Sometimes it's best to surprise your debtor. Other times, you might want to call in advance. If you are unable to contact your debtor ahead of time, you might consider leaving a message specifying the date and time you will visit. Make sure you bring all the proper documentation with you so you can prove exactly how much is owed. We asked the executive director of a local charity that raises a lot of money to rate the different ways he solicits funds.
Telephone solicitation is second.
Mail campaigns are third. This professional fund-raiser could just as easily have been talking about collecting past due accounts. We want to leave you here with the story of an unconventional technique used by a client of ours. He owns a photographic and printing company, and he had a customer who was several months overdue. After writing and getting no response, he called, but could not get the customer to come to the phone or return his calls.