- Unpaid Business Invoice Claims
- Outstanding Commercial Debt Recovery
- Unpaid Supplier Claims
- Business Loan Repayment Disputes
- Enforcement of Personal & Corporate Guarantees
- What to do next
- FAQ
A wholesaler has chased a customer for eleven weeks. The customer replies to every message with 'sending Thursday'. The statement of account runs to AED 380,000 and the wholesaler's own supplier is now asking for payment.A representative scene, not a reported case.
01Unpaid Business Invoice Claims
An unpaid invoice claim succeeds when you can show a contract or order, delivery or performance, and the amount outstanding. The invoice alone is rarely enough. Courts look for proof the goods or services were accepted.
Signed delivery notes, acceptance emails and part-payments are the strongest evidence. Part-payments are also useful because they can show the debtor accepted the debt existed. Keep a clean statement of account that matches your invoices line by line.
02Outstanding Commercial Debt Recovery
Where the debt is clear and documented, a faster route can sometimes be used instead of a full claim, such as an application for a payment order. If the debtor disputes the debt or the paperwork is thin, the case runs as an ordinary commercial claim.
Before filing, we assess whether the debtor has assets worth pursuing. A judgment against a company with no bank balance or property is slow to convert into cash. Tracing assets early can change the strategy, including whether to ask the court for a precautionary attachment.
Discuss an Unpaid Business DebtSend us the contract or the key messages and we will tell you where you stand.
WhatsApp us03Unpaid Supplier Claims
Suppliers are often unpaid by a buyer who is itself waiting for payment from a developer or contractor. The supplier's contract is with the buyer, so that is who you claim against.
If your goods were delivered and not rejected, the buyer's own payment problems are generally not a defence. We check whether the contract contains a pay-when-paid clause, because that changes the timing of the claim. Related issues are covered on our supplier disputes page and under construction payment disputes.
04Business Loan Repayment Disputes
Loan disputes between businesses, shareholders or friends turn on proof. Was there a written loan agreement, a bank transfer marked as a loan, or an acknowledgement of debt? Without paper, a transfer can be described as an investment or a gift.
If you lent money, gather the transfer slips, any repayment messages and the agreement. If you are being pursued, we look at whether the amount, interest and repayment dates are what the documents support.
05Enforcement of Personal & Corporate Guarantees
A guarantee lets you claim against a third party if the main debtor defaults. Its wording decides everything: who guaranteed, for how much, for what period and whether you must pursue the debtor first.
Guarantors often learn the detail only when a demand arrives. We review whether the guarantee is valid in form, whether it covers the debt claimed, and whether the creditor has met the conditions. For creditors we prepare the demand and claim. For guarantors we test every one of those points.
Detailed guide: Enforcement of Personal & Corporate Guarantees
What to do in the next 48 hours
- Build the statement of accountOne page: invoice date, amount, due date, payments received and balance. Match each line to a document.
- Send a formal demandA legal notice states the amount, the basis and a deadline. It also records the debtor's response, which is useful evidence later.
- Choose the route with usPayment order, ordinary claim, or settlement with security. We recommend based on documents and the debtor's assets.
Documents we ask for first
- Contract, order or agreement
- Invoices and statement of account
- Delivery notes or completion certificates
- Cheques, promissory notes or acknowledgements of debt
- Guarantee documents
- Bank transfer records and messages promising payment
Questions we are asked
Can I get a travel ban or asset freeze?
Enforcement measures exist after judgment, and in some cases precautionary measures can be requested earlier. The court needs grounds and evidence. We tell you what is realistic.
Is a dishonoured cheque useful evidence?
Yes, a cheque is strong written evidence of a debt. The criminal and civil consequences of a dishonoured cheque have changed in recent legislation, so we check the current position for your facts.
What if the debtor is a company that closes down?
Move quickly. Closing or restructuring can complicate recovery. We look at guarantees, directors' conduct and any transfers of assets.
Related disputes
Ready to talk it through?Have the contract, the latest message and any notice in front of you. Call or WhatsApp is fine.
Call nowThis page is general information based on UAE and Dubai legislation as we understand it at the date of drafting. It is not legal advice. Laws are amended, and the right step depends on your documents and facts. Outcomes are never guaranteed.