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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 anyone in Northern Ireland asked by a bank, employer, DVLA, a pension scheme or another organisation to confirm facts by statutory declaration — a lost document, living together, a name used or a family link. You write the facts in numbered paragraphs; the document adds the words the Statutory Declarations Act 1835 requires. You sign it in person before a solicitor, commissioner for oaths, notary public or justice of the peace; a commissioner’s fee is £5, plus £2 for each exhibit (SR 1993/418).

For a claimant in Northern Ireland who disagrees with a Department for Communities decision on Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Employment and Support Allowance, Carer's Allowance or another benefit. A written request to look again at the decision, within one month of it, or later with your reasons: it names the decision, says why it is wrong, lists new evidence, asks for the evidence used and for a mandatory reconsideration notice, the step before an appeal to The Appeals Service. The journal and the phone line are free alternatives. Posted first class. Sold blank.

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 two people or businesses who have agreed to end a dispute — over money, goods, work done, damage or a deposit — by one paying the other an agreed sum. The agreement records the payment and when it is due, that once paid it settles all claims about the dispute, that neither side admits liability, and that each bears its own costs. It is not for a dispute with an employer: an employee's claims are settled only by an agreement made after independent advice, or through Acas. Both sign it; each keeps a copy.

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 parent anywhere in the UK who wants a grandparent, a childminder, a friend or another adult to collect their child from school. A signed letter to the school naming each person allowed to collect the child, when the authorisation applies, and how they will prove who they are, which stays in force until you withdraw it in writing. Handed in at the school office. Many schools have their own collection form or app; use it first if yours does.

For the directors and shareholders of a private limited company in the UK deciding without a meeting: changing the articles or the name, approving a director's long service contract, or any other members' decision. The directors circulate the resolution as ordinary (more than half of the voting rights) or special (at least 75%), and each member signs to agree. It lapses after 28 days unless the articles say otherwise. A special resolution goes to Companies House within 15 days. It cannot be used to remove a director or an auditor.

For anyone whose request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 — to a public authority in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, or a UK-wide body — was refused in whole or part, answered incompletely or not answered within 20 working days: a request for an internal review, giving your reasons and asking for the outcome within 20 working days, the step before a complaint to the Information Commission (the ICO). Send it by email within 40 working days of the reply. A Scottish public authority’s answer is reviewed under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 instead: use the Scottish requirement for review.

For a cardholder who paid by debit, credit or prepaid card and did not get what they paid for — goods never delivered, faulty or not as described, a trader gone bust, a promised refund not paid, or a wrong amount. The letter asks your card provider to raise a chargeback under the card scheme's rules. Chargeback is not a legal right and the scheme sets time limits, often 120 days, so send it quickly by email or secure message 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 the directors of a private limited company in the UK who are moving its registered office. The written resolution, signed by every director, records the new address, confirms that it is an appropriate address in the part of the UK where the company is registered, and names the director who will file the change. The change takes effect when Companies House registers it; form AD01 is filed online, without a fee, by the company itself. This is the decision for the company's records, not the filing.

For a sole trader, partnership or limited company in the UK billing a customer. The invoice has a unique number, the date, both parties, the goods or services, the total and the payment details; a VAT-registered business adds its VAT number, the time of supply, the rate and the VAT, as regulation 14 of the Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 requires. A company shows its registered name, and a sole trader using a business name shows their own name and an address too. A PDF sent by email is fine.

For a parent in Wales whose child has been refused a place at a school they applied for, at the usual starting age or during the school year. An appeal under section 94 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, the Welsh admission appeals regulations of 2005 and the Welsh Government's School Admission Appeals Code, to the clerk of the independent appeal panel: it identifies the decision, sets out your grounds, asks for the place and for the hearing papers in good time. Posted first class by the deadline in the decision letter.

For a homeowner, tenant or landlord asked to confirm in writing that a person — a partner, grown-up child, relative or lodger — lives at the address, often for a bank account, a phone contract, a school or a GP registration. The UK has no residence certificate, so organisations ask for bills or statements, and some accept a letter like this; ask them first what they accept. The letter states since when the person has lived there and gives your contact details.

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 claimant in England, Wales or Scotland who disagrees with a DWP decision on Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker's Allowance, another DWP benefit or, in England and Wales, Personal Independence Payment. A written request to look again at the decision, within one month (or up to 13 months with reasons): it says why the decision is wrong, lists new evidence and asks for DWP's evidence and a mandatory reconsideration notice. The journal and DWP's own form are free. Posted first class. Not for Social Security Scotland's benefits, such as Adult Disability Payment: they have a redetermination. Sold blank, as it may hold health data.

For a passenger whose flight arrived three hours or more late, was cancelled at short notice, or who was denied boarding, on a flight covered by UK261 (Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as it forms part of UK law): every flight from a UK airport, and flights to the UK on a UK airline or, from outside the EU, on an EU airline. The letter claims the fixed compensation in pounds — £220, £350 or £520 per passenger, by distance — from the airline that operated the flight, unless extraordinary circumstances caused the problem. Send it by email or the airline's claim form, and by first class post.

For a patient anywhere in the UK who wants a copy of their health records from a GP practice, a hospital, a dentist or a private clinic. A subject access request under Article 15 of the UK GDPR: it asks for the records you choose and the information about how they are used, and reminds the practice of the one-month time limit and that the copy is free. Sent by email, with proof of identity. In England the NHS App already shows many patients their GP record. Sold blank, to complete by hand, as it holds health data DocMuse does not collect.

For a parent in England who wants to see, or have a copy of, their child's educational record held by a school. A request under regulation 5 of the Education (Pupil Information) (England) Regulations 2005: the governing body of a council-maintained school must let you see it free and give you a copy, at no more than the cost of supply, within 15 school days. For an academy or free school, the letter asks for the same information under the UK GDPR instead. Sent by email or handed in at the school office.

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 parent in Wales who needs their child to miss school days in term time. A request to the head teacher under the Education (Pupil Registration) (Wales) Regulations 2010: it gives the dates and the day of return, explains the reason, and asks for a written decision before the leave starts. The school decides each request on its merits and may allow up to ten school days a year for a holiday; absence it does not authorise can lead to a £60 penalty notice from the council, £120 if paid after 28 days. Sent by email or handed in well in advance, in English or in Welsh.