Preparing a Letter Before Action with WolfX

A Letter Before Action (LBA), sometimes called a letter before claim, is a formal written demand sent to a debtor before you start court proceedings. It sets out who owes what, why, and by when, and it warns that you may take the matter to court if the debt is not paid or resolved. Sending a clear, reasonable LBA is part of the conduct the courts expect before a claim is issued.

An LBA is not a court document and it does not, by itself, create any debt or judgment. It is a demand that makes your position explicit and gives the other side a fair chance to pay, dispute, or propose a way forward.

WolfX produces a premium document artifact — a structured Letter Before Action drawn from the invoice, contact, and timeline details you provide — together with references to the supporting records held in your Evidence Vault. The aim is a tidy, evidence-backed package you can review internally, share with a solicitor, or use to support a pre-action conversation.

This is software output, not a solicitor’s letter. WolfX is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. The generated LBA is a draft document for you to check, adapt, and decide whether and how to use. You remain responsible for the contents and for whether sending it is appropriate in your circumstances.

A well-prepared LBA usually pulls together the following, all referenced back to the underlying records:

The rules that shape a pre-action letter differ depending on who the debtor is. This affects the timescales and the level of detail expected before you can reasonably move towards court.

Where the debtor is a limited company or other business, the relevant framework is the Practice Direction on Pre-Action Conduct and Protocols. In practice this typically means giving the debtor a reasonable period — commonly at least 14 days — to respond before issuing a claim, although what is reasonable depends on the facts.

Where the debtor is an individual or a sole trader, the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims applies. This is more prescriptive: it generally requires a detailed letter of claim with specified information and gives the debtor 30 days to reply, with extra steps if they ask for documents or indicate a dispute.

WolfX is built around UK B2B recovery, so its workflows are oriented towards company debtors. If your debtor is an individual or a sole trader, the more detailed debt protocol applies and you should check the specific requirements — or take advice — before sending. This is general information, not legal advice.

WolfX is software for preparing and organising recovery evidence. It does not provide legal advice and is not a substitute for a solicitor. It does not guarantee that you will recover the debt. It does not file court claims on your behalf, it does not collect payments from debtors directly, and it does not currently send physical post. Decisions about what to send, when, and to whom remain yours.

Start by checking how ready your case is. The LBA readiness checker walks through the details and evidence a strong letter relies on, so you can see what is in place and what is missing before you generate the document. From there you can prepare the artifact, review it, and decide how to proceed — internally, with a solicitor, or towards a formal demand.