Overdue, disputed or old: each needs a different first move
| Invoice status | First move | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Overdue, no dispute | Legal notice with statement and interest | Settlement or summary suit / Samadhaan |
| Disputed (quality, quantity, scope) | Written reply to the dispute with your evidence, then notice for the undisputed part | Negotiation; filing for the balance |
| Old (1–3 years) | Check limitation and acknowledgements, then notice | Suit before limitation expires |
| Cheque bounced | Statutory notice within 30 days | Section 138 complaint |
Recovering B2B dues in Kochi: what is specific here
Kochi’s seafood exporters, spice traders in Mattancherry and shipping agents around the port deal with both domestic and overseas buyers, and dues from hotels and resorts rise and fall with the season. Kerala’s Facilitation Council handles MSME claims, and the Ernakulam courts are experienced with Section 138 matters from the trading community.
Main industries: seafood processing and exports, spices trading, shipping and logistics, IT services and tourism and hospitality.
Courts: Judicial First Class Magistrate courts, Ernakulam, for Section 138; District Court, Ernakulam, and its Commercial Court for recovery suits; the Kerala High Court for high-value matters.
MSME claims: Udyam-registered micro and small suppliers in Kochi file on MSME Samadhaan, heard by the Kerala Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council (Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram). The Council sits where the supplier is, so a Kochi supplier can pursue a buyer in another state from home.
Handling disputed invoices professionally
A buyer who disputes quality after the due date is usually delaying. The professional response is not to argue on the phone but to answer in writing: delivery accepted on this date, no complaint raised within the agreed period, test certificate attached, undisputed amount demanded now. Most disputes shrink to a small adjustment once they are in writing, and the rest of the invoice is paid.
How recovery works for a business in Kochi
- Free consultation and case assessment. Send us the invoice, purchase order or delivery proof and the buyer’s messages. We tell you what is recoverable and how.
- Dedicated advocate within 24 hours. Your advocate sends a legal notice as an e-notice the same day and by registered post, with proof of delivery saved.
- Negotiation and settlement. The advocate calls the buyer, explains the consequences and agrees a payment plan. About 60% of our cases close here.
- Filing if needed. MSME Samadhaan before the Kerala Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council, a Section 138 complaint in the Kochi magistrate courts, a summary suit or arbitration, handled by the same advocate.
You pay nothing upfront. Our fee is 30% of the amount actually recovered; if nothing is recovered there is no fee. Court fees, where a matter is filed, are borne by you and told to you in advance.