Credit Letters

Make credit work for you—your personal and financial health may require it! Choose from a variety of samples.

How to write credit letters:

• Keep a courteous tone, no matter the circumstances. If you must deny a person credit, discontinue credit, or begin the collection process, maintain a professional tone as you explain your reasons for taking this action. Remember, you'll probably want to keep this customer's business, even if you must ask for cash payments.

• If you must deny a request for credit, leave the door open to future applications from the same party.

• If payment is more than a month late, encourage the customer to contact you to discuss the lapse in payment.

• If a payment is more than 60 days overdue and the customer has shown no move toward making the payment or discussing why he or she has not made payment, let him or her know exactly what the penalty will be unless he or she responds immediately with the payment. Don't make an empty threat, however. You must be prepared to follow through.

• Be clear and include enough information to clearly convey your request or offer to your client or potential customer.

• Tailor your letter to your audience.

• Be brief; credit letters should be straightforward and businesslike.

• Be confident and persuasive. Be assertive but not overbearing.

• Assure your reader that any information he or she gives you will remain confidential.

Need help writing your credit letter? Say it right with professional-quality credit letters. Write with confidence using: Use letters writers agree work the best Get expert help every step of the way Express yourself with choice, alternative phrases and sentences You'll get sample credit letters for each of these topics: Announce punitive measures against a client's account Ask an applicant for credit to submit more information Cancel or withdraw a customer's credit account Inform a customer of an incorrect payment amount and ask for the balance Inform a customer of an overpayment Investigate an applicant's credit reference Notify a creditor that you have stopped payment on a check Notify a debtor of a returned check Offer a discount for early payment on products or services Promise a delayed payment to a creditor Request an explanation for a denial of credit Request an increased credit line Request or apply for a credit account Send a late payment after a mutual agreement to do so Write a credit reference You'll also get letters for these related topics and more: Cancel, Suspend, or Restrict a Credit Account Warn a customer about credit suspension or penalization Miscellaneous Confirm a telephone request to transfer money, cancel and replace a stolen credit card, or stop payment on a check Open a Credit Account Extend an invitation to open an account Offer the use of a charge account Request a Loan or Credit Approve a loan Decline a request for credit Grant approval for credit Inform a customer that the check you received was not signed or the payment was not in the envelope Welcome a new account or an account reactivation Request or Make Payment Acknowledge payment of an overdue balance Remind an organization member to pay a fee, duty, or pledge Request payment of a personal loan Suggest an alternative plan or schedule for payments Transmit a payment Collection Letters Collection letter #1: Remind a customer that payment is past due Collection letter #2: Remind a customer that payment is past due Collection letter #3: Appeal to a customer's personal interests to pay an overdue bill) Collection letter #4: Offer assistance to a customer having difficulty paying an overdue bill Collection letter #5: Demand payment on a delinquent account Collection letter #6: Announce your intention to take aggressive action against a customer for failing to make payment Write a collection letter Writing a letter can be as easy as 1, 2, 3! Find a credit letter that fits your needs and copy it directly into Microsoft Word or your favorite word processor. Or let our software guide you step-by-step through the writing process, suggesting sample phrases and sentences for each writing step. In minutes, you can write an effective credit letter. Print your credit letter and send it!