Debt Collection Service

Can you afford your debtors?

• overdue accounts can cause cash flow problems
• by squeezing credit from you, your debtors reduce your creditworthiness
• collecting debts steals precious management time
• your debtors are using your money to run their business

What to do

• debt collection should form a logical extension of your credit control system
• by registering with Raworths now, you can ensure that no time is lost when you need to collect your money
• we will set up your file on our computer system tailored to your individual needs at no charge
• do not wait too long before contacting us - the older the debt, the more difficult it is to collect. Your debtor may go bust or disappear

Our debt collection service

• after 100 years of debt collection, we have established a highly efficient, computerised system, which gets results
• often a letter from us is all you need for a debt to be settled
• we collect small and large volumes of debt
• our highly experienced staff adopt a firm yet professional approach to your debtor
• the debt collection service has the backing of Raworths' commercial department
• as solicitors, we have a wide range of weapons in our armoury to pursue the persistent debtor
• our computer checks debts every day
• accounting is made easy we send you money owed and a detailed statement of progress made on your debts at least once a month

How the system works

If your credit control system cannot produce payment you pass the debt to us. We will write a letter to the debtor asking for payment and in many cases, this is all that is needed for the debt to be recovered.

If no payment is received, we will issue a claim form, unless you tell us not to. Once again, many debts are paid as soon as a claim form is received.

If the debtor does not pay after the claim form is received and does not contest the claim, a court judgement will be obtained by default.

With most commercial debts we instruct the court bailiff or sheriff to levy execution against debtors' goods at the same time as entering judgement. There are, however, other weapons we can use if more appropriate.

Our debt collection system is extremely flexible. If you want us to give your debtor more time to pay before we start court action, we will. If your debtor asks to pay by instalments, or he wishes to make a part payment and the balance later, we will arrange this if you agree.

If your debtor contests the claim, or makes a counterclaim, we will suspend our standard collection procedure and switch, if you wish, to a defended action.

Charges

• there is no charge for setting up your business on our debt collection system
• you know where you stand with us because our charges are agreed and fixed in advance
• if we have to issue court proceedings we can, as solicitors, recover most of the cost from your debtor
• we can also claim interest on the debt to further reduce your costs
• if, following a court judgement, exceptional recovery methods are required, we will arrange terms to suit you

Your credit control system and contracting

The point at which 'extended credit' becomes a 'bad debt' is a decision only you can make. The problem of what to do is one we can help with.

Because the Raworths Debt Collection Service is an integral part of our Commercial Department, one of only a few in North Yorkshire, we can offer help and advice on many aspects of your business.

Our experienced team is on hand to help you establish effective Terms and Conditions of Trading and credit control systems to minimise debt and other problems.

And, not only will we assist in refining your in-house credit control system, we will happily explain to your staff how it works and what their role is within it.

Our Commercial Team can also assist with business formation, commercial property transactions, business finance, taxation, insurance, licences, patents, employment law, disputes, insolvency, bankruptcy etc.

For more information about the Raworths Debt Collection service please contact Sarah Townsend, and Rob Minors