When a customer won't pay
A business that owes you money is betting you won't pursue it. Here's the practical path to getting paid — and the point where handing it to a relentless agency makes the difference.
Most unpaid commercial invoices aren’t disputes — they’re decisions. The customer has decided your bill is the one that can wait. The fix isn’t more polite reminders; it’s making non-payment cost them more than paying. Here are the five steps, in order.
Pull the invoice, the signed contract or purchase order, proof of delivery or completed work, and every payment promise. Provable debt is collectable debt — this is the file that gets a debtor to pay or wins in court.
Skip the fifth friendly reminder. Send a single, professional demand with a hard deadline and a clear statement of what happens next. Many accounts pay here — but only if the debtor believes you'll act.
In Texas, the statute of limitations on most commercial debt is four years, and lien rights (mechanic's, mineral) can expire in months. Every day you wait narrows your options and lowers your odds.
Once the easy calls stop working, a third-party commercial collection agency changes the dynamic — research, in-person pressure, and a credible path to court. On contingency, it costs you nothing unless they collect.
If the debtor still won't pay, a licensed-attorney network turns the debt into a judgment and enforces it with liens, levies, and garnishment. The threat alone resolves many accounts.
The hardest part is knowing when steps one through three have run their course. If a business is dodging you, a deadline is approaching, or the amount is worth protecting, that’s the moment to place the account. Get a free case review →
FAQ
Generally four years from when the debt became due (the statute of limitations for most written and open-account commercial debt in Texas). Lien rights can expire far sooner — in months. Acting early protects every option.
As soon as it's clearly past due and your own follow-up has stalled — typically 60–90 days. Recovery odds drop sharply the longer a debt ages, so waiting rarely helps.
Commercial, business-to-business debt is generally outside the federal consumer-collection rules. That gives you more leverage in pursuing a company that owes your business money.
Reputable commercial agencies, including ours, work on contingency: no upfront cost, and a fee only on what's actually recovered.
Tell us what you're owed and we'll tell you exactly how we'll get it back. The review is free, and you pay nothing unless we collect.
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