The consultation is free, by phone, WhatsApp or video, with no obligation. You learn what is recoverable, which route fits, how long it should take and what it costs: nothing upfront, 30% only on the amount recovered. If you proceed, a dedicated advocate sends the legal notice within 24 hours.
What happens in the consultation
- You message us on WhatsApp or book a slot; a recovery expert calls at the agreed time (phone or video).
- We go through the invoices, the order, the delivery proof and the buyer’s replies, and ask about the buyer’s pattern.
- You get an honest view: how recoverable the claim is, which route fits (reminders, legal notice, MSME Samadhaan, Section 138, summary suit or arbitration), a realistic timeline and the exact cost.
- If you decide to go ahead, a dedicated advocate is assigned and the legal notice goes out within 24 hours. If you decide not to, you owe nothing.
What is specific to Kochi
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.
Forums: 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: Kerala Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council, Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram.
Industries we see most from Kochi
- seafood processing and exports
- spices trading
- shipping and logistics
- IT services
- tourism and hospitality
Industry pages: IT services, software and agencies dues in Kochi, Logistics, transport and warehousing dues in Kochi, Exporters and export houses dues in Kochi, Food processing and agri-trading dues in Kochi, Hospital, diagnostics and medical suppliers dues in Kochi, Hotel, restaurant and event suppliers dues in Kochi.
If you are in exporters and export houses in Kochi
Domestic suppliers to export houses wait on the exporter’s own realisation; exporters themselves face overseas buyers paying late or disputing quality. In the consultation we ask for POs and job-work orders, delivery challans, inspection and shipment records, invoices, and for overseas dues the contract, shipping documents and payment terms (LC, DA, DP or open account).
What we usually advise: Domestic dues from export houses are ordinary Indian claims: notice, Samadhaan for Udyam units, Section 138 and suits. Overseas dues need contract terms, ECGC cover where taken, and recovery in the buyer’s country; FundRaksha advises on which route is realistic before you spend on it.
- We check for: shipping before the LC or advance is in place
- We check for: no written job-work agreement with export houses
- We check for: letting overseas dues cross RBI realisation deadlines without an extension
If you are in logistics, transport and warehousing in Kochi
Monthly freight bills against lorry receipts and PODs, 30 to 60 day terms that stretch to 120, deductions for damage and detention disputes. In the consultation we ask for lorry receipts, signed PODs, trip sheets, rate contracts, monthly bills and the consignor’s acknowledgements.
What we usually advise: Freight dues are well documented, so a legal notice with the POD-wise statement works; damage deductions need to be contested in writing. Transport operators registered on Udyam can use MSME Samadhaan against large consignors; otherwise a summary suit on the bills.
- We check for: unsigned or missing PODs
- We check for: rate changes not confirmed in writing
- We check for: detention charges never invoiced
If you are in it services, software and agencies in Kochi
Milestone or monthly billing against SOWs and contracts, 30 to 60 day terms on paper, often 90 to 180 days in practice, with “scope” disputes used to delay. In the consultation we ask for signed SOW or MSA, acceptance emails, timesheets and deployment records, invoices and payment reminders, and the client’s acknowledgements in email or Slack.
What we usually advise: Service dues have the strongest paper trail of any trade, so a legal notice that quotes the contract and the acceptance usually works. Where the contract has an arbitration clause, that governs; otherwise a summary suit on the invoices. Small IT firms with Udyam registration can file MSME Samadhaan too.
- We check for: starting work before the contract is signed
- We check for: no written acceptance of deliverables
- We check for: milestones billed late or not at all
What to check in any free consultation
- Is the person assessing your case an advocate or working with one? Ask who will sign the notice.
- Do they tell you when a claim is weak? A good assessment sometimes says “not worth pursuing”.
- Is the fee in writing, and what happens if nothing is recovered?
- Will the recovered money come to you directly from the buyer?
- Do they know the MSMED Act timelines, Section 138 deadlines and Section 43B(h)?
What to have ready
- The unpaid invoice(s) and payment terms
- Purchase order, delivery challan, e-way bill or proof of service
- Messages, emails or letters about the payment
- For a bounced cheque: the cheque and the bank return memo
Photos or PDFs on WhatsApp are fine. Missing documents do not stop the assessment; we tell you what to collect.