Case Study 1 (UK): Unpaid Fees & Contractual Ambiguity
Client: Fashion influencer, 45k Instagram followers, 12k TikTok followers
Jurisdiction: England and Wales
Issue: Delayed payment for a completed campaign
The Problem
The influencer signed a one‑page written agreement with a UK‑based fashion brand for two Instagram feed posts and three Stories, at a total fee of £4,000. The contract stated payment would be made "within 30 days of campaign completion." The influencer delivered all content on time and received approval.
Forty‑five days later, no payment had arrived. The brand claimed the content had "underperformed" – though the contract contained no performance‑related payment conditions. The influencer was ignored for a further three weeks.
Our Approach
LegalLens reviewed the original agreement and confirmed that payment was unconditional on approval, not on engagement metrics. We drafted a formal letter before action, citing the late payment provisions of the Commercial Debt Act, and sent it to the brand's legal department. We also proposed a revised payment clause for future contracts to include statutory interest on overdue sums.
Outcome
The brand paid the full £4,000 within seven days, plus £480 in late fees and legal costs. The influencer also adopted our standard payment clause for future collaborations, including a 50% deposit on signing.
Key takeaway: Always separate payment from performance metrics unless you explicitly agree otherwise.
Ready to Protect Your Next Influencer Campaign?
Every case is unique, but the patterns are predictable. LegalLens helps influencers and brands avoid the same pitfalls – through better contracts, smarter negotiation, and fast dispute resolution.
📩 Contact us at contact@legallens.co.uk for a free 15‑minute consultation. Fixed fees are always capped at 10% of contract value.
These case studies are based on real client work but have been anonymised and modified to protect confidentiality. They do not constitute legal advice and results vary depending on individual circumstances.
