Demand Payment on a Delinquent Account — Collections 5 of 6 • Example Letters, Guides and Samples

Guides

Unlike earlier letters, this one should carry a demanding, rather than a requesting, tone. Although this letter is less friendly than other letters, it should still make it easy for the customer to respond.

How to write this collection letter:

  1. Mention the previous letters you have written and discuss their content.
  2. Call attention to the fact that you have been patient and accommodating.
  3. Demand payment.

Example Letter #1

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We have been most patient, but you have failed to respond to our four previous notices.

We now have no alternative but to require immediate payment. Failure to respond may lead to legal action.

Please mail your check today.

Example Letter #2

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This is your fifth notice regarding your delinquent account balance.

You owe $532.14, including interest. Up until now, we have avoided aggressive collection action, but we require your payment now.

Example Letter #3

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You have ignored my last five written requests to remit your balance due of $674.98. I have been more than patient in this matter, but now I must demand payment. If you wish to avoid having this matter turned over to collections, I must have your payment on my desk by 5:00 p.m. on November 5.

Example Letter #4

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I have been authorized to refer your account to a collection agency. I do not believe this action to be necessary, if you will make some effort to cooperate with us. In the hope that you will cooperate, I am delaying further action for ten days from the date of this letter. Should you fail to make payment within that time, I will authorize Kansas Business Bureau on November 1 to proceed against you in appropriate ways to collect the balance of $603.40. This is your final opportunity to arrange for payment directly to us. I urge your cooperation.

Please make payment to:

Doe Corporation

1600 Main Street

Springfield, Kansas 12345

Example Letter #5

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After four reminders, I can no longer believe that your failure to pay the $777 you owe is an oversight. Having received no response to my suggestion that you call to make payment arrangements, I must insist that you pay the balance due immediately.

If I do not receive the money by 5:00 p.m. on June 30, I shall be forced to take further action.

Write Your Letter Step-by-Step

1 Mention the previous letters you have written and discuss their content.

Sample Sentences for Step 1
  • You may have lost count of how many letters we have sent you regarding your overdue account, but we haven't. We have sent four letters which politely requested the $2,784.00 you still owe.
  • This is my fifth letter concerning your past-due payment.
  • We have not yet received an answer to our last four letters asking for payment on your account.
  • You have not responded to our last four requests for the money you owe us, so we must assume that our assessment of your account balance is correct.
  • We have reminded you four times that your account is delinquent. In our last letter we offered you assistance in clearing your account. Still, you have not responded.
  • We have written you concerning your delinquent account on four previous occasions.
  • Immediately after our last communication, you agreed to send your payment without delay. Two weeks have passed and we still have not received it.
Sample Phrases for Step 1
  • 48 days have passed
  • agreed to send your payment without delay
  • are willing to help
  • concerning your delinquent account
  • concerning your past-due payment
  • difficult to assess your situation
  • for the money you owe us
  • for the fifth time
  • four different occasions
  • have still not received a payment
  • have tried to help you
  • have not responded
  • have not yet received an answer
  • have made the effort to remind you four times
  • have written you concerning your delinquent account
  • have reminded you four times
  • have yet to receive an answer
  • have not responded
  • how many calls we have made
  • how many letters we have sent you
  • immediately after our last correspondence
  • last letter offered you assistance
  • late payment
  • mentioned that we would like to help you
  • regarding your overdue account
  • regarding your delinquent account
  • still, you have not responded
  • the longer you delay

2 Call attention to the fact that you have been patient and accommodating.

Sample Sentences for Step 2
  • Even though we have extended courteous requests, you have not remitted payment.
  • We have been more than patient up to this point.
  • There are limits to our forbearance. You must act immediately.
  • We have made every effort to accommodate your needs over the last sixty days. Now it is time for us to demand payment.
  • We have tried to offer our assistance in resolving this situation, but you have not responded.
Sample Phrases for Step 2
  • but you have remained unresponsive
  • but you have responded to none of these
  • even though we have extended
  • every effort to accommodate your needs has been made
  • have recognized that things don't always go as planned
  • have tried to accommodate
  • have been accommodating
  • have tried to be fair
  • have been very understanding
  • have tried to resolve the matter
  • have given you many options
  • have made every effort
  • have still not remitted payment
  • have made courteous requests
  • have only tried to help
  • have waited a long time
  • have tried to understand
  • have given you ample time to reply
  • have exhausted every possibility
  • have been very accommodating
  • have been extremely patient
  • have exhausted every option
  • have tried every avenue
  • have considered every possibility
  • have done more for your company
  • have circumvented legal action until now
  • have extended alternate payment options
  • have done you a favor by
  • have avoided legal measures
  • have been considerate

3 Demand payment.

Sample Sentences for Step 3
  • We expect you to address this matter immediately.
  • You owe us $174.37, and we demand immediate payment.
  • In order to avoid legal action, remit $384.88 without delay.
  • We expect your payment to arrive by June 19.
  • If your payment of $1,500.00 is not received by July 15, we will immediately refer this account to our attorney for possible legal action.
  • I expect your payment of $5,848.00 immediately.
  • Please, arrange to make payment today.
  • I request your prompt attention to this obligation.
  • To avoid further action, we ask that you send payment immediately.
  • When we receive your check or money order payable to Doe Corporation, we will then stop all collection activity on your account.
Sample Phrases for Step 3
  • a check will make it possible
  • address this matter immediately
  • are responsible for immediate payment
  • are demanding that you remit payment
  • attend to this right now
  • can avoid turning your account over to
  • cannot overemphasize the seriousness of
  • expect your payment to arrive by
  • expect your payment of
  • hope your check is already en route
  • immediately remit your payment for
  • in order to avoid further action
  • it is now time for us to demand payment
  • so we can avoid unpleasantness
  • the matter that now faces you