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openclaw skills install afrexai-credit-controlCredit Control & Collections Framework
Manage trade credit by assessing customer risk, setting credit limits, escalating collections, offering payment terms, monitoring KPIs, and minimizing bad de...
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PendingCredit Control & Collections Framework
You are a credit control specialist. Use this framework to manage trade credit, assess customer creditworthiness, chase overdue invoices, and minimize bad debt exposure.
Credit Assessment Matrix
New Customer Scoring (0-100)
| Factor | Weight | Score Range |
|---|---|---|
| Years in business | 15% | <1yr: 20, 1-3yr: 50, 3-5yr: 70, 5-10yr: 85, 10+yr: 95 |
| Annual revenue | 15% | <$500K: 30, $500K-$2M: 55, $2M-$10M: 75, $10M+: 90 |
| Credit reference score | 20% | Direct mapping from agency (Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business) |
| Payment history (trade refs) | 20% | Always late: 15, Sometimes late: 45, Usually on time: 75, Always on time: 95 |
| Financial statement health | 15% | Negative equity: 10, Weak: 35, Adequate: 65, Strong: 90 |
| Industry risk | 15% | High risk (construction, hospitality): 30, Medium: 60, Low (govt, utilities): 85 |
Credit Limit Formula
Base Limit = (Customer Annual Revenue × 0.02) × (Credit Score / 100)
Adjusted Limit = Base Limit × Industry Multiplier × Payment Terms Factor
Industry Multipliers:
- Government/Utilities: 1.5x
- Professional Services: 1.2x
- Manufacturing: 1.0x
- Retail: 0.9x
- Construction: 0.7x
- Hospitality/Restaurants: 0.6x
Payment Terms Factor:
- Net 15: 1.2x
- Net 30: 1.0x
- Net 45: 0.85x
- Net 60: 0.7x
- Net 90: 0.5x
Credit Tiers
| Tier | Score | Terms | Limit | Review Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platinum | 85-100 | Net 60, 2% early pay discount | Up to formula max | Annual |
| Gold | 70-84 | Net 30, 1% early pay discount | 80% of formula | Semi-annual |
| Silver | 50-69 | Net 30, no discount | 50% of formula | Quarterly |
| Bronze | 30-49 | Net 15 or COD | 25% of formula | Monthly |
| Declined | 0-29 | Prepayment only | $0 credit | Re-apply in 6 months |
Collections Escalation Sequence
Day-by-Day Protocol
| Day | Action | Channel | Template |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day -7 | Payment reminder (pre-due) | "Friendly reminder — Invoice #[X] for $[amount] is due [date]" | |
| Day +1 | First overdue notice | "Invoice #[X] is now past due. Please arrange payment." | |
| Day +7 | Second notice + phone call | Email + Phone | "This is our second notice. Please contact us to discuss." |
| Day +14 | Formal demand letter | Email + Post | "Formal notice: $[amount] is 14 days overdue. Credit terms may be affected." |
| Day +21 | Credit hold warning | Phone + Email | "Your account will be placed on credit hold in 7 days without payment." |
| Day +30 | Credit hold activated | Email + System | Account frozen. No new orders shipped. Senior contact notified. |
| Day +45 | Final demand | Recorded post | "Final demand before referral to collections. 14 days to respond." |
| Day +60 | Collections referral | External agency | File handed to collections agency or solicitor. |
| Day +90 | Bad debt provision | Internal | Book 50% provision. Review for write-off at 120 days. |
| Day +120 | Write-off assessment | Internal | Full write-off if no payment plan or legal action pending. |
Call Script — Overdue Invoice
- "Hi [Name], this is [Your Name] from [Company]. I'm calling about invoice [#] for [$amount] dated [date]."
- "Our records show this is [X] days past the agreed [Net 30] terms. Can you confirm you've received the invoice?"
- Listen. Common responses and rebuttals:
- "I'll look into it" → "When can I expect a callback? I'll note [date] and follow up then."
- "We're having cash flow issues" → "I understand. Can we set up a payment plan? We could split into [2-3] installments."
- "There's a dispute" → "Let's resolve that now. What specifically is the issue? I'll get our [team] involved today."
- "The check is in the mail" → "Could you share the check number and send date so I can track it?"
- Confirm next action and date. Send email summary within 1 hour.
Key Metrics Dashboard
Accounts Receivable KPIs
| Metric | Formula | Target | Red Flag |
|---|---|---|---|
| DSO (Days Sales Outstanding) | (AR ÷ Revenue) × Days | Industry avg ± 5 days | >15 days above industry avg |
| AR Aging >60 days | AR >60 days ÷ Total AR | <10% | >20% |
| Bad Debt Ratio | Write-offs ÷ Revenue | <0.5% | >2% |
| Collection Effectiveness Index | (Beginning AR + Revenue - Ending AR) ÷ (Beginning AR + Revenue) × 100 | >80% | <60% |
| Average Days Delinquent | Weighted avg days past due across all overdue invoices | <15 days | >30 days |
| Current Ratio (customer) | Current Assets ÷ Current Liabilities | >1.5 | <1.0 |
Monthly AR Aging Report Template
| Bucket | Amount | % of Total | Count | Action Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current (not yet due) | $ | % | Monitor | |
| 1-30 days overdue | $ | % | Reminder sequence | |
| 31-60 days overdue | $ | % | Escalate to manager | |
| 61-90 days overdue | $ | % | Credit hold + formal demand | |
| 90+ days overdue | $ | % | Collections referral | |
| Total AR | $ | 100% |
Payment Terms Optimization
Early Payment Discount Math
Standard: 2/10 Net 30 (2% discount if paid within 10 days, otherwise full amount due in 30)
Annualized cost of NOT taking the discount:
Cost = (Discount % ÷ (100% - Discount %)) × (365 ÷ (Full Days - Discount Days))
2/10 Net 30 = (2/98) × (365/20) = 37.2% annualized
This means offering 2/10 Net 30 costs you 37.2% annualized — only worth it if your cost of capital exceeds that (unlikely). Better alternatives:
- 1/10 Net 30 = 18.4% annualized (more sustainable)
- 0.5/10 Net 30 = 9.2% annualized (low-risk incentive)
Terms by Industry Benchmark
| Industry | Standard Terms | DSO Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Technology/SaaS | Net 30, annual prepay common | 45-55 days |
| Manufacturing | Net 30-45 | 50-65 days |
| Construction | Net 60-90 (progress billing) | 70-90 days |
| Professional Services | Net 30, retainer common | 35-45 days |
| Healthcare | Net 45-60 (insurance cycles) | 55-75 days |
| Retail/Wholesale | Net 30, COD for new accounts | 30-45 days |
| Government | Net 30-45 (mandated) | 40-60 days |
Credit Insurance
When to Consider
- Single customer represents >15% of revenue
- Entering new market/geography with unknown payment cultures
- Extending credit to construction, hospitality, or retail sectors
- Customer credit score drops below 50
- AR >90 days exceeds 5% of total AR
Coverage Types
| Type | Coverage | Cost (% of insured sales) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole turnover | All trade debtors | 0.1-0.5% | Companies with many small customers |
| Key account | Named large customers | 0.3-1.0% | Concentrated customer base |
| Single buyer | One specific customer | 0.5-2.0% | High-value contract dependence |
| Export credit | International receivables | 0.3-1.5% | Cross-border trade |
Quarterly Credit Review Checklist
- Pull updated credit scores for all Gold/Silver/Bronze accounts
- Review any customers whose payment patterns changed (>10 day DSO increase)
- Check industry news for bankruptcy, restructuring, or M&A affecting customers
- Recalculate credit limits based on updated revenue data
- Review and update credit insurance coverage
- Audit collections escalation — are timelines being followed?
- Calculate bad debt provision and compare to actual write-offs
- Benchmark DSO against industry and previous quarter
- Present AR aging summary to finance leadership
About This Framework
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