Accounts Receivable Management

Collecting outstanding invoices is an art in itself. After all, you want your debtors to pay for your receivables no matter what. Sometimes your debtors do not pay because they do not want to, sometimes because they cannot. In all those cases, it is paramount that you ensure that you have optimum chance of successful collection.

SMART Advocaten has a comprehensive approach to your collection invoices. This means that our legal advice starts with the way in which you design your contractual relations. If this is correct, you will run practically no risk at all in those cases where it comes to collection measures. In addition, as a law firm we can, if necessary, make attachments against your debtors, threaten them with bankruptcy, file for bankruptcy if necessary, request the Court President in interlocutory proceedings (accelerated proceedings) to order your debtor to pay and take a case to a higher court in appeal. In contrast to bailiffs and collection agencies, only law firms registered with the Court are authorised to do so.

If you instruct us to screen your accounts receivable management, we will ask questions such as: How do you present your quotes? How do you assess your customers' creditworthiness? Do you deploy watertight general terms and conditions for delivery and payment? Do you apply your general terms and conditions correctly? In addition, we are competent in assessing your accounts receivable management, such as: How did you word your demands? Do you maintain personal (telephone) contact with your debtors? What are your payment terms? What is the average term within which your receivables are actually paid? Do you confirm payment and repayment agreements in the correct manner? Within this scope, we are duly aware that you wish to maintain a good relationship with your customers for as long as possible. But also that, when it comes down to it, you want cash for the products or services you delivered.

If, despite of your sound and screened accounts receivable management, collection measures are unavoidable, your chances for success will be as good as secure in our hands. Each collection order you instruct us with is customised work to us. Because there is a story behind nearly every invoice to be collected. Because you want the money you are owed, no matter what. If the collection invoices you submit to us meet the requirements of sound accounts receivable management, we can almost always do this on a no cure no pay basis. In the few cases where your debtor sets up a defence, we will provide you with an assessment of the costs beforehand. This is based on the principle that the costs have to be in relation to the revenue expected.