When Consumers Don’t Pay: Tactics For Collection
Companies generally succeed when they create relationships with their clients that are founded on trust. However sometimes customers do fall behind in payments to purchase goods or services that they have received. There are a few ways to address this issue.
First off, take an inventory of your receivables. By doing this you will be able to trace the trends in your customer’s payment histories. It is suggested that you go over your accounts receivable at least once a month. To aid you, utilize accounting software programs that can give you this information in a report that tracks the age of your receivables. This will help you to avoid accounts that eventually become debts that are uncollectible.
At times, the consumer may just be able and ready to pay up, but your invoice has simply gotten lost or has slipped to the bottom of their finances pile. It is suggested that you send out monthly statements that go over status of your consumer’s accounts so they can be updated on what is owed.
If an account still remains outstanding after these steps, do not be afraid to personally call them and tell them that you are expecting a payment.
If your attempts to remind your consumers of the bill don’t succeed, stronger action might be needed. Mail the customer a demand letter that contains documentation of the fact that your company has delivered goods and that the client was billed for them. Let them know that they are now in breach of contract. In the letter, state when payment is required before further action is taken, and what your next step will be.
Typically the next step will be to take legal action. If it is a small amount of money you can take your case to a small claims court. For a large amount you should take the case to civil court. Be sure to document the agreement between you and the customer and that you pulled your weight by delivering the promised goods or services.
Mallory McGuinness works for a debt collection company. She also does articles on business and finance, consumer spending, and debt collection.