Business Collections
As a small business owner, you may not be able to absorb the financial blow when a client doesn’t pay for goods and services provided. A client may have legitimate reasons for not paying their balance, such as recent unemployment or other financial difficulty, while others may simply evade collection efforts or attempt to delay payment as long as possible. In either case, you may suffer big financial losses if you are unable to collect the amount owed within a reasonable amount of time.
Best Practices for Staying on Top of an Unpaid Account
If a client owes you money, due diligence involves a few key steps. First of all, communicate regularly with any consumer with a late or outstanding balance. Send billing statements and communicate with the customer regarding their unpaid balance via snail mail, email, phone calls, or whatever other authorized means of communication are available. However, it is critically important to stay on top of that account while being careful to steer clear of harassing behaviors, such as:
- Calling at inconvenient times of day, such as before 8 a.m. and during the evening
- Being deliberately obnoxious by making repetitive, frequent phone calls
- Using obscene, offensive, or profane language to intimidate
- Making violent threats
- Pretending to be someone else or calling the customer without disclosing your identity or the company you represent
When mailing debt-related documents to a consumer, there are a few other important pointers to keep in mind. First of all, it is important that you remember to not include any outward symbol or marking that indicates it is related to a debt. It is also considered unfair practice to send a postcard as a means of communicating with a consumer about a debt. However, you are permitted to write letters to the client demanding payment. (Be sure to keep a log of all communication with your client regarding debts owed and keep copies of all physical mail sent, as these may be necessary if you take your client to court.)
Contact a New York City Business Litigation Attorney Today
At the Alba Law Firm we understand that, unlike a large corporation, your small business cannot continue running efficiently if even a single customer does not pay what they owe, and we are here to help you resolve your collection issue with promptness and practical solutions. If nudging, reminders, and regular notification of an unpaid debt have failed to motivate a client to pay what they owe, begin consulting with a NYC business collections lawyer today.
To speak with a member of our team, send us a message telling us about your current challenges or give us a call at 1-212-859-5080.