A Credit Control Checklist to Reduce Invoice Ageing

1. Onboarding and terms

Receivables problems are cheapest to prevent before the first invoice.

• Confirm the customer’s exact legal name and registration.
• Agree payment terms in writing, including late-payment consequences.
• Set a credit limit and a named approver for exceptions.
• Record the customer’s accounts payable contact, not just the buyer.

2. Invoicing discipline

An invoice that is late, inaccurate or unsupported gives the customer a reason to delay.

• Invoice on delivery or milestone, not at month end.
• Attach the delivery note, timesheet or acceptance.
• State the due date, bank details and reference clearly.
• Confirm receipt of the invoice with accounts payable.

3. A fixed reminder schedule

Reminders work when they are predictable. A typical sequence: a courtesy note before the due date, a reminder at 7 days past due, a call at 21 days, and a formal statement at 45 days.

4. Weekly review and defined triggers

Review the ageing report every week and decide actions per account. Define triggers for escalation in advance — for example, 60 days past due with no payment date agreed — so that decisions are consistent and not personal.