Table:
|  |  | Year Ended December 31, |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| (In thousands) | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Balance at beginning of year | $4,421 | $6,667 | $2,813 |
| Provision charged to expense | 9,347 | 8,793 | 7,072 |
| Write-offs, less recoveries | (9,219) | (11,039) | (6,516) |
| Acquired allowance for doubtful accounts | — | — | 3,298 |
| Balance at end of year | $4,549 | $4,421 | $6,667 |
Paragraphs:
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Accounts receivable consists primarily of amounts due to the Company from normal business activities. We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses that result from the inability of our customers to make required payments.
The allowance for doubtful accounts is maintained based on customer payment levels, historical experience and management’s views on trends in the overall receivable agings. In addition, for larger accounts, we perform analyses of risks on a customer-specific basis. We perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers’ financial condition and management believes that an adequate allowance for doubtful accounts has been provided.
Uncollectible accounts are removed from accounts receivable and are charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts when internal collection efforts have been unsuccessful. The following table summarizes the activity in allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017:
Question:
What was the increase / (decrease) in the balance at beginning of year from 2018 to 2019?
Answer: 4421 - 6667 = -2246