How To Collect Debts

"The man who is in debt carries a world of trouble." - Burke.

HOW TO COLLECT DEBTS.

Pay as you go, or a strictly cash business, is the best and safest method of doing business.  But certain conditions or customs in trade make this sometimes impractical or impossible and credit must be given.  Under this method dishonest, careless or unfortunate people contract debts, then refuse, neglect or are unable to pay them, and collections, peaceable or forced, become a necessity.

The requisite steps to collect such debts are a matter of great importance and should be understood by everybody, but they are not, and much unpleasantness and heavy losses are often the result.

Methods by Which Debts are Contracted

Goods are bought on credit, to be paid for at a definite or indefinite future time.  Labor is employed, to be paid for at certain periods.  Lands, houses and other property are purchased under contract of future payment.  Money is borrowed, under notes, mortgages or other securities, and many other transactions in business and trade call forth occasions or present temptations to contract debts.

Suggestions for Avoiding Debts

1. Do a Strictly Cash Business. — Better small profits and quick sales, than large profits and long credits.

Mark your goods as low as possible and adhere unswervingly to your cash principle. This is best for buyer and seller. It avoids collections and prevents losses. It saves the time and labor of keeping accounts. This enables the seller to sell cheaper and the buyer to buy for less than on credit.

2. Cautions. — Goods sent abroad should be paid for before the purchaser takes possession.

The time of credit should be as short as possible and the bills collected when due.  When working for others collect your wages weekly or monthly, in accordance with the agreement to pay, unless your employer is quite responsible, thus making your dues safe.

In renting lands or houses, a duplicate lease should be made, one for each party, the rent paid promptly when due, at the house or business place of the landlord, and the payment credited on the back of the lease.

In receiving or making payments, a receipt should always be made out; it is a voucher and may save trouble.

Hotel and boarding-house keepers cannot be too prompt and strict in collecting their dues, as their customers are mostly transient, making forced collections sometimes impossible.

Never loan money without requiring a note or a duebill, if the amount is small; this is safest even between the most trusted friends.

When the loan is large, have the note secured by a mortgage on real estate; but see to it that the same is not encumbered by previous claims, which would render your security worthless.  It is safest to require an abstract of title and then have your mortgage recorded immediately.

This precaution should also be observed where a chattel mortgage is taken on personal property.

If a small amount of money has been loaned without security and it can apparently not be collected without legal process, it may be best to drop the matter and consider the loss so much paid for a lesson in business prudence.

First Steps in Making Collections 

These depend very much on circumstances.  The debtor may have met with reverses or a misfortune, rendering him unable to pay at the time specified, and deserving of patience, others may be careless and need a sharp reminder, a third party, inclined to be dishonest, may need close watching.  Thus discretion is necessary as to the form and tone of the letters requesting payment.

The composition of a letter requesting payment of an account is often a perplexing task, particularly if the person or firm is capable of paying, but careless about it. Such a letter, to be perfect, must not only obtain the money due, but do so without giving offense. Such letters should not, as a rule, be blunt or abrupt, but should courteously and clearly state the reasons for the request. If it becomes necessary to suggest placing the account in the hands of a collector, the suggestion should not be put in the form of a threat but in such language as will show your reluctance about using such means.

Generally speaking, a statement of the debtors account is usually all that is necessary to remind him that payment is expected when due.

If necessary to request prompt payment, something similar to the following may be used:

                                                                                             New York, N. Y.,  May 1, 1916.

Mr. D. C. GOWAN,
         Oswego, N. Y.

Dear Sir:—Inclosed please find statement of your account for April, which we trust you will find correct.

We would appreciate it if you will kindly check same at your earliest convenience and send us a N. Y. Draft for the amount.

Yours truly,

Smithson & Dewsnap.

If the debtor is tardy a second request might be worded as follows:

Mr. J. G. Homes,
          Newark,  N.J.

Dear Sir:— We respectfully call attention to your account, which is now some time past due, and ask if you cannot favor us with your check by return mail.

or

Not hearing from you regarding the amount of your account, now past due, we take the liberty of drawing on you at three days' sight, and trust that you will kindly honor the draft when presented.  
Thanking you in advance, we are,           Yours truly, 
                                                               Connor & Blaine. 
 

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