30 Days Overdue Checklist
At a month overdue, formalise the chase with a written demand, a credit hold and a clear decision on whether to keep pursuing or hand over.
What this checklist covers
- Confirm the full contact history to date
- Issue a formal letter of demand
- Place an internal hold on further credit
- Decide whether to pursue or hand over
- Protect the relationship where it still matters
6 min
Before you start
Thirty days overdue is a turning point: gentle reminders have not worked, so the chase becomes formal. Make sure the record supports a firmer stance.
- Pull together every reminder and call made so far, with dates.
- Confirm there is no unresolved dispute that would make a demand premature.
- Check the debt amount is exact, including any interest your terms allow.
- Verify the customer's current contact and registered details.
A formal demand built on a complete, accurate record is far harder to brush off. This is general information, not legal advice.
Formalise the chase
At a month, the steps shift from nudges to a documented, firmer process.
- Issue a formal letter of demand stating the amount, a final deadline and what happens next.
- Place an internal hold on any further credit or work while the debt is open.
- Make a direct phone call to accompany the demand, not replace it.
- If hardship is raised, offer a structured payment plan with clear terms.
- Set a firm final date and make clear recovery action follows if it passes.
- Record every step against the account.
The Merion tools can produce the formal letter of demand for this stage.
Decide: pursue or hand over
A month in, weigh whether to keep chasing yourself or bring in specialists, because older debts only get harder.
- Keep pursuing if the customer is engaging and a credible plan is in place.
- Hand over if you are getting silence or excuses with no real progress.
- Consider settling a small or disputed balance if pursuit will cost more than it recovers.
A commission-only recovery partner only earns when you do, so handing over carries little downside. A free debt appraisal helps you choose.
Common mistakes
The thirty-day stage falters when it is either too soft or too rash. Avoid these.
- Sending yet another gentle reminder instead of a firm, formal demand.
- Continuing to extend credit or do new work for a debtor a month behind.
- Issuing a demand with an inflated figure or unfounded threats.
- Letting the debt drift past a month with no decision to pursue or hand over.
- Burning a salvageable relationship with aggression when a payment plan would work.
Be firm, be accurate, and make a clear call on the debt's future.
Key takeaways
- At a month, switch from reminders to a formal, documented demand.
- Hold further credit while the debt remains open.
- Make a clear decision to pursue, hand over or settle.
- Keep the demand accurate and the threats credible.
Frequently asked questions
Should I stop supplying a customer who is 30 days overdue?
Placing a hold on further credit or work is sensible while the debt is open, in line with your terms. It limits your exposure and gives the customer a clear reason to clear the balance before you resume.
Can I add interest to a 30-day overdue invoice?
Only if your agreed terms provide for it and at the rate stated. Charging interest the customer never agreed to can be challenged. Where terms do allow it, state the calculation clearly in your demand.
Is 30 days the right point to hand a debt over?
It is a common decision point, because recovery rates fall as debts age. If a month of your own chasing has produced no real progress, handing over to a commission-only partner often costs nothing upfront and improves your odds.
Work the checklist, then get paid
Use the free Invoice Generator, then let Merion recover anything that goes unpaid — commission-only.