GUIDELINES
- This letter is a first gentle reminder to the customer about your payment that is past due. A billing statement could be attached. You could attach a disclaimer about the payment to have been credited already.
- A gentle reminder to the customer about the payment that is past due.
- Mention the amount that is to be paid.
- Also, state that you may have been paid. Acknowledge the gratitude if the customer has already paid.
SAMPLE LETTER
[Address line]
[State, ZIP Code]
[Letter Date]
[Address line]
[State, ZIP Code]
[Subject: Normally bold, summarizes the intention of the letter] -Optional-
Dear [Recipients Name],
This letter is to inform you that your payment for the month of July for $200 is overdue. Please send in the payment if you have not sent it already.
Sincerely,
[Senders Name]
[Senders Title] -Optional-
[Enclosures: number] - Optional -
cc: [Name of copy recipient] - Optional -
Letter example of collection to make an overdue payment.
Further things to consider when writing collection letters to debtors
Collection Letters
Collection letters are written notifications or official messages sent by a creditor, business owner, or company to customers to inform them of a past due balance. Collection letters usually notify the customers of money owed including instructions of how to make a late payment. They may also include warnings for potential penalties due to late payments or non-payments and notifications for possible legal actions in the event the recipient fails to settle his/her account. Collection letters have been used in instances such as reminding students of overdue tuition fee, requesting customers to pay their credit card bills, demanding payment for a sent parcel, and much more.
Collection letters are usually written in a series. The first letter is just a simple reminder and the tone changes to a more direct and demanding one with successive letters. Constantly remind the customer that your payment is due or past due and request him/her to pay you immediately. Use a polite tone to avoid hurting your relationship with the customer. Include the amount of debt the customer must pay and indicate the next deadline. Mention the consequences of late payment and close the letter on a positive note.
Letters to Debtors
Letters to debtors are letters you write to people or institutions that owe you money. Mostly, these are collection letters to inform the recipients of the defaulted payments or demand letters to warn them about eventual legal actions. These letters are usually sent after unsuccessfully trying to get your payment, and it is time to take a more serious action. If you are running a business and you have clients who haven't paid for merchandise or services, your business could suffer financial uncertainty and difficulties. But then, you want to maintain goodwill and not damage the business' s reputation in the community.
When writing letters to debtors, especially those asking for payment, you need to be professional. Start with a friendly letter and if the failure to pay continues, get progressively more serious. Provide important details about the debt - state how much is owed and when the payment should be made. For subsequent letters, use a firm tone but be considerate and professional so as not to ruin the possibility of future deals with the recipient. Recount any conversations that have happened since the first letter. End with a note of anticipation to having the situation resolved.