Try "Shock & Awe"

Leverage timing to put pressure on slow payers!
Timing is critical when chasing overdue payments. By using time and a basic psychological principle to your advantage, you can create a sense of urgency and discomfort for the debtor.

Here’s how:
Send your reminder or "heavy" collection notice so it reaches the debtor late on a Friday afternoon.

The timing trick:

• If regular mail takes two days, post your letter on Wednesday.

• If using Express Post, send it on Thursday for next-day delivery.

• If emailing, send the message late Friday afternoon, just before your office closes.

• The same applies to text messages—send them as you’re wrapping up for the week.

Why late Friday?
Because it leaves the debtor unable to take immediate action for the entire weekend. Most people will worry about the notice and mull it over, creating pressure. By Monday lunchtime, you'll likely have a clear picture of their intentions or their financial ability to pay.

Interpreting the response:

• If they respond by lunchtime Monday: success, they’ve acknowledged the message!

• If they don’t: it’s either indifference or they didn’t receive it.

For more serious debts:
If the situation calls for a Lawyer’s Letter of Demand, instruct the lawyer to:

1. Email the letter late on Friday afternoon as a PDF attachment.

2. Post the letter the same day.

This way, the debtor receives the email immediately (too late to act over the weekend) and the mailed letter arrives on Monday, reinforcing the urgency.

Is it harsh?
Perhaps. But it's also effective.