was able to leave the case in their capable hands.

The builder still did not plan on paying, but eventually, he did pay. After 7 months of waiting, I finally received payment. I now recommend Redwood weekly to any other tradesmen who are in a similar situation.'

Huckin & Co