Recovering a 324‑Day Overdue Construction Invoice Through Third‑Party Escalation
How GetPaid recovered £17,619.19
Client Overview
Business: Anonymised – Construction / Building Services (SME)
Role of contact: Accountant acting on behalf of the creditor
Accounting system: Xero (via BizzCtrl / GetPaid workflow)
The client is a UK‑based construction services company operating in a sector where long payment delays can create significant operational strain. Their accountant initiated the escalation after internal efforts failed to secure payment.
The Invoice
The Invoice
Situation Before Escalation
Before the case was instructed, the creditor had exhausted internal chasing:
- No response from the debtor
- Occasional promises to pay, but no follow‑through
- Avoidance of calls and emails
- No dispute raised at any stage
Impact on the business:
The invoice had been outstanding for nearly a year, creating prolonged cash flow pressure. With internal resources limited and the debt ageing significantly, the accountant escalated the matter to ensure a professional and efficient resolution.
The Challenge
This case carried several complexities:
- A long‑overdue debt of 324 days
- A significant sum for an SME (£17,887.50)
- Limited internal capacity to continue chasing
- Need for third‑party involvement without unnecessary conflict
- Full debtor contact details were available, reducing administrative friction
The Solution
The accountant instructed the case through the BizzCtrl → GetPaid workflow.
- Instructed by: Heather O, Accountant
- Instruction date/time: 12 May 2025 at 16:28 (GMT)
- Time taken to instruct: Under 5 minutes (likely under 1 minute)
- Collection approach: Professional third‑party debt recovery, with charges payable
by the debtor (15% commission)
The workflow ensured a fast, compliant, and structured escalation, enabling the creditor to
hand over the matter with minimal effort.
The Result
Payment Received
The debtor has now paid £17,619.19, following a small credit note issued by the creditor.
Next Step: Chasing the Fee
The accountant has requested that the collection fee be pursued from the debtor in the first instance, as the creditor should not reasonably bear this cost, given the age of the debt and the circumstances of recovery.
They have confirmed they will settle the fee only if the debtor refuses to engage.
Additional Notes
The debt was escalated by the accountant rather than the business owner, demonstrating the value of outsourced credit control.
The Domestic Reverse Charge VAT treatment further validated the legitimacy and clarity of the invoice.
Full debtor address and contact details were available at the point of instruction, supporting a smooth escalation.
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