For businesses handling a high volume of credit accounts, timing isn't just important, it’s everything. Data consistently shows that early intervention leads to higher recovery rates and at Redwood Collections, we know this from experience.
The clock starts ticking the moment an invoice becomes overdue
Once a payment deadline passes, your chances of recovering the full amount begin to decline. The longer a debt is left unpaid, the more difficult and resource-intensive it becomes to recover. Many businesses find that debts aged beyond 90 days are significantly harder to collect and after six months, recovery rates drop sharply.
By acting early, you stay in control of the conversation. A polite but firm reminder in the early days of non-payment is often all it takes to bring a customer back on track. If those attempts fail, referring the account to a professional collection agency quickly can preserve goodwill while still sending a clear message.
Why speed matters in high-volume scenarios
When you’re managing a large portfolio of credit accounts, the risks multiply. A handful of small overdue invoices might seem manageable in isolation but across hundreds or even thousands of accounts, they add up fast.
Early-stage collection allows you to:
- Minimise ageing debt: The longer a debt remains unpaid, the more resource-intensive it becomes to recover.
- Protect your cash flow: A consistent recovery process ensures late payments don’t disrupt your operations.
- Avoid writing off losses: Timely action increases the likelihood of successful recovery without needing legal action.
We often work with businesses that come to us after trying to recover debts in-house only to find that delayed action made things more complicated. By referring debts at the 30-to-60-day mark, clients see significantly higher recovery rates without damaging customer relationships.
Maintaining Client Relationships While Recovering Debt
Recovering payment doesn’t have to come at the cost of a client relationship. In fact, when handled professionally, early intervention can reinforce your business’s standards while preserving goodwill. A clear and respectful approach shows that you value the commercial relationship but won’t allow unpaid debts to go unchecked.
Maintaining a respectful and professional tone during the debt recovery process is essential, particularly when there’s potential for ongoing business. In high-volume scenarios, where client relationships may still hold long-term value, early intervention can help prevent disputes from escalating. Addressing issues promptly and with tact allows businesses to recover what they’re owed while minimising friction and protecting their reputation.
Don’t let delays cost your business
High-volume debt recovery doesn’t need to be overwhelming. With the right support, you can recover more, faster and with less friction. If overdue accounts are stacking up, now’s the time to act.
We’re here to help. Whether you need a partner to handle the volume or advice on streamlining your internal processes, our team is ready to support you and in many cases, our fees can be recoverable.
Keeping debtor contact details up to date including addresses, phone numbers and contact names can significantly increase your chances of recovery and help avoid unnecessary costs.
How Collections+ Can Support Your Business
Our Collections+ service is designed specifically for businesses managing large volumes of credit accounts. We combine early-stage intervention with tailored strategies that prioritise speed, consistency and professionalism - helping you stay on top of overdue accounts without straining internal resources. Whether you're dealing with a growing backlog or want to tighten your credit control process, Collections+ gives you the structure and support needed to recover more, faster.
Call us on 020 8080 2888 to find out how Collections+ can strengthen your in-house credit control and boost your recovery rates.
Learn more about how Collections+ can help your business maintain strong financial control in today's economic climate by visiting our dedicated Collections+ page.
Our eBook, Winning Solutions for High-Volume Debt Recovery is available to download for free.
