A NEW service has been launched by an expanding York law firm to protect businesses from bad debts.

Ingrams Solicitors, based at York Business Park in Nether Poppleton, claims to have developed a comprehensive commercial solution which helps prevents bad debts occurring as well as recovering debts.

Businesses in the region are losing thousands of pounds a year through inefficient credit control systems.

A survey by the Credit Management Research Centre, at Leeds University showed on average larger companies are writing off £88,000 a year in bad debt with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) averaging losses of £14,000.

The new service is headed up by Penny Miller, who has more than 16 years experience in credit control solutions and business management.

She said: "The amount of money that businesses in our region are losing through bad debts is alarming and yet the solution is not difficult nor expensive.

"We have put together a package that will provide medium-to-large businesses with a credit control structure that starts right from the opening of a new account."

Updated: 09:37 Monday, May 08, 2006