Accounting - Credit and Collections
The Successful Collection Call

The Successful Collection Call

Tom : Tom Smith here.

Sally : Tom, this is Sally Cotton calling from Innovative Software. How are you today?

Tom : Fine, thank you.

Sally : Tom, are you the person responsible for paying bills?

Tom : Yes, I am.

Sally : Great! I bet you can help me out. We have an invoice outstanding that is almost a month overdue. I wonder if you can tell me when it will be paid?

Tom : Oh yes, I’m familiar with that invoice and I can assure you that we will pay it as soon as we can.

Sally : Well, Tom, I really need to get paid now because that invoice is a month overdue. How about sending a check today?

Tom : Well, I’d like to send a check today, Sally. But we are in the middle of a cash flow crunch. Don’t worry, though, I’ll pay it as soon as we can.

Sally : Tom, I certainly appreciate the fact that you are being candid with me. But I do need something. How about sending a partial payment— half today and half within a couple of weeks?

Tom : Okay, I’ll tell you what, I will send half today and the remainder of the payment by the end of the month.

Sally : That would be great, Tom. I really appreciate it. Thanks, and have a nice day.