Page:Roy Ralph Hottman - Practical Collection Procedure (1923).pdf/98

84 A more direct request can be made if desired,*for a remittance to reach the creditor on the due date.

Feb. 22, 1923.

Our credit files indicate that our bill of January 26th for $131.00 will be due in four days, and we are therefore taking the liberty of sending you this little reminder.

Can we have the pleasure of serving you in any way?

Very truly yours,
 * Credit Manager.

Petty Accounts.

Whenever credit is granted, there are always at least some petty accounts; the incurrence of these small ac- counts is unavoidable. The creditor knows that the grant- ing of credit and the placing on the books of these small items is hardly warranted by the profits of the transac- tion, and as he regards them as a sort of nuisance and necessary evil, so must he arrange to collect them with as small an expense as possible. Obviously he cannot bring into play the various tactics that are possible in handling larger accounts, nor can he adopt any hard measures, for such procedure would incur the debtor’s animosity. Very satisfactory customers will frequently allow small items to run months before paying them, simply because of the small amount involved. There is no intention of avoiding payment, but rather one of wait- ing until they make some additional purchases, or are in the creditor’s neighborhood, when they can pay without inconvenience to themselves, It is frequently good prac- tice to send petty accounts about three statements with