Kill Fee Dispute Pack

INITIAL KILL-FEE CLAIM LETTER

Date: [DATE]
To: [EDITOR/COMMISSIONING NAME], [PUBLICATION]
From: [YOUR NAME]

Subject: Kill fee for "[ARTICLE TITLE]" — commissioned [DATE OF COMMISSION]

Dear [EDITOR NAME],

I am writing regarding the piece "[ARTICLE TITLE]", which was commissioned by [PUBLICATION] on [DATE] at an agreed fee of £[FEE], as confirmed by [EMAIL/CONTRACT DATED].

I understand that [PUBLICATION] has decided not to proceed with publication. As this was through no fault of my own — [BRIEFLY STATE REASON IF KNOWN, e.g. "editorial direction change" / "space constraints"] — I am claiming the kill fee provided for under our agreement.

Status of work at the point of cancellation: [Researched but not written / Written and delivered to brief]
Kill fee due (per our agreement / NUJ standard guidance of 50%-100%): £[AMOUNT]

Please could you confirm this amount and arrange payment within 14 days, in line with standard payment terms. I have attached my invoice for [AMOUNT] dated [DATE].

I have enjoyed working with [PUBLICATION] and hope we can resolve this quickly and amicably.

Yours sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[EMAIL] | [PHONE]

Attached: Invoice #[NUMBER], original commissioning correspondence

FOLLOW-UP CHASE LETTER — OVERDUE KILL FEE

Date: [DATE]
To: [EDITOR/COMMISSIONING NAME], [PUBLICATION]
From: [YOUR NAME]

Subject: Second request — overdue kill fee for "[ARTICLE TITLE]"

Dear [EDITOR NAME],

I wrote to you on [DATE OF INITIAL LETTER] regarding the kill fee of £[AMOUNT] owed for "[ARTICLE TITLE]", commissioned on [DATE]. I have not yet received payment or a response, and my invoice #[NUMBER] is now [NUMBER] days overdue.

As this is a commercial debt, I am entitled under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 to charge statutory interest at 8% above the Bank of England base rate, plus fixed compensation of £[40/70/100 depending on debt size] for the cost of recovering this debt.

Current amount owed:
Original kill fee: £[AMOUNT]
Statutory interest accrued to date: £[AMOUNT, calculated at 8% + base rate, pro-rated for days overdue]
Fixed compensation: £[AMOUNT]
Total now due: £[AMOUNT]

I would prefer to resolve this without further escalation. Please arrange payment within 14 days of this letter. If I do not receive payment or a substantive response by [DATE], I will have no choice but to escalate this as a formal complaint and consider a small claims application via Money Claim Online.

I hope we can settle this promptly.

Yours sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[EMAIL] | [PHONE]

FORMAL COMPLAINT ESCALATION LETTER

Date: [DATE]
To: [SENIOR EDITOR / MANAGING EDITOR / PUBLISHER NAME], [PUBLICATION]
CC: [ORIGINAL COMMISSIONING EDITOR]
From: [YOUR NAME]

Subject: Formal complaint — unpaid kill fee for "[ARTICLE TITLE]" (Invoice #[NUMBER])

Dear [SENIOR EDITOR/PUBLISHER NAME],

I am writing to formally escalate an unresolved kill-fee dispute with [PUBLICATION]. I was commissioned by [COMMISSIONING EDITOR NAME] on [DATE] to write "[ARTICLE TITLE]" for an agreed fee of £[FEE]. The piece was not published through no fault of my own, and a kill fee of £[AMOUNT] is due.

Timeline of correspondence:
[DATE] — Piece commissioned, fee agreed at £[FEE]
[DATE] — Publication informed me the piece would not run
[DATE] — I submitted an initial kill-fee claim and invoice #[NUMBER]
[DATE] — I sent a follow-up chase letter noting statutory interest under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998
[DATE — TODAY] — No payment has been received

Total amount now due, including statutory interest and fixed compensation: £[TOTAL AMOUNT]

I am a member of the National Union of Journalists, and I have shared this correspondence with the NUJ's freelance office for advice. I would like to resolve this directly and amicably, but if I do not receive payment or a clear commitment to pay within 14 days of this letter, I intend to pursue a small claims application through Money Claim Online (MCOL).

I would welcome a call to discuss this at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[EMAIL] | [PHONE]
NUJ membership number (if applicable): [NUMBER]

LETTER BEFORE ACTION — SMALL CLAIMS / MONEY CLAIM ONLINE (MCOL)

Date: [DATE]
To: [PUBLICATION LEGAL NAME / REGISTERED COMPANY NAME], [REGISTERED ADDRESS]
From: [YOUR FULL NAME], [YOUR ADDRESS]

LETTER BEFORE ACTION — FINAL NOTICE

Dear Sir/Madam,

RE: Unpaid kill fee — Invoice #[NUMBER] — £[TOTAL AMOUNT OWED]

I am writing to give formal notice that unless the sum of £[TOTAL AMOUNT, including interest and compensation] is paid in full within 14 days of the date of this letter, I intend to issue a claim against [PUBLICATION/COMPANY NAME] through Money Claim Online (MCOL), the online small-claims service operated via gov.uk, without further notice.

BASIS OF THE CLAIM
1. On [DATE], [PUBLICATION] commissioned me to write "[ARTICLE TITLE]" for an agreed fee of £[FEE], as confirmed in writing on [DATE — REFERENCE EMAIL/CONTRACT].
2. On [DATE], [PUBLICATION] informed me the piece would not be published, through no fault of mine.
3. A kill fee of £[AMOUNT] is due under [the agreed contract term / standard industry practice as per NUJ guidance], reflecting [researched but unwritten (50%) / written and delivered (100%)] status.
4. Invoice #[NUMBER] for £[AMOUNT] was submitted on [DATE] and remains unpaid.
5. I am entitled to statutory interest under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 at 8% above the Bank of England base rate, plus fixed compensation of £[AMOUNT].

AMOUNT NOW DUE
Kill fee: £[AMOUNT]
Statutory interest (calculated to [DATE]): £[AMOUNT]
Fixed compensation: £[AMOUNT]
TOTAL: £[TOTAL AMOUNT]

If payment is not received in full within 14 days, I will file a claim via Money Claim Online (gov.uk/make-money-claim), which will add court fees and further interest to the amount claimed. I would prefer to resolve this without recourse to court proceedings.

Payment should be made to: [YOUR BANK DETAILS / PAYMENT REFERENCE]

Yours faithfully,
[YOUR FULL NAME]
[EMAIL] | [PHONE] | [ADDRESS]

Enclosed: copies of commissioning correspondence, invoice, and prior correspondence chasing payment.