LESSON 37: HOW TO WRITE AN EARLY-STAGE COLLECTION LETTER? --怎样写第一封催款信？

CONTENTS

I. USEFUL EXPRESSIONS 常用语

II. SAMPLE 范文

III. TIPS 掌握写作要领

IV. EXERCISE: WORDS, PHRASES AND SENTENCE PATTERNS 精通常用词组和句型

V. UPGRADING YOUR ENGLISH 英语升级

VI. GOODIES & GIFTS 实用小礼物

I. USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
常用语

1. How to start your letter?

1. How to start your letter?

I am writing to remind you that you have not settled our invoice #________ for $________.

It has been two months now since we delivered your garments, and we have yet to receive your payment for $1,890.50.

We would like to remind you that payment of your account at Metro Mart is past due.

May we call your attention to your payment for the disks we delivered to you two months ago?

We would like to direct your attention to the following freight bills which are unpaid beyond the credit period permitted by our agreement.

2. How to add more details?

A copy of our bill for $_____ is enclosed along with an envelope for your convenience.

We have enclosed a copy of the item listed below that remains open on your account: . . .

This amount should have been paid by ________[date], so you can see it is quite old.

3. How to specify your request?

Please let us know when you will pay or at least start by making partial payments.

Please use the enclosed envelope to send in your check for $_______.

If your check is in the mail, we say "Thank you." If not, won't you please give this your prompt attention.

If you are not able to pay the balance in full at this time, please let us know and we will be glad to arrange an installment plan with you.

It is to your advantage as well as ours to keep your credit accounts current.

4. How to end your letter?

We would appreciate prompt payment.

We greatly appreciate your prompt payment of this sum.

Please let me know if I can be of assistance.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

If you have already sent your check, we thank you for doing so.

If you have already sent your payment, please disregard this notice and accept our thanks.



II. SAMPLE
范文

Dear ___________:

We have not received your payment for $_________ which is over due for _______ days. Please check your records.

If you have already sent your payment, please disregard this notice and accept our thanks for your payment.

Sincerely yours,



_________[name]
_________[title]



III. TIPS
掌握写作要领

1. Be courteous in your first collection letter.
2. Be persuasive rather than threatening.
3. Include the necessary details:

  1. The amount owed by the customer
  2. The length of time the bill has been overdue
  3. What specific action the customer should take
4. Encourage prompt response and contact.


IV. EXERCISE: WORDS, PHRASES AND SENTENCE PATTERNS
精通常用词组和句型

1. Click on the word or phrase that fits the sentence:

  1. We would appreciate hearing from you so we can work _____ a mutually agreeable payment schedule.
    (A) in
    (B) at
    (C) over
    (D) out

  2. We sincerely hope you have no objection _____ a reminder that there is a balance due of $860.50 on your monthly account.
    (A) of
    (B) for
    (C) to
    (D) on

  3. It is to your advantage _____ ours to keep your credit accounts current.
    (A) and as well as
    (B) as well
    (C) and as well
    (D) as well as

  4. May we call your attention to your loan payment that is already 30 days _____ due?
    (A) after
    (B) past
    (C) beyond
    (D) behind

  5. Attached is a list of freight bills, which our records indicate are unpaid _____ the credit period permitted by our agreement.
    (A) beyond
    (B) past
    (C) after
    (D) further than

  6. If you are not able to pay the balance _____ full at this time, please let us know and we will be glad to arrange an installment plan with you.
    (A) to
    (B) for
    (C) in
    (D) as

  7. A routine review of your account _____ the following past due balance: . . .
    (A) exposes
    (B) declares
    (C) implies
    (D) reveals

  8. We are writing concerning the outstanding account for $1350.00 which should have been _____ four weeks ago.
    (A) cleaned
    (B) cleared
    (C) cleared up
    (D) cleaned up

  9. As you requested, we have enclosed a copy of the items listed below that _____ open on your account.
    (A) continue
    (B) retain
    (C) remain
    (D) keep on

  10. If your check is not already on the way, your assistance in _____ payment would be truly appreciated.
    (A) expediting
    (B) executing
    (C) expressing
    (D) extracting




V. UPGRADING YOUR ENGLISH
英语升级


Here is an exercise helping you practice with authentic "online" English:

  1. Tanika Inc. will unveil a new computer and a host of software aimed at the fast-growing telecommunications market. In this sentence, "unveil" means:
    (A) discover
    (B) make known
    (C) expose
    (D) declare

  2. The company is planning to _____ its central offices with new equipment by the end of the year.
    (A) update
    (B) renovate
    (C) upgrade
    (D) renew

  3. The committee is set to vote today _____ a disputed pact between the company and its competitors.
    (A) for
    (B) on
    (C) in
    (D) at

  4. To _____ digital piracy, leaders of the global music market are seeking a standard for downloading music from the Internet.
    (A) reject
    (B) block off
    (C) wall off
    (D) ward off

  5. Computer security experts are warning clients about a new software virus that has spread through e-mail attachments and caused several networks to _____.
    (A) crash
    (B) crack
    (C) cram
    (D) crank

  6. Lanton Inc. will take the wraps off its Armada-700 server that can be utilized to build fail-safe phone systems. "Take the wraps off" means:
    (A) finish the project
    (B) promote
    (C) start selling
    (D) unveil

  7. U-Tech Inc., a supplier of low-cost personal computers, today unveiled new models starting at $559, undercutting major PC makers by about 30 percent. The verb "undercut" means:
    (A) sell at a cheaper price than others
    (B) act quickly to increase one's market share
    (C) surpass others in sales
    (D) make more profits than others

  8. New computer and satellite technology has given meteorologists the ability to zoom _____ on weather patterns that could nearly double the length of accurate weather forecasts.
    (A) out
    (B) in
    (C) up
    (D) down

  9. Against the backdrop of a frenzy for Internet stocks, the 1999 initial public offering market is expected to get off to a sizzling start. The word "backdrop" means:
    (A) dangerous trend
    (B) tendency unfavorable to further development
    (C) background or situation
    (D) backward movement

  10. Researchers are looking at the ______ of Net stocks, especially the sudden and unpredictable changes of day trading.
    (A) vitality
    (B) violence
    (C) velocity
    (D) volatility




VI. SOMETHING FOR NOTHING
GOODIES & GIFTS （实惠小礼物）

1. New Words, New Meanings

incubator: n. an organization that offers training and help to start-up business, keeping it in a favorable condition until it is ready to operate on its own.
(企业孵化器)

incubate: v. to keep ... in a favorable condition to promote its development

Example:
The millionaire retiree is giving back some of what she earned to set up an incubator in this city to help female tech entrepreneurs.

2. A Ready-Made Letter For You

Dear __________:

I am writing to remind you that your bill for $______ is now ____ days past due.

We would appreciate your prompt payment of this sum. If you have any problem, please call me at (000) 000-0000.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely yours,



____________[name]
____________[title]