New on LowEndTalk? Please Register and read our Community Rules.
All new Registrations are manually reviewed and approved, so a short delay after registration may occur before your account becomes active.
All new Registrations are manually reviewed and approved, so a short delay after registration may occur before your account becomes active.
Comments
Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to write off the debt for a tax incentive?
@trewq - our finance team handle this, but I want to start cooperation with few such companies so people will be aware when they sign up that potential debts will be collected. It's very popular way of handling stuff in some countries.
Oh yeah almost forgot to pay my EUR2 invoice :c
In my job we do this. It's a part of the initial contract that all debts will be collected through any means. Have you thought about keeping credit card details on file to auto charge people?
Good luck! I understand where you're coming from with this and debt collection is a bitch sometimes.
It's more policy, principle and trying to get things right. If everyone just hits and runs the rest of the world would close shop.
True, I was just assuming that what he is trying to collect is a minority of overdue debts.
@trewq - yes, we thought about changes in billing system
Dont waste your money on debt collectors. they are powerless and carnt do anything.
@trewq, @concerto49 - we have just ~10-15 debtors which drives us crazy
And this is pretty true sadly, debt collectors don't have any authority and just try to scare people.
You can better go for a no cure no pay debt collector off
@gbshouse I sent you a mail to [email protected] and [email protected], idk if they are working mail addresses lol
@TheRedFox - both emails are fully operational
Why don't you change your billing system so customers can only use prepaid credits? That way noone could aquire debt
LOL, so you are chasing after 15 people who owe around 2 euro each? Honestly if you have not allowed for 30 euro of loss from people like that with your current billing system (which is flawed), then you may want to reconsider your business plan..
Because the accounting and liability isn't worth it.
Hmm, that would be much easier
When your DNS usages reaches 200K send a warning to top up your account if it's empty, then charge €2 from prepaid or just shutdown the domain.
But this would be not very user friendly lol
@0xdragon, @gsrdgrdghd - I'm chasing people with debt >= 50€. The problem with billing system is that we haven't found any CC processor which supports micropayments (the fees are too high). That's why we use PayPal in micropayments mode as main payment channel.
mmmh, it is lucky that I have a unlimited account from @gbshouse, otherwise I will be chased
@gbshouse
Just write off the "Debts" you will spend more money trying to collect them. and lets face it the chances of a customer paying is quite slim.
@TarZZ92
@gbshouse
as i have said its pointless. i have been there done that sorta thing. there is also the case of fake addresses/old addresses etc.
the prepayment method is way better. and you could automate it with whmcs
The only chance you have is legal action. but even still. the person can still refuse to pay.
Lads, we are not looking for opinions how to handle things but for some suggestions regarding well known or trusted debt collection agencies in specific countries.
Here is something I would do if I were you:
Step 1- Free tier of x amount.
Step 2- Warn user when they are near the tier.
Step 3- When their credit is just about empty, warn the user that their service will be suspended if they do not apply credit to their account.
Step 4- If they don't pay, suspend. If they do pay, continue service from step 2.
Well just a tip, if you are in Europe and providing services to people in Europe you are allowed to chase the debts however you cannot suspend services for none payment AND chase the debt.
Abandoned accounts for example on yearly payments, for easy maths lets say it is €12.00 p/year
You cant suspend at 10 days overdue and chase the entire €12.00 you could probably get away with chasing €1.00.
All anyone would need to say is "I am not getting any material gain", and then it is up to you to prove your material loss caused by them not paying the bill, "could have sold it to another customer" will not cut it and even if it did they would only grant you material loss up to the point of suspension of service.
Of course if you are providing service in advance for payment later i.e. retrospective billing (brave thing on the internet) then you absolutely have grounds for collection.
@AnthonySmith his services are not prepaid, he is seeking payment for services provided in the previous month.
I hear Hells Angels provide a global service of debt collecting.
Tehe, why only a joke
Lol, when you quoted the < /joke> dissapeared.
How super small must your business be that 10-15 customers can drive you crazy? If it are just small amounts, don't waste your valuable time on it. ( Or maybe your time isn't valuable at all? )
Chances are that most debt isn't even collectable.
@ztec - the DNS is just one part of our business and it's profitable since month 1 mostly because we take care about financial aspect of operations. We do not chase small amounts (like 2-3€), I agree that's not worth. But 10-15 customers with unpaid 50€ and more gives you significant amount of money worth taking care of.
@MikHo - I like the Hell Angels idea
would look nice next to our business name
It will be cheaper to get a plane ticket and go find them yourself, make a fun trip out of it with a few friends if you know what I mean...