There is a law most UK freelancers have never heard of that lets you charge interest on late invoices automatically.
It is called the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act 1998.
Under it, you can charge:
8% + Bank of England base rate interest per year (currently ~12.5%)
Fixed compensation: £40 for debts under £1,000, £70 for £1,000–£9,999, £100 for £10,000+
No court. No solicitor. Just reference it in a follow-up email.
Why most freelancers never use this
Because they do not know it exists. And because it feels confrontational.
Here is the thing: you do not have to actually charge the interest. Just mentioning that you are entitled to under the Act is usually enough to get paid. Clients know what it means. It signals you know your rights.
How to use it in practice
Step 1. Calculate what you are owed. Use this free calculator — it does the maths automatically: (£19) with contract clauses, email templates for each follow-up stage, and a system you can run without it feeling awkward. Free tools here if you just want the calculators.
Running a freelance business in the UK is hard enough without leaving legitimate money uncollected. Know your rights.
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