Debt Collection Letter Templates (Late Payment) – Samples

A collection letter is an official notice provided to a customer notifying them of a past due payment to a business. It is a notice sent by a creditor seeking payment for an outstanding debt that contains instructions for the debtor. Instructions should include a stipulated 30 days from the date of the initial notice for the debtor to dispute the notice. A collection letter must be sent to the debtor’s home address or any other address pre-authorized by the debtor.

You must follow the correct step-by-step process and use formal language to provide official notice of a debt owed by your customer, notifying them that the debt is past due.

Note That: It is typically required to send four letters before one can hire a collection agency or record a bad debt expense.

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Are you in need of effective and professional debt collection letter templates? Look no further! Our collection of free templates is specifically designed to assist you in managing debt collection efficiently. Here are free collection letter templates that can be personalized as per requirement:

Sample Debt Collection Letter Template for Free

Printable Debt Collection Letter Template PDF

Editable Debt Collection Letter Template Form

Free Debt Collection Letter Template Example

    Usage of Collection Letter

    A collection letter is used to legally notify a debtor to pay up the amount owed and notify the debtor of the date by which they must repay the debt, else the creditor takes legal action. Also, it serves the purpose of being a record of notice as the creditor is required to give four notices before hiring a collection agent or writing the debt off as a bad debt. A collection letter must be sent to the approved residence of the customer or the home address of the customer. The debtor has 30 days within which they can dispute the validity of the collection letter. If, however, the debtor does not dispute the validity of the collection letter in 30 days, the collection letter remains valid.

    Collection of debts under the United States law is governed by the 15 U.S. Code § 1692g

    Writing a Collection Letter

    When writing a collection letter, it is important to note that the letter serves as a reference document for legal proceedings, and as such, it should be well-written, well-formatted, and well-worded. You need to include all the important elements and avoid all the pitfalls.

    Things to be included

    A collection letter must comply with the Fair Debt Collection Practices by containing the following elements:

    • The Debt amount ($)
    • The name of the creditor
    • A statement informing the debtor of their right to dispute the validity of the debt within 30 days, else the debt will be assumed valid.

    In addition to the three primary requirements stated above, the collection letter should contain the following components:

    • Include a copy of the invoice(s)- The invoices relevant to the indebted transactions should be included in the collection letter. If, however, there are multiple outstanding invoices, you may use a summarized statement containing details of all the invoices.
    • Include a specific deadline- The creditor must include a specific date for the debtor to make all accounts current.  The creditor should phrase the sentence as follows (payment should be made no later than June 12th) do not phrase the deadline like this; Payment should be made within seven business days.
    • Payment options- The creditor should include acceptable payment options through which the organization accepts payments from customers.
    • Contact information- The creditor needs to include the company’s contact information which includes mailing address, email address, and telephone number.
    • Use a postage-paid envelope- Using a postage-paid envelope ensures that the debtor can pay promptly by simply dropping a check in the mail. This way, if the debtor is willing, they can pay it back instantly.
    • Compliance with Fair Debt Collection Practices- According to the guidelines of the Fair Debt Collection Practices, the collection letter must contain the debt amount as well as the name of the creditor and a statement informing the debtor of their right to dispute the validity of the debt within 30 days of receiving the collection letter, and that forfeiture of this right means that the debt would be assumed valid.

    Dos and Don’ts to Consider While Writing

    If you need to write a collection letter to recover some debt, here are some recommendations you need to adhere to.

    • Always keep it professional.
    • Keep the contents of the letter short.
    • Operate under the assumption that the debtor will pay.
    • Attempt to contact the debtor via phone call before sending the letter.
    • Send an email first before sending the letter.
    • Always use the company’s letterhead.

    Conversely, avoid doing the following:

    • Never include harsh words in your letter.
    • Never write a collection letter by hand.
    • Never harass the debtor.
    • Never send text messages to debtors
    • Never communicate with debtors via social media links.

    Types of Collection Letter

    When it comes to collecting a debt from a customer, you are required to send four different collection letters, and each letter has its specifications.

    First Collection Letter

    The first collection letter should be sent to the debtor by mail after you have attempted to contact the debtor via phone and email. If however, the customer fails to make a payment or make payment arrangements with you after contacting them, you should send the first collection letter. Generally, you should send the collection letter no later than 14 days after the due date on the invoice. Here is a sample of the first collection letter:

    George’s Auto Shop
    86, Marina way,
    Chicago, CH
    89686

    Date: June 12, 20XX

    Re: Fender replacement collection

    Dear Joe Floyd,

    URGENT: PLEASE RECTIFY THIS MATTER IMMEDIATELY

    We have tried unsuccessfully to contact you via telephone and have left messages in your email to no avail. Despite our best efforts, the following amount remains unpaid, and as such, we would appreciate you making this payment as soon as possible.

    Invoice number: XXX
    Invoice date: XXX
    Invoice amount: $XXX

    PLEASE REMIT PAYMENT TO 86, Marina Way, Chicago CH 89686

    We regret to advise that unless the payment of the above-stated amount is made by July 12, 20XX, this collection will be passed to our lawyer. This could seriously affect your credit rating, and therefore urge you to contact us immediately to make the due payment or arrange an alternative before the above-stated date.

    You have the right to dispute this debt by submitting a written notice within thirty days of receiving this letter. If you do not dispute this letter within thirty days, the collection will be considered accepted by the debtor.

    Sincerely,
    (Signature)
    George Gomez

    Second Collection Letter

    Before sending the second collection letter, you must attempt to contact the debtor via a phone call to confirm their receipt of the first collection letter. Once you have confirmed receipt of the first collection later, you may then inquire if the customer is willing to make payment arrangements. If your attempts to contact the debtor is unsuccessful, you may proceed to send the second collection letter. The primary difference between the second collection letter and the first is that the second collection letter will include the fact that an attempt to reach the debtor through the first letter was made. Here is an example of a second collection letter:

    George’s Auto Shop
    86, Marina way,
    Chicago, CH
    89686

    Date: June 12, 20XX

    Re: Fender replacement collection

    Dear Joe Floyd,

    URGENT: PLEASE RECTIFY THIS MATTER IMMEDIATELY

    Despite our previous reminder, the below-stated amount remains unpaid. As such prompt payment will be appreciated.

    Invoice number: XXX
    Invoice date: XXX
    Invoice amount: $XXX

    PLEASE REMIT PAYMENT TO 86, Marina Way, Chicago CH 89686

    We are aware that this may be an oversight and would appreciate it f you would make your payment no later than *. Please use the enclosed postage-paid envelope to mail your check.

    We also wish to notify you that we accept debit/credit card payments. You can send us a mail at @., and we will send you a payment link. You can also give us a call at *** to make a payment over the phone.

    If you are unable to make the full payment, please give us a call on *** to make payment arrangements.

    Thank you in advance for your prompt action on the matter.

    Sincerely,
    (Signature)
    George Gomez

    Third Collection Letter

    If the second collection letter has been sent, another attempt to reach the customer by phone should be made. If the debtor fails to make any attempt to communicate within two weeks, you should send the third collection letter. The third collection letter is like the first letter. It also notifies the customer of your previous attempts via letters and telephone calls which have yielded no positive response. This letter should be sent through certified mail that requires that someone signs for the letter, providing you with proof that the letter was received by the customer. This kind of documentation and proof will be useful if you eventually must take legal action. Here is an example of a third collection letter:

    George’s Auto Shop
    86, Marina way,
    Chicago, CH
    89686

    Date: June 12, 20XX

    Re: Fender replacement collection

    Dear Joe Floyd,

    URGENT: PLEASE RECTIFY THIS MATTER IMMEDIATELY

    Despite our previous reminders, the below-stated amount remains unpaid, and as such, we would appreciate it that you make the payment as soon as possible.

    Invoice number: XXX
    Invoice date: XXX
    Invoice amount: $XXX

    PLEASE REMIT PAYMENT TO 86, Marina Way, Chicago CH 89686

    We realize that this may be an oversight and would appreciate your prompt resolution of the issue by making payment no later than. Please use the enclosed postage-paid envelope to mail your check.

    If you are unable to make full payment by be sure to contact us via phone call to make payment arrangements.

    Thank you in advance for your prompt response.

    Sincerely,
    (Signature)
    George Gomez

    Final Collection Letter

    Except in rare cases, by the time you must send a fourth collection letter, it should be obvious that the customer is either unable or unwilling to repay their debt. In this letter, the language should be assertive yet professional. It is similar to the third collection letter and should also be sent via certified mail. Here is an example of a fourth collection letter

    George’s Auto Shop
    86, Marina way,
    Chicago, CH
    89686

    Date: June 12, 20XX

    Re: Fender replacement collection

    Dear Joe Floyd,

    URGENT: PLEASE RECTIFY THIS MATTER IMMEDIATELY

    Your account is now seriously delinquent. We have made several attempts to contact you via phone and sent several letters, but we have received no response from you. Please contact us today to pay you’re your debt in full.

    The outstanding invoice was due on June 3, 2020, and is currently 30 days past due. The details of the unpaid invoice and we took the liberty of enclosing a copy for your convenience:

    Invoice number: XXX
    Invoice date: XXX
    Invoice amount: $XXX

    Description of Services or products: A Ford Mustang was brought in with a damaged fender and a replacement was made on said car.

    If our office does not receive any communications from you by **, we will be forced to turn your account over to **. To avoid collection, mail a check or contact us on ** to make a payment by phone.

    Thank you in advance for your prompt resolution of this matter.

    Sincerely,
    (signature)
    George Gomez

    Tips to Avoid Payment Collection Issues

    Many businesses experience clients that have trouble making payments. There are a few precautionary measures you can put in place to avoid a situation where issues arise when collecting payments from customers. Here are a few tips to help you:

    Review A/R aging report

    The accounts receivable report is one of the high-priority financial reports that all businesses should review often. It contains the details of all unpaid customer invoices including the date of the invoice, the amount due, invoice due date, and the number of days past due.

    Offer early discount payment terms

    Offering customers an incentive to pay their invoices early encourages the customers to pay their invoices promptly. You may place early payment discounts anywhere between 1% and 5%. Require customers to repay their accounts within 10days of the invoice date. A lot of customers would like to save some money by sending in their payments early.

    Request deposits upfront

    Although this may seem awkward at first, if you ask your customers to put down a deposit before receiving services, you would not be the only one. If for example, a customer orders a producer, they are required to pay for the product n full (including shipping) before they receive the product. Legal and accounting firms also require their clients to pay a retainer before they provide their services.

    If any of the following conditions apply to you, you should consider requesting a deposit:

    • Brand-new client
    • The high value of projects. (the amount depends on the type of business)
    • Projects that stretch beyond 30days.

    Be proactive

    Following up on payment on time is a common useful practice that many businesses overlook. Many business owners find it difficult to ask for a payment, so they put it off for too long. However, this is not a good practice as early notification helps you to remind the client to make the payment before it becomes past due.

    Run a business credit check

    You may decide to run a credit check to analyze your client’s business credit profile. You may also view their payment history with trade partners. If you have access to how well your client met their payment obligations in the past, you can easily decipher whether you will get paid on time.

    Hire a collection agency

    After the creditor has carried out multiple attempts to collect on a delinquent account to no avail, the creditor should consider hiring a collection agency. It is important to note that the creditor will not receive the full amount owed upon hiring a collection agency. Typically, collection agencies charge between 25 to 45 percent of the total amount to be recovered. Hiring a collection agency may not be worth the expenses, depending on the total amount owed.

    Writing account off as bad debt

    The creditor, after multiple attempts to collect on a delinquent account (via telephone calls, and letters), may decide to cut their losses and elect not to hire a collection agency. If the total amount owed minus the collection agency’s charge is not worth it, the creditor should write the account off as a bad debt. By doing this, the creditor can at least, claim a tax deduction for the amount owed.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    If your customer ends up paying you eventually, should you do business with them again?

    Many entrepreneurs find themselves asking this question. The short answer is that; it depends. Typically, if the customer makes the payment before you have to involve an outside collection agency, you may consider doing business with them in the future. However, you should include the condition that you will require an upfront deposit. I9f the customer s not willing to pay a deposit upfront, it is best to cut ties with them. If the customer only paid the debt after an external collection agency was involved, you should seriously consider closing their account.

    How do you select the right collection agency?

    Like any other business decision, you need to scrutinize the collection agency. You should verify the agency’s legitimacy, confirm if they use skip tracing, ensure that they have insurance, and compare fees with their competitors.

    What best practices do you recommend for managing A/R balances?

    The best practices include using invoicing software and communicating with customers before their account becomes past due.

    Key Takeaways

    Writing a collection letter is a delicate process that requires a lot of consideration and for the business owner to follow guidelines. In addition to serving as a business communication with clients with which you may continue to do business upon repayment, the collection letters may also be used as legal documents should the need arise. As a result, collection letters should be well written and contain all necessary elements and relevant details. If done properly, the collection process will be a smooth and hassle-free process without having to close the account of a client.

    About This Article

    Brian Beers
    Authored by:
    Business Writing | BA in Journalism, Master of Business Administration (MBA)
    Brian Beers is an expert in business writing with over 15 years of experience in financial news. He has received numerous awards, including an Emmy nomination for his work as the lead producer of the CNBC feature "Boom, Bust and Blame: The Inside Story of America's Economic Crisis." Brian has also rung the opening/closing bell of the stock market three times, twice for the NYSE and once for the NASDAQ. He holds a BA in Journalism and an MBA. His exceptional storytelling skills and insightful analysis make him a sought-after professional in the business writing industry, helping individuals and organizations effectively communicate their ideas and strategies in the business world.

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