Hilton-Baird collects unpaid invoice for Suffolk-based firm

12/08/2013

Hilton-Baird Collection Services has successfully collected an unpaid invoice on behalf of Suffolk-based health and safety consultants, SMC Safety Solutions.

The commercial debt collection agency was instructed by Steve Couch, Director of SMC Safety Solutions, after his customer had delayed payment for more than two months and proceeded to cut off most forms of communication.

Mr Couch explained: “Despite our best efforts we just didn’t have the means and authority to persuade our customer to pay us. Eventually they became rude to our staff and wouldn’t accept our phone calls. After later revealing he’d pay half of the outstanding sum, we were still waiting weeks later and this was the final straw.”

Upon contacting the debtor, Hilton-Baird’s team was similarly greeted by false promises to pay. After careful consideration and having discussed the options available with Mr Couch, the decision was made to proceed with a county court summons. Just a few weeks later, payment was received in full to bring a successful conclusion to a trying ordeal.

Mr Couch continued: “I wasn’t sure whether a debt collection agency was the way to go but I’m glad I went down that route. It had got to the point we were spending too much of our time to no effect. I’m just glad it’s over and I can go back to running my business.”

Discussing this case, Managing Director of Hilton-Baird Collection Services, Alex Hilton-Baird, said: “Unfortunately this set of circumstances is being experienced by a large majority of businesses in the current climate, leaving them tired, frustrated and having to invest additional time and resource into chasing old debts.

“There is a range of options available to help companies such as SMC Safety Solutions to regain that time and increase the likelihood of being paid in full, including the help of a specialist debt collection agency.

“Whilst careful mediation is desirable to encourage payment, the threat of legal action can often be the catalyst and thankfully this proved the case in this instance.”

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For further enquiries, please contact Helen Tramaseur or Jamie Weeden at Hilton-Baird Group on 02380 706637 or email helen.tramaseur@hiltonbaird.co.uk / jamie.weeden@hiltonbaird.co.uk

Note to editors:

Alex Hilton-Baird is Managing Director of Hilton-Baird Collection Services, which is part of the Hilton-Baird Group of companies. Established in 2001, Hilton-Baird Collection Services provides award-winning outsourced debt collection services to the UK’s SME and corporate markets, as well as some of the most respected invoice financiers, leading banks and insolvency practitioners.

Hilton-Baird Collection Services was voted Commercial Debt Collection Agency of the Year in 2008, 2010 and 2011 by Credit Today magazine. In addition, two of our employees have been awarded the Commercial Collector of the Year title, with Team Leader, Charlotte Christie, winning in 2010 and Senior Collections Advisor, Peter Hepburn, winning in 2012. Such awards are testament to the continuous investment Hilton-Baird puts into making its debt collection services the best on the market, with regular training and technological innovation at the core of ensuring a fast, flexible and efficient response to business debt recovery needs.

To find out more about how Hilton-Baird Collection Services can assist, visit https://www.hiltonbairdcollections.co.uk.