Skip to main content
Bernstein Burkley
  • Practice Areas
    • Overview
    • Bankruptcy & Restructuring
    • Business and Corporate Transactions
    • Creditors’ Rights
    • Litigation
    • Oil & Gas and Energy
    • Real Estate
    • Real Estate & Commercial Finance
  • Our Attorneys
  • About Us
    • Our Approach
    • History
    • Law Lists
    • Professional Memberships
    • Careers
  • Resources
    • Bernstein’s Dictionary of Bankruptcy Terminology
    • Links
    • Five Minute Legal Master videos
    • Blog
    • Legal Publications
  • News
    • Cases Archive
    • Firm News
    • In the News
    • Industry News
  • Contact
CALL - 412 456 8100
Connect
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
Bernstein Burkley
  • Practice Areas
    • Overview
    • Bankruptcy & Restructuring
    • Business and Corporate Transactions
    • Creditors’ Rights
    • Litigation
    • Oil & Gas and Energy
    • Real Estate
    • Real Estate & Commercial Finance
  • Our Attorneys
  • About Us
    • Our Approach
    • History
    • Law Lists
    • Professional Memberships
    • Careers
  • Resources
    • Bernstein’s Dictionary of Bankruptcy Terminology
    • Links
    • Five Minute Legal Master videos
    • Blog
    • Legal Publications
  • News
    • Cases Archive
    • Firm News
    • In the News
    • Industry News
  • Contact
Q&A
Q&A

Should a late fee be built in to my credit policy?

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Bob Bernstein

Creditors’ Rights 33

Q: I’m worried that certain customers won’t pay on time while I have very loyal customers who never miss a payment. Should a late fee be built in to my credit policy?

A: The automatic answer to including a late fee is a resounding yes, but it is a good idea to air the issue with the collection staff. Debtors always request late fee reductions and because it’s “only company policy,” someone in collections may be willing to go along. But that ethic has to be nurtured with reminders, rewards and praise. Pure accident may cause an otherwise valuable customer to miss a payment. The policy should provide some latitude for waiver of these late charges as an accommodation. Otherwise a customer who has had a perfect payment record for five years and happens to be one day late with payment, may very well be angered.

*Learn more about credit policies and the Payment Gap with Bob Bernstein’s new book, Get P.A.I.D.TM A Guide to Getting Paid Faster (and What to Do if You Don’t!) at www.getpaidsystem.com

 

 

Share on:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
Bernstein Burkley

Copyright © 2025 Bernstein-Burkley

Links
  • Disclaimer
  • Knowledge Base
  • Privacy Center
  • Site Map

Bernstein-Burkley, P.C.

Phone: 412.456.8100

Fax: 412.456.8135

Email: info@bernsteinlaw.com

Connect

We use cookies to give you the best online experience. By agreeing you accept the use of cookies in accordance with our cookie policy.

I accept My Preferences
Close Popup