posted 11th September 2026
Have the payment demands started?
Perhaps you believed the agreement had ended. Maybe you tried to cancel it. Perhaps there has been a dispute about the equipment, service, charges or what you were originally told. Now the matter has moved on.
You may be receiving letters or calls from JLA, a debt recovery company, solicitors or a legal recoveries department. At this point, many businesses make one of two mistakes. They either ignore the correspondence completely. Or they panic and agree to pay before anyone has properly looked at the contract.
Neither is a good approach.
Being chased does not automatically mean the amount claimed is correct.
A demand for payment is exactly that — a demand. The important question is whether the money being claimed is actually due under the agreement. That may require looking at much more than the latest letter.
For example:
- What did you actually sign?
- How long was the agreement?
- What were you told before signing?
- Did the contract renew or extend?
- Did you try to cancel?
- Were there problems with the equipment or service?
- How has the amount now being claimed been calculated?
- Is a finance company involved as well as the equipment supplier?
These can be significant issues in commercial laundry, catering, telecoms, photocopier, vending, IT and other equipment agreements.
Arrange a Free Dispute Review
JLA debt recovery.
JLA has its own recovery capability, and public information has also linked DCBL, DCB Legal and Fieldfisher with JLA recovery or legal work.
If your account has reached this stage, the key question is not simply who is chasing you.
It is whether the amount being claimed is actually due.
Before you agree to pay.
Do not ignore recovery letters. But equally, do not rush into admitting the debt or agreeing a payment plan before the contract has been properly reviewed. Important questions can include:
- What did you sign?
- What were you told?
- Did you try to cancel?
- Was the agreement properly ended?
- How has the amount claimed been calculated?
If you have received a Letter Before Action, court papers, a statutory demand or threats of insolvency proceedings, contact us quickly. Deadlines may apply.
Already being chased?
Meridian Legal Services can review the agreement, the history of the dispute and the recovery action being taken.
Send us:
- Your contract.
- The terms.
- Relevant correspondence.
- The latest recovery letter.
We can review the position and help you understand your options.
Already being chased? Do not wait for the next letter.
