How to Respond to a Non-Payment Notice (Dispute or Pay)

That queasy feeling you get in the stomach? The one that makes you open your mailbox and find an office-looking envelope. Maybe it concerns your business. Maybe it has something to do with me. Both ways, you lose a heart beat.

A non-payment notice is not just a piece of paper. It is a wake-up call that your payment process miscarried.

What Exactly Is a Notice of Non-Payment?

It is basically a written version of a polite message to say that, you are in debt. With law teeth, however.

This document appears when the person has not paid the bill before the date when they were supposed to pay their bill. May be leased May be a service contract It may be that invoice you had meant to attend to but forgot to do so.

The notice is two-fold serving First, it reminds you about the amount that is not paid. Second, it initiates a time clock against possible collection claims.

Why Do These Notices Matter So Much?

Here’s what makes business owners sleepless. When you get this notice, then pretending that it was not there will not help you to eliminate it. In reality it tends to make situations worse.

In most notices deadlines will be indicated Overlooking those deadlines and you might end up paying more in additional fees, interests or you might get sued. There are some contracts where the creditor is permitted to terminate services at once.

Your credit score will also suffer setbacks. The unpaid bills are likely to be reported against the credit agents after 30-90 days.

The Difference Between Notices and Agreements

What is a non-payment agreement?

The non-payment agreement as opposed to the notice is not an agreement. Such an agreement is reached when both sides would like to avoid a court case.

It can be viewed as an official payment plan. You accept to pay the debt by installments. The lender will not take action to collect the debts provided you continue on the plan.

Such contracts are beneficial to both parties. The good thing is that they allow you breathing room to cough up the money. They have the assurance that they will be paid.

What is a notice of cancellation due to non-payment?

This notice is issued later in the process. The creditor is terminating your work or agreement with them as bills are not being paid.

Utility companies send these prior to the power being cut off Before eviction proceedings start landlords use them Subscriptions and membership is cancelled by service providers.

The difference between unfixed and fixed? Such a notice is an indication that something is about to take place. Your telephone service is interrupted Your net goes down Your gym membership expires

Common Mistakes That Make Things Worse

Concealing the issue does not help. There are methods on how creditors can find you, and evading them would signal quicker legal procedure.

The lack of agreement can allow partial payments to backfire against the party that makes them without contractual acceptance of that part. Some creditors will not accept partial payments, and send the money back. Other accept it yet they seek the complete balance

Promising things that you can not/will not do harms your credibility. Be practical as to what you can actually afford and when to spend it.

The Bottom Line

Notices of non-payment are frightening since they signify a lack of control over your finances. There are also chances to get that control back.

The majority of the creditors prefer to reach amicable solutions to claims. It costs and takes them a lot of time as well. Negotiations and truthfulness tend to create solutions to problems.

What is the worst thing to do, though? Nothing! That nausea in your stomach? It gets even worse when you pretend that nothing is wrong.

Beat the clock early. Keep in touch. Abide by your words, the majority of the payment disputes are resolvable without ruining your credit or causing any havoc to your mental state.