Notice & Demand: templates and forms

For someone in Scotland chased by a debt collector or debt buyer for a debt they do not recognise, dispute or believe is more than five years old. National Debtline and StepChange publish free sample letters for a prescribed debt. This one acknowledges nothing: it asks for proof — the agreement, a statement of account, the default notice and the assignation — or states that the debt has prescribed under section 6 of the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973, so that it no longer exists, and will not be paid. Send it by recorded delivery, and keep a copy.

For a private individual in Northern Ireland owed money by another individual — an unrepaid loan, a share of a bill, money paid for something never handed over. The letter sets out the debt and gives 14 days to pay or reply, and says that otherwise you will make a small claim in the county court, which hears claims of up to £5,000, or bring proceedings in court for a larger sum. Northern Ireland has no fixed pre-action rule, but the letter shows the court that you asked for the money first. Send it by recorded delivery (Royal Mail Signed For), and by email.

For a consumer in Scotland whose faulty goods were repaired or replaced once and are still faulty, or whom the trader did not repair or replace within a reasonable time. The letter uses the final right to reject for a refund, or keeps the goods and asks for a price reduction (section 24 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015), and is a letter before action with 14 days to reply, then simple procedure in the sheriff court. Send it to the retailer by email and by first class post, with a copy of the earlier correspondence.

For a consumer in Scotland whose goods from a business turn out faulty, not as described or unfit for their purpose. Within 30 days you can reject them for a full refund; after that, you ask for one repair or replacement first (Consumer Rights Act 2015, sections 9 to 23, which apply across the UK). The letter states the fault, makes your choice and is a letter before action: the trader has 14 days to reply before simple procedure in the sheriff court. Send it to the retailer, not the manufacturer, by email and by first class post.

For a consumer in Scotland whose complaint to a trader has got nowhere — a refund refused, a deposit kept, money owed for faulty goods or poor work. Scotland has no pre-action protocol, but the simple procedure claim form asks what you have done to settle: this letter sets out the claim and the amount, lists your documents, gives 14 days to reply, and says you will otherwise raise simple procedure in the sheriff court for a claim of up to £5,000. Send it by email and by first class post with a free certificate of posting, and keep a copy.

For a consumer in Northern Ireland whose complaint to a trader has got nowhere — a refund refused, a deposit kept, money owed for faulty goods or poor work. The letter sets out the claim and the amount, lists your documents, gives 14 days to pay or reply, and says that otherwise you will make a small claim in the county court, which hears claims of up to £5,000 and can be started online. Northern Ireland has no pre-action practice direction like England's, but the letter shows the court that you tried to settle first. Send it by email and by recorded delivery (Royal Mail Signed For).

For a consumer in Northern Ireland whose builder, decorator, garage, repairer or other service provider did the work badly or not as agreed. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 a trader must perform a service with reasonable care and skill; the letter asks for the work to be put right at the trader's cost or, where that is not possible, for a price reduction (sections 49, 55 and 56), and is your final letter before a small claim in the county court, with 14 days to reply. Send it by email and by recorded delivery (Royal Mail Signed For), with photos.

For a business in Scotland ending a contract with a supplier, customer or other business, either on the notice the contract allows or because the other side has committed a material breach. The letter identifies the contract and the clause relied on, gives the end date, describes any breach, and records that payments due and surviving terms continue. Follow the contract's notices clause on address, method and timing, and keep proof of delivery. Ending a contract for a breach that is not material can itself be a breach, so take advice if unsure.

For a private tenant in Northern Ireland who has received notice of a rent increase. Since 1 April 2025 the rent can rise only once in 12 months, by written notice at least three months ahead stating the date and the new rent (Articles 5D and 5E of the Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006). The letter tells the landlord why the notice does not meet those rules and that you will keep paying the current rent — or, if it does, asks the landlord to reconsider the amount. There is no cap on the amount. Sent by recorded delivery.

For a consumer in Scotland whose builder, decorator, garage, repairer or other service provider did the work badly or not as agreed. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which applies across the UK, a trader must perform a service with reasonable care and skill; the letter asks for the work to be put right at the trader's cost or, where that is not possible, for a price reduction (sections 49, 55 and 56), and is a letter before action with 14 days to reply, then a claim in the sheriff court (simple procedure up to £5,000). Send it by email and by first class post, with photos.

For a private landlord or letting agent in Scotland who needs to enter a tenant’s home to inspect it, carry out work to meet the repairing standard, arrange the gas safety check or an electrical inspection, or value it. The notice gives the date, time and purpose, says who will attend and invites the tenant to suggest another time. Under the tenancy’s statutory terms, a tenant gives access on at least 48 hours’ written notice, or at once in an emergency. Hand it over: a notice posted or emailed counts as received only 48 hours after it is sent.

For a traveller in Northern Ireland whose package holiday — flights and hotel, or other travel services sold together — was not as booked: a different or poor hotel, missing services, a changed itinerary. Under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 the organiser is responsible for every part of the package and owes a price reduction and compensation for what went wrong. The letter claims them and is your final letter before a small claim in the county court, with 14 days to reply. Send it to the organiser by email and by recorded delivery (Royal Mail Signed For).

For a private individual in Scotland owed money by another individual — an unrepaid loan, a share of a bill, money paid for something never handed over. The letter sets out the debt, gives 14 days to pay or reply and invites a proposal to settle, and says you will otherwise raise a court action in the sheriff court; claims of £5,000 or less go to the simple procedure, which expects the parties to try to settle first. Send it by recorded delivery, and keep a copy for the claim form.

For a parent in England, Wales or Scotland whose child has been off school ill and whose school asks for a note. A short letter to the school giving the dates of the absence and the day you first told the school, and asking for it to be recorded as authorised absence for illness. It does not describe the illness. In England statutory guidance says schools should not routinely ask for medical evidence. Handed in or emailed. Sold blank, to complete by hand, as it holds health data DocMuse does not collect.

For a business in England and Wales owed money by a company or LLP that has not paid an invoice. Following the Practice Direction on Pre-Action Conduct, it sets out the debt, claims statutory interest at 8% above the Bank of England reference rate and the fixed sum of £40, £70 or £100 under the Late Payment Act (or the interest your contract sets), gives 14 days to pay or dispute, and warns of a County Court claim. It is not for a debtor who is a sole trader or other individual: the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims applies to them, with 30 days.

For a consumer whose goods from a business turn out faulty, not as described or unfit for their purpose. Within 30 days you can reject them for a full refund; after that, you ask for one repair or replacement first (Consumer Rights Act 2015, sections 9 to 23). The letter states the fault, makes your choice and is a letter before claim: the trader has 14 days to reply before you take the small claims route. Send it to the retailer, not the manufacturer, by email and by first class post.

For a customer who wants to close a current account with a bank or building society. Under regulation 51 of the Payment Services Regulations 2017 you can end a current account at any time, subject to a notice period of up to one month if your terms set one, and closing is free once the account has been open for six months. The letter asks the bank to close the account, cancel cards and payments, pay the remaining balance to another account and confirm the closure in writing. Most banks also close accounts free in the app, by phone or in a branch.

For a member who wants to end a gym membership, a club or a paid subscription. The notice ends the contract on the basis you choose — its own notice terms, the end of the minimum term, or the 14-day cancellation right for a contract made online or by phone — and asks the provider to take no payment after the last one due. The subscription rules of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 are not yet in force. Send it by the channel the contract names, or by email and first class post.

For a consumer whose builder, decorator, garage, repairer or other service provider did the work badly or not as agreed. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 a trader must perform a service with reasonable care and skill; the letter asks for the work to be put right at the trader's cost or, where that is not possible, for a price reduction (sections 49, 55 and 56), and is a letter before claim with 14 days to reply. Send it by email and by first class post, with photos.

For a business in England and Wales ending a contract with a supplier, customer or other business, either on the notice the contract allows or because the other side has seriously broken it. The letter identifies the contract and the clause relied on, gives the end date, describes any breach, and records that payments due and surviving terms continue. Follow the contract's notices clause on address, method and timing, and keep proof of delivery. Ending a contract for a breach that is not serious enough can itself be a breach, so take advice if unsure.

For a consumer whose complaint to a trader has got nowhere — a refund refused, a deposit kept, money owed for faulty goods or poor work. This is the letter before claim the Practice Direction on Pre-Action Conduct expects before a court claim: it sets out the claim and the amount, lists your documents and gives 14 days to reply, and says you will otherwise claim in the County Court, through Money Claim Online. Send it by email and by first class post with a free certificate of posting, and keep a copy.

For a traveller whose package holiday — flights and hotel, or other travel services sold together — was not as booked: a different or poor hotel, missing services, a changed itinerary. Under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 the organiser is responsible for every part of the package and owes a price reduction and compensation for what went wrong. The letter claims them and is a letter before claim with 14 days to reply. Send it to the organiser by email and by first class post.

For a director of a private limited company in the UK who is stepping down. The letter resigns with effect from a stated date, asks the company to notify Companies House within 14 days on form TM01 and update its records, and states that resigning as a director does not by itself end any job or shareholding. Under the model articles a resignation takes effect as it states once the company receives it. A company must keep at least one director who is an individual, so a sole director arranges a replacement first.

For someone chased by a debt collector or debt buyer for a debt they do not recognise, dispute or believe is more than six years old. The letter does not acknowledge the debt: it asks for proof — the agreement, a statement of account, the default notice and the assignment — or states that the debt is statute-barred under the Limitation Act 1980 and will not be paid, which FCA rules require a firm collecting a regulated credit debt to respect. Send it first class with a free certificate of posting, and keep a copy.