01
Dialogue
Resume communication to understand the delay and distinguish an administrative blockage, cash-flow difficulty and a genuine dispute.
Press • Media • Communications • Influence11 Boulevard Brune, 75014 ParisService open09 80 80 53 00 · Mon–Fri, 9am–9pm
About Précontentieux
The work is complete. Payment is still outstanding.
Précontentieux exists for this precise moment: the service has been delivered, the invoice has reached its due date and ordinary reminders are no longer enough.
It begins with work that has genuinely been completed
A project is commissioned. A campaign is delivered, content is produced, media space is published, advice is provided or a service is completed. The invoice is then issued with a clear due date.
Payment does not arrive. A first reminder leads to a postponement. A date is promised and then moved. Sometimes a dispute is raised late. Sometimes replies stop altogether.
The professional has nevertheless committed time, expertise and resources. Repeatedly chasing alone can weaken cash flow and divert attention from the business.
INVOICE
DUE DATE
REMINDERS
PRÉCONTENTIEUX
POSSIBLE CONTENTIOUS NEXT STEP
Précontentieux
This is where Précontentieux steps in
Précontentieux takes over structured follow-up when ordinary exchanges no longer produce a usable answer or payment. The aim is to restore order to the file: understand the facts, re-establish useful dialogue, obtain precise commitments and prepare the next decision if an amicable solution cannot be reached.
A firm, factual and traceable approach
02
Firmness
State the obligation, amounts and deadlines clearly, without promising a result or applying disproportionate pressure.
03
Traceability
Keep relevant communications, commitments, documents and events so the creditor can understand the position of the file.
04
Amicable resolution
Seek payment or a realistic agreement before any possible referral to an appropriate contentious route.
What does “pre-litigation” mean?
Pre-litigation is the phase after ordinary commercial reminders and before any possible contentious proceedings. It does not mean that court action starts automatically.
This stage checks the file, formalises requests, reviews responses and determines whether an amicable solution remains possible. If it does not, the creditor retains the decision to consider an appropriate next step with the relevant qualified professional.
Presse • Médias • Communication • Influence
Understanding communications-sector realities
Précontentieux specialises in the Press, Media, Communications and Influence sectors. These activities often involve approval chains, intermediaries, advertiser budgets, campaigns already delivered and commercial relationships that the creditor does not wish to damage unnecessarily.
Understand our work
Have ordinary reminders stopped working?
Tell us about the situation so that the next suitable amicable step can be identified for your file.