Debt recovery that understands construction
Retentions, staged payments, disputed valuations, subcontractor chains - we know why construction debt is different, and we recover it faster because of it.
At a glance
- 10% UK · 15% overseas, no collection, no commission
- Work starts within 24 hours
- FCA authorised · CSA member since 1995
- Collected in 154 countries last year
Late payment runs down the chain.
of contract value is withheld as retention, often still outstanding long after practical completion.
Construction has topped the UK insolvency tables for years. A slow-paying debtor today can be insolvent within months.
A proposed ceiling on the terms large firms can impose on smaller suppliers, ending 90 and 120-day terms down the chain.
We understand why invoices get stuck
We speak the language
Staged payments, valuations, variations, final accounts, retentions, adjudication — cases we work every day, not new ground.
Legal support from day one
STA Legal, our sister firm of solicitors, can escalate the moment a case needs it, without a panel firm reading the file cold.
Fast, because speed matters here
Average recovery in 3–4 weeks. Critical when a distressed debtor may not stay solvent much longer than the invoice is old.
Relationships matter in this industry
Companies owe money, but people pay bills. We recover what you're owed without burning the relationship you need for the next tender, and we collected in 154 countries last year.
Five steps, the same on every construction case.
You always know where the file sits and what happens next.
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1
Send the debt and paperwork
The invoice or valuation, with the contract and any payment correspondence.
More detail
Send the invoice or valuation with any contract, payment application, payless notice or final account correspondence you hold.
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2
Assess the debtor and dispute
A solvency check, and an honest read on whether the dispute is genuine.
More detail
A solvency and conduct check on the debtor, plus an honest read on whether a valuation dispute is genuine or a stalling tactic.
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3
Professional, informed contact
We contact the debtor as your representative, on the contract terms.
More detail
We contact the debtor as your representative, using the contract terms rather than pressure — the relationship stays intact.
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4
30-day review checkpoint
Most claims resolve hereStill open at 30 days? We review it with you.
More detail
If the debt is still open at 30 days we review it with you, with legal escalation available through STA Legal — your decision, not ours.
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✓
Weekly BACS remittance
Funds remitted weekly, every movement visible in Your Debts Online.
Services for this sector
Questions construction clients ask us
What does "No Collection, No Commission" mean?
If we don't recover anything, you pay nothing. No placement fees, no upfront costs, no hourly billing: our commission is a percentage of what we bring in, so our incentive matches yours from day one. If you decide to take a case to court, STA Legal agrees its costs with you in writing before anything is issued.
How quickly can you start?
Usually the same working day. Placing a debt through Your Debts Online takes a few minutes, and first contact with the debtor goes out within 24 hours of the file being validated. Speed matters: recovery odds drop sharply after 90 days.
Will chasing payment damage my relationship with the customer?
It shouldn't. We contact your customer as your representative, firmly and professionally, and we follow the Credit Services Association Code of Practice. Tell us if you want to keep trading with them and we'll adjust our approach. Most cases settle without a cross word, and you're kept informed at every stage.
What if the debt is disputed over a valuation or variation?
We still act, and we assess the dispute properly first. A genuine dispute needs resolving on the contract, and we will tell you if that is what you are facing. A dispute raised to buy time is a different matter, and we deal with those every week.
Do you handle retentions specifically?
Yes, and they are among the most common construction cases we take. Retentions held past the release date, or quietly absorbed after practical completion, are recoverable — the paperwork trail usually works in your favour.
What happens if my debtor becomes insolvent?
Normal recovery action usually stops. You'll generally need to register your claim with the insolvency practitioner and wait: assets are paid out by creditor ranking, secured before unsecured, so there's often little left after costs. We check solvency when you place a debt, and if an insolvency process is already underway we'll tell you what's realistically recoverable rather than run up costs on a lost cause.
Tell us what you're owed.
We'll recover it.
Get a free quote and talk to our team — no upfront cost, no obligation.
No Collection, No Commission. If we don't recover, you don't pay.