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CASHFLOW PROBLEMS?

When you should pass your delinquent accounts over to a Debt Collector

The current economic crisis has turned the spotlight onto the issue of ensuring timely payments from customers. Experience has shown that six out of ten companies are paying late. There appears also to be a correlation between the turnover and the punctuality in making payment; the smaller the company the sooner it tends to make payment to its suppliers. Big enterprises, on the other hand, often tend to take their time when it comes to making payment.

Following upon the onset of the economic crisis there has been a worsening of the late or non-payments situation. From 2007 to date, the percentage of ‘good’ payers has fallen by about 10%.

This problem requires to be approached from two fronts: firstly, companies have to be conscious of who they are doing business with and that means getting business information and credit checks on companies prior to closing deals or making deliveries. In Italy, the tendency until recently has been to rely upon word of mouth or previous trading history. This is no longer a valid method of verifying economic or financial reliability. Since the beginning of the crisis, companies have slowly but surely cottoned-on to the idea that carrying out financial vetting of their customers is a good way of separating out potential non-payers or imposing more stringent payment terms.

If the time for checking has passed, the goods have been delivered and the payments are not forthcoming, what is the best way to ensure quick payment? It is essential that all contacts with the debtor are carried out at regular intervals. It is no use issuing a reminder letter giving 14 days to make payment, and then doing nothing futher for 3 months. The debtor will get a measure of how serious you are about recovery from your behaviour in this phase. It is also to be borne in mind that statistically after 90 days debts are significantly less easy to collect. Comas suggests that clients should have an established procedure of 2 reminder letters issued from the due payment date of the debt about 14 days apart. A telephone reminder should also give the debtor the idea that you are not going to let up. At 60 days non payment, they suggest, we are heading towards clear non-payment. Either the debtor can, but won’t, pay, in which case more pressure needs to be brought to bear or he cannot pay, due to lack of funds. Both situations require the intervention of specialist collections companies. The first reminder issued by a debt collection firm very definitely has a psychological effect on the debtor; he is no longer simply dealing with the company, but is on track potentially towards debt recovery litigation – something he will want to avoid. In the case of a debtor who is unable to pay, we may be looking at a company which is about to go out of business. It is very likely that there are other debts waiting to be paid, and you want to be one of those paid, rather than being at the end of the queue.

Comas has been operating in the debt collection field in Italy since 1976, and integrates the debt collection function with that of company/credit information and private investigative activities.
 


COMAS srl A sole shareholder Company subject to the direction and coordination of CRIBIS Holding S.r.L.
Via Martiri di Civitella, 11 - 52100 - Arezzo - Italy - Phone +39 0575.26125 - Fax +39 0575.26436 - mail@infocomas.com
VAT number 01209940517 - Share capital 100.000,00 € i.v. - © Copyright 2013 Comas S.r.l.

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