Does it help to mark overdue bills?

[mark123]

Has anyone ever used a stamp to mark overdue bills with OVERDUE? Does it help? One place that I worked used to stamp invoices so that the OVERDUE would show through the window on the envelope. The customers really complained about it, as if letting the mailman know that they had an overdue bill was an embarrassment, but they sent the payments in. Would you do it only to people you won't work for anymore or would you do it on every overdue account?

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Boughter's Lawn Care Services Mowing and Fertilizing in New Castle, PA

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

Lawn care business tips

that sounds like a fun way to collect. Its better then having your equipment breaking down because you put off a repair.

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[justin_time]

Originally Posted by mark123

Has anyone ever used a stamp to mark overdue bills with OVERDUE? Does it help?

One place that I worked used to stamp invoices so that the OVERDUE would show through the window on the envelope. The customers really complained about it, as if letting the mailman know that they had an overdue bill was an embarrassment, but they sent the payments in.

Would you do it only to people you won't work for anymore or would you do it on every overdue account?

For some bills, yes, I fire up my Word and click on Watermark and put Past Due in red

[mark123]

Originally Posted by justin_time

For some bills, yes, I fire up my Word and click on Watermark and put Past Due in red

That's a pretty good idea. Ever since I noticed that pages printed using an inkjet printer smear when they get wet I use a laser printer now, so it'll just come out gray. I'm thinking of getting a stamper at Staples for just such an occasion.

[justin_time]

Originally Posted by mark123

That's a pretty good idea. Ever since I noticed that pages printed using an inkjet printer smear when they get wet I use a laser printer now, so it'll just come out gray. I'm thinking of getting a stamper at Staples for just such an occasion.

I print my invoice, then open up word, and then put my invoice back in the printer so it puts my watermark. Works great. Don't even have to print in color it looks dark in grayscale

[TiedemanLLC]

We actually do a few things on the over due invoice. First, we stamp it with an overdue stamp. Then we take a pink highlighter, and highlight the due date, and the amount due. This draws their attention too that area to left them know, the due date and the amount due. Sometimes we will put a little hand written post it note in there too telling them to submit the payment to avoid any late fees.

Don't forget about doing a phone call too. You would be surprised sometimes at how fast you will get a payment with just a simple phone call. No one hates it worse than when someone calls them or leaves a message on their answering machine that their invoice is past due.

[Hedgemaster]

Wow. That seems like an easier way of doing things.
I've been putting a horse's head in their bed, but an "overdue" stamper might work too.

[Steve]

For those of you who use over due stamps or print it out, do you find it effects the customer's behavior at all?

[TiedemanLLC]

Originally Posted by Steve

For those of you who use over due stamps or print it out, do you find it effects the customer's behavior at all?

We me I feel it grabs their attention. Whenever I do it I normally get a payment faster or a phone call apologizing for being late.

[Steve]

What's your thought on when you should do this? How late does a bill payment have to be to necessitate this step?