How to Charge Debt Recovery Fees On Invoices

Many creditors will forward their bad debt or charged-off accounts to collection agencies. A charged-off account is one on which a customer has not paid any money in 180 days. The creditor will report the account as a loss to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for tax purposes. When the collection agency receives money from the past-due debtor, it bills the original creditor by sending an invoice. The manner in which debt-recovery charges appear on an invoice is predetermined when the business relationship is established.

Instructions

1

Determine how the billing charges will appear on the invoice. When money is collected by the collection agency, these charges can be calculated in a couple of ways. One way is to bill the original creditor for the entire amount collected. For example, if the collection agency collects $1,000, it sends a check for that amount to be applied to the debtors account, and sends an invoice for $250 (assuming the agency charges 25 percent for money collected).

2

Send out invoices for the net amount collected. If the collection agency charges 25 percent for everything collected and collects $1,000, it will forward a check in the amount of $750 to the original creditor. The collection agency will take its fee before funds are remitted.

3

Review the invoice on a monthly basis. It is always a good idea to review invoices on a regular basis to make sure no errors are made. The invoice should appear in one of the following methods:

Gross amount collected $1,000, minus collection agency fee of $250, equals net amount remitted: $750 to creditor

or

Gross amount collected $1,000; total amount remitted to creditor $1,000; creditor invoice in the amount of $250.