If some account customers aren’t paying when they’re supposed to, ask them to tell you why … in THEIR own words.
Combine this with the threat of the “non-specific” and you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see how many pay or come back to you with a payment date before the ‘deadline’.
a question …
How would you feel if a friend calls you to ask why you didn’t turn up for a dinner party last night and the REAL reason was that you just didn’t feel like going?
If you threaten to take legal action on a certain date, you MUST take that (expensive) legal action on that date or you’ve shot yourself in the foot.
Your debtor won’t believe any future “threats”. Don’t you agree? There’s absolutely NO threat in the wording below, just a question … what reason for non-payment do you want me to put in my report (Note: there doesn’t even HAVE to be a report!!!)
So, select some account customers and send them an email along these lines …
Hi Catherine,
Outstanding Account Balance – $4,320.00
91% of our clients pay their accounts within our credit facility or make a mutually acceptable payment arrangement. Unfortunately, your account is not part of that 91% and payment has now well exceeded the firms credit facility.
I have been asked to submit a report to the Board next week about all overdue accounts where
* there is no formal payment arrangement in place or, if there is one,
* it isn’t being maintained.
Please now advise by 2.00pm, next Thursday (insert date here), either
* when the firm can expect full settlement, or
* what you would like me to put in this report.
Thanking you in advance.
Then, do nothing until the Tuesday AFTER the deadline. (Make them sweat!)
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