A 'letter of demand' is a letter formally requesting payment of a debt. For example, a creditor can send a letter of demand to recover payment of an unpaid invoice, or seek a refund if a business has provided faulty goods or deficient services.
However, sending a letter of demand can have its disadvantages. Depending on the situation, the other party may feel threatened and respond negatively, or they may not respond at all. They might engage a lawyer, or they might even start legal action against you.
For example, Californians wishing to file a claim against a business for deceptive practices or some other infraction outlined in the state's Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA) must send a demand letter at least 30 days before filing a lawsuit.
The primary purpose of a letter of demand is to inform the defendant that the plaintiff has a cause of action against him or her, and to persuade him or her to settle the claim, or to remove the cause of complaint within a stated time so as to avert formal proceedings from being instituted.
Disadvantages of Formal Letter Time-consuming: Crafting a formal letter requires time and effort to adhere to the required format and conventions. Lack of personal touch: The formal tone and language of formal letters may lack the personal touch and warmth associated with informal communication.
No Strict Legal Requirement on the Number of Demand Letters: Many attorneys will recommend sending at least one formal demand letter. Often, a single well-crafted demand suffices to either prompt a settlement discussion or clarify that litigation may ensue should the other party fail to comply.
It serves as a clear and direct communication between the creditor and debtor, outlining the terms of the debt and the consequences of not paying.
In general, claims are limited to disputes up to $5,000. However, natural persons (individuals) can claim up to $10,000. Corporations, partnerships, unincorporated associations, governmental bodies, and other legal entities cannot claim more than $5,000.
Furthermore, Written communication is also time-consuming as the feedback is not immediate. Also, It requires a lot of time to encode and send a message. Keeping the information confidential is not always possible in written communication which serves as one of the biggest disadvantages of written communication.