Is your unpaid business debt worth pursuing?
Answer nine quick questions to see whether your debt may be worth pursuing. You will get an indicative recovery score, the main strengths and risks, and a practical next step before you commit time or money.
See whether your debt is worth pursuing
Answer nine straightforward questions and get an immediate indication of your recovery position, the main issues to consider and what to do next.
No account or payment is required. Requesting a review does not authorise us to contact the debtor, start legal action or incur costs.
Why you received this result
What supports recovery
What may make recovery harder
What your result means — and what to do next
How to use your result
Your result is based on the information you entered. It shows whether the debt appears commercially worth pursuing and which factors are most likely to affect recovery.
A free manual review allows us to consider the supporting evidence, the debtor's circumstances, any potential dispute and the most proportionate recovery approach. This may confirm the assessment or identify issues that cannot be fully evaluated by the checker.
Ask us to review the case and we will:
- Review the information and documents you provide.
- Explain any issues that could affect recovery.
- Recommend the most appropriate recovery option and likely next steps.
- Tell you plainly if pursuing the debt is unlikely to be worthwhile.
You remain in control: requesting a review does not authorise us to contact the debtor, begin recovery action or incur costs without your approval.
What makes a debt worth pursuing?
Debt value alone does not decide whether recovery is worthwhile. The evidence, dispute position, debtor status and realistic enforcement options all matter.
What your recovery score may mean
The score is an initial commercial indication, not a guarantee. Use the ranges below to understand what may support recovery and what may need closer review.
Stronger recovery position · 78–100
Clear evidence, an active and identifiable debtor, limited dispute risk and a realistic enforcement route may support prompt recovery action.
Further review recommended · 55–77
The debt may still be recoverable, but missing documents, debtor uncertainty, delay or a developing dispute should be checked before paid escalation.
Higher-risk recovery position · 0–54
Evidence gaps, insolvency concerns, a genuine dispute or no realistic enforcement target may make formal escalation disproportionate.
Need a clearer answer on your case?
Send us the documents for a free review. We can consider the debtor, evidence and dispute details that an online checker cannot fully assess.
Ask Us to Review the DebtCommercial debt recovery with clear safeguards
You need to know who is contacting your customer or debtor and how the case will be handled. Our service combines commercial credit expertise, transparent terms, appropriate insurance and registered data-protection controls.
HK Commercial Debt Recovery is a trading name of HK Credit Services Ltd, Company No. 17265874, registered in England and Wales. Using this checker does not instruct recovery action.
What the checker looks at
The checker combines nine practical indicators. It separates a debt that is merely overdue from one that may also be commercially sensible to pursue.
The score is a commercial screening tool, not a legal merits test. Evidence, dispute risk, debtor activity and a realistic escalation route carry the greatest influence because weakness in any one of these areas can change whether formal action is proportionate.
Evidence and dispute risk
Clear documents, written admissions and no genuine dispute strengthen the recovery position. Missing evidence or a substantive dispute can weaken it significantly.
Debtor status and recovery target
An active, identifiable debtor with a realistic payment or enforcement target presents a stronger position than an insolvent, dissolved or untraceable debtor.
Value, age and proportionality
Debt value and age affect urgency, likely return and whether court, enforcement or insolvency costs are commercially proportionate.
What the score considers
- Whether the liability is a UK business-to-business debt and is currently due.
- The approximate balance and age of the debt.
- The quality of contracts, invoices, orders, delivery evidence and correspondence.
- Admissions, part-payments, disputes and debtor engagement.
- Trading status, solvency indicators and the realistic route if chasing fails.
What the checker cannot confirm
- The legal effect of contract terms, limitation, set-off or counterclaims.
- Whether a stated dispute is genuine, tactical or capable of resolution.
- Current company, asset, credit and insolvency information.
- The likely cost and suitability of court, enforcement or insolvency action.
- Documents or circumstances not reflected in the answers selected.
Examples of stronger and weaker cases
A recent unpaid invoice supported by a purchase order, delivery evidence and written acknowledgement from an active company is likely to score more strongly, particularly where a proportionate escalation route exists.
An older balance with incomplete records, a substantive dispute and signs that the debtor has ceased trading may require investigation before any paid escalation is commercially justified.
The score is an initial screening aid, not a legal opinion, credit report or guarantee of payment. A case review may reach a different conclusion once the documents and current debtor information have been checked.
Choose the right next step for your debt
You do not need to choose a legal route yourself. The right next step depends on the evidence, any dispute, the debtor’s position, the debt value and the realistic prospect of recovery.
Recovery routes
Route suitability checks
Calculators and support
Questions you may have before using the checker
Is there any obligation when I use the debt viability checker?
No. The checker is free and completing it does not oblige you to instruct us.
Is there an upfront recovery fee?
There is no upfront fee to use the checker or submit a debt for review. Please review the pricing page for the terms that apply if you later instruct recovery work.
What debts is the checker for, and does completing it authorise action?
The checker is for UK business-to-business debts. Completing it or submitting details does not authorise recovery, court, enforcement or insolvency action.
Can the checker tell me whether I will recover the debt?
No. It provides an indicative commercial assessment based on your answers. Recovery cannot be guaranteed, and a case review may identify further legal, evidential or enforcement issues.
Can I recover an unpaid business invoice?
Potentially. Recovery prospects usually depend on whether the invoice is due, the evidence supports the balance, the debtor is correctly identified and trading, and there is a proportionate recovery route if ordinary payment requests are ignored.
How old is too old to recover a business debt?
Older debts may still be recoverable, but delay can affect evidence, debtor viability and limitation. Review the likely timescale and urgency of recovery, and obtain a case-specific review before acting on a debt that is several years old.
Can a disputed invoice still be recovered?
Yes, in some cases. The nature and credibility of the dispute must be assessed first. A genuine contractual or evidential dispute may change the appropriate route and make immediate insolvency-based action unsuitable. A carefully prepared Letter Before Action assessment may help clarify the next step.
Is court action always necessary to recover a business debt?
No. Many debts are resolved through structured contact, negotiation or a formal demand. Court action should be considered only where it is proportionate and there is a realistic prospect of obtaining and enforcing payment.
Find out what to do next
Request a free case review before committing to legal costs. We will assess the debtor, evidence, dispute risk and realistic recovery options, then explain the most proportionate next step.
Submitting the debt does not authorise legal or enforcement action. Any proposed escalation will be explained before you decide whether to proceed.