Debt recovery that understands agency cash flow
Paid late by clients, on the hook to pay freelancers and production partners fast - we know the squeeze agencies are under, and we recover what you're owed without damaging the relationship.
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
Agencies carry a cash-flow risk most sectors don't.
90–120 day terms are now common against an industry standard of 30 — and some clients have pushed as far as 360 days.
of typical agency output now comes from freelance and contract talent, and they need paying fast whatever your client does.
of agency invoices are paid late, with UK creative waits stretching up to 90 days past completion.
We recover without burning the relationship
Discretion first
We recover payment without your client relationships, or your reputation in the market, taking the hit.
We understand agency billing
Retainers, project invoicing, media spend recharges, production cost float, usage and licensing disputes — not generic B2B debt.
Legal support from day one
STA Legal, our sister firm of solicitors, can escalate the moment it is needed, without a panel firm reading the file cold.
Fast, because your chain waits
Average recovery in 3–4 weeks, so you can pay freelancers and production partners on time in turn.
Five steps, the same on every agency case.
You always know where the file sits and what happens next.
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1
Send the debt and paperwork
The invoice, with any retainer, statement of work or approval trail.
More detail
Send the invoice with any retainer agreement, statement of work, purchase order or approval trail you hold.
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2
Assess the debtor and dispute
A solvency check, and an honest read on why they have not paid.
More detail
A solvency and conduct check, plus an honest read on whether you are facing a real dispute, deliberate cash management, or genuine distress.
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3
Professional, discreet contact
We contact the client as your representative, on the contract terms.
More detail
We contact the client as your representative, on the contract terms rather than through 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.
More detail
Recovered funds are remitted weekly, with every movement visible in Your Debts Online as it happens — so you can pay your own chain.
Questions agency 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.
Will this damage my relationship with a client I might work with again?
It shouldn't. We contact the client as your representative, professionally and on the contract terms, and most cases settle without a cross word. Companies owe money, but people pay bills, and we work with that rather than against it.
What if the client is disputing scope, usage rights or a cancelled project?
We still act, and we assess the dispute properly first. A genuine dispute over deliverables, licensing or a cancellation clause 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.
Can you help if we can't pay a freelancer because a client hasn't paid us?
Yes, that is one of the most common reasons agencies come to us. We work the client debt as the priority, because clearing it is what frees you to settle with the freelancers and production partners waiting on you.
What if the client is a large corporate rather than a struggling small business?
Then the delay is usually a policy rather than a cash problem, and it responds to a different approach. We deal with corporate procurement and shared-service payment teams routinely, and statutory interest strengthens your position considerably.
Stop financing your clients' cash flow.
Let's get you paid.
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.