Short answer
Unpaid supplier set-off enquiries should identify the contract, invoices, goods or services supplied, defect or delay allegations, set-off calculation, admissions, payment history, pre-action letters and any claim or limitation deadline. Legal4U cannot decide whether set-off is available or whether money is owed.
Quick checklist
Start with these
Collect Contract, Invoice And Delivery Records
Save the contract, purchase order, terms, invoices, delivery notes, completion records, timesheets, acceptance emails, statements of account and correspondence showing what was supplied and when payment fell due.
- contract
- purchase order
- invoice
- delivery note
- account statement
Prepare Set-Off, Defect And Counterclaim Evidence
Organise complaint emails, defect reports, delay notices, replacement costs, credit notes, part-payment records, admissions, expert or inspection evidence and calculations showing how the set-off figure was reached.
- defect report
- delay notice
- credit note
- part payment
- set-off calculation
Flag Pre-Action, Interest And Claim-Route Questions
Tell Legal4U whether statutory interest, adjudication, insolvency, retention, mediation, money claim or limitation timing is involved. A commercial disputes specialist must review contract terms and litigation risk.
- statutory interest
- adjudication
- insolvency
- money claim
- limitation
General information only for England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland need separate content checks.
Content governance
Editorial and source information
- Author
- Legal4U Editorial Team
- Professional review status
- Pending. Commercial litigation solicitor, barrister or regulated business-law specialist review required before publication as legal guidance.
- Jurisdiction
- England and Wales
- Date published
- 17 September 2026
- Regulatory status
- Legal4U is a legal enquiry intake and professional matching platform, not a law firm.
- Sources
-
- Practice direction on pre-action conduct and protocols Ministry of Justice. Checked 16 September 2026.
- Late commercial payments: charging interest and debt recovery GOV.UK. Checked 16 September 2026.
- Make a court claim for money GOV.UK. Checked 16 September 2026.
- Editorial policy
- Legal4U guides are written to help users prepare structured enquiries. The professional-review status and reviewer details are shown separately on each guide.
- Correction process
- Corrections or update requests can be sent through the Legal4U contact page for editorial review.
- Information and advice
- This page is general information only and is not legal advice. Legal advice is provided only by an authorised professional or firm after they accept instructions.
Ask For Legal Help
Legal4U helps clients request legal help through a suitable Legal professional. The information on this page is general information only, not legal advice about your individual circumstances.
If your matter is urgent, include hearing dates, court deadlines, orders and any documents you already have when you submit your enquiry.
