Commercial Construction Debt Recovery: How HC Debt Secured £490,000 in 11 Days for duBoulay Contracts
TL;DR
HC Debt Recovery helped duBoulay Contracts recover £490,000 in just 11 days—rescuing a payroll-critical debt situation with strategic, cross-border engagement
Overview
Commercial debt recovery services like those delivered by HC Debt Recovery are designed to protect businesses facing high-value non-payments and critical cash flow gaps.
duBoulay Contracts, a leading UK fit-out and refurbishment contractor, faced a serious financial crisis after a client defaulted on a large payment for a high-profile restaurant project in London. The client, a UK-based business owned by a Chinese parent company, had delayed payment for over six months. With payroll deadlines looming and the business at risk of liquidation, duBoulay turned to HC Debt Recovery for urgent assistance.
The Challenge
The outstanding amount totalled £490,000, a significant sum that duBoulay relied on to maintain operations and meet payroll obligations. Despite internal attempts to recover the money, progress had stalled. The cross-border ownership structure added complexity, requiring approval from overseas directors before funds could be released.
Our Approach
Upon instruction, HC Debt Recovery took immediate action:
Conducted a rapid risk assessment to understand the debtor’s UK and Chinese structure
Applied targeted legal pressure to prompt urgent communication
Coordinated with both UK and international contacts to accelerate fund release
Maintained daily updates with duBoulay to ensure alignment with their financial deadlines
Learn more about our team’s experience here and how we deliver fast, ethical debt recovery solutions.
The Result
When time is critical, every day counts. duBoulay needed fast results—not only to recover their overdue fees, but to avoid serious business consequences. Thanks to direct legal pressure, clear communication strategies, and our understanding of international corporate procedures, the outcome was swift and decisive.
- £250,000 recovered within the first 5 days
- Remaining £240,000 (plus interest and costs) recovered just 6 days later
- Total recovery time: 11 days from instruction to full settlement
Client Feedback
“We were facing a critical cash flow situation after being left unpaid for over six months on a major restaurant fit-out. HC Debt Recovery acted fast—recovering over £250,000 within five days, and the remaining balance, plus interest and costs, within less than two weeks. Without their intervention, we would have struggled to meet payroll. Their professionalism, speed, and understanding of international ownership structures were invaluable.”
Read more case studies here to see how HC Debt Recovery supports clients across industries.
Key Takeaway
This case highlights HC Debt Recovery’s ability to act swiftly, strategically, and successfully—even in complex, cross-border debt scenarios. Our intervention helped save jobs, protect a client’s business, and recover a significant six-figure sum in just over a week.
