Guidance on commercial debt recovery, cash-flow management and updates from the Merion team.
Merion's 2026 review of commercial debt patterns across Australian industries — which sectors are deteriorating, what the data shows about recovery rates, and what creditors should watch heading into 2027.
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Fraudulent invoices — from external fraud and from insider manipulation — cost Australian businesses millions each year. A structured verification process is the primary defence.
Read article When a single employee manages all your credit relationships, their departure can leave you without documentation, context, or leverage on outstanding accounts. Here is how to mitigate that risk.
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When a debtor's business has been affected by a natural disaster, creditors face a genuine tension between protecting their own cash flow and acting responsibly. Here is how to navigate it.
Read article AR automation tools promise to reduce debtor days and free up staff time. They deliver on that promise in some contexts and fall short in others. Here is an honest assessment.
Read article Australian business credit reporting is less understood than consumer credit. Here is how business credit scores are calculated, who uses them, and what they mean for trade creditors.
Read article For significant debts where litigation would be expensive and the outcome uncertain, mediation offers a structured alternative. Here is when it works and how to use it effectively.
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A debtor whose company cannot pay sometimes incorporates a new entity and continues trading. This is not always phoenix activity, but it is always a problem for unpaid creditors. Here is what you can do.
Read article Payment promises are common. Most are genuine; some are not. Here is how to distinguish between the two, how long to extend a promise, and when the promise has expired.
Read article Most Australian businesses now accept electronically signed credit applications. But are those signatures legally binding? The answer depends on which law applies and how the signature was captured.
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Victoria's Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2002 gives subcontractors a fast payment pathway. Most still don't use it. Here is how it works.
Read article Professional service firms face a specific tension in fee recovery: aggressive pursuit risks the client relationship. Here is how accounting and bookkeeping practices can recover arrears without burning bridges.
Read article Dental practices carry persistent outstanding patient accounts. Recovering them requires a different approach to trade debt — here is how to do it without alienating patients or breaching privacy obligations.
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When a commercial tenant defaults on rent, landlords have several options — but the right choice depends on the lease, the tenant's situation, and the landlord's goals. Here is a structured overview.
Read article Variation disputes are among the most common causes of non-payment in construction. Proper documentation before and during the work is the foundation of any recovery.
Read article A payment plan that the debtor agrees to but cannot keep is worse than no plan at all. Here is how to structure a plan that is both achievable and protective of the creditor's position.
Read article The end of the financial year is the natural moment to review your debtors ledger, write off unrecoverable amounts, and refer the remainder to recovery. Here is a practical process.
Read article Once a limitation period expires, a debt is statute barred — but it does not disappear. Here is what creditors can still do, and what they must disclose when attempting to recover it.
Read article Many Australian businesses operate through trusts. Recovering a debt from a trust raises specific legal questions about trustee liability and the right entity to pursue.
Read article Director penalty notices are one of the ATO's most powerful collection tools. Directors of companies with unpaid PAYG and SGC obligations can be pursued personally — and many don't know it.
Read article The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles set limits on what personal information a creditor can share with a recovery agent or credit bureau. Here is what you need to know.
Read article Unpaid body corporate or owners corporation levies create cash flow problems for strata schemes. Here is the legal framework for recovery and the practical steps that work.
Read article When a business partnership dissolves and owes you money, recovering the debt is more complex than pursuing a company. Here is who you can pursue and how.
Read article For debts under $20,000, the choice between going to a tribunal and using a debt collector is not obvious. Here is an honest comparison of cost, time, and likely outcome.
Read article The start of a new calendar year is a natural reset point for your debtors ledger. Here is why the timing matters and what a thorough January review should cover.
Read article SaaS and subscription businesses face a specific debt recovery challenge: small recurring amounts that accumulate, service access as the primary leverage, and customers in any jurisdiction.
Read article Medical practice accounts have specific characteristics that affect recovery: patient privacy, bulk billing complexity, private health insurer obligations, and the ethical dimension of pursuing patients for healthcare costs.
Read article When a debtor cannot be located at their last known address, skip tracing techniques are used to find them. In Australia, the methods available are more constrained than in some other jurisdictions.
Read article The terms of trade are the foundation of every recovery. These seven drafting mistakes — all seen regularly in practice — create avoidable problems when a debt is disputed.
Read article Debt purchase — selling portfolios of bad debt to third-party buyers — is an established market in Australia. Here is how it works, who the buyers are, and what prices look like.
Read article A customer who disputes the quantity of goods or hours delivered can delay payment indefinitely if the dispute is not managed well. Here is the process that works.
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Unpaid royalties are a recurring problem for franchisors. Recovery is complicated by the ongoing relationship, the franchise agreement, and the risk of triggering a broader dispute.
Read article Outsourcing accounts receivable is not just for large businesses — it is increasingly viable for mid-sized businesses with persistent collection challenges. Here is how to make the decision.
Read article BNPL products are expanding into B2B trade finance. For suppliers, they create new counterparty and regulatory considerations. Here is what to know before signing up.
Read article Retail lease arrears remain elevated as consumer spending softness flows through to tenant capacity. Here is what commercial landlords are dealing with and what recovery options apply.
Read article Business email compromise attacks that redirect invoice payments are increasing. When a business pays a fraudulent invoice, the legal position on liability and recovery is complex.
Read article Head contractor insolvency is devastating for subcontractors. The options available depend on timing, the contract, and whether security of payment claims have been made.
Read article For a business with $200,000 in outstanding debtors, the choice between factoring and debt recovery has a real dollar impact. Here is an honest comparison.
Read article Being a director of a company that cannot pay its debts does not automatically make you personally liable. But it can. Here is when personal liability arises for co-directors.
Read article Startups often prioritise growth over collection, skimp on documentation, and hesitate to pursue the customers they worked hard to win. The result is predictable. Here is how to avoid it.
Read article Agricultural trade credit has a unique risk profile driven by seasonal income patterns, weather exposure, and commodity price volatility. Here is how suppliers manage it.
Read article Transport and logistics operators extend significant credit to customers while carrying thin margins and high fixed costs. The result is a sector with elevated receivables risk and specific recovery challenges.
Read article Aged care providers face a growing fee arrears challenge — complex funding structures, family disputes over resident finances, and the ethical difficulty of pursuing elderly residents all compound the problem.
Read article Illegal phoenix activity — where a company's assets are transferred to a new entity to defeat creditors — is increasing in Australia. Here is how to recognise the signs and what to do.
Read article A personal guarantee is only as good as the enforcement process. Here is what enforcing a guarantee actually looks like — demand, response, proceedings, and asset recovery.
Read article Most credit applications contain standard clauses — but five specific provisions determine whether a creditor can recover effectively when a customer doesn't pay. Here is what to look for.
Read article Most Australian businesses are entitled to charge interest on overdue invoices. Almost none actually do. Here is how to claim it, what you need in your terms, and whether it is worth the effort.
Read article Invoice disputes are a normal part of commercial life. A structured approach to resolving them — without litigation — produces better outcomes than either ignoring the dispute or immediately escalating.
Read article A company that has been deregistered by ASIC still owes its debts — but the recovery pathway is indirect. Here is what options exist and what they cost.
Read article Trade credit looks free but it isn't. Here is how to calculate the real cost of extended supplier payment terms and when switching to bank finance makes economic sense.
Read article The holiday period concentrates cash flow pressure on businesses and creates specific patterns of late payment and default. Here is what to watch for and how to protect your receivables.
Read article A recessionary environment changes the debt recovery landscape — more debtors under stress, lower recovery rates on old debt, and more insolvencies. Here is how to adjust your approach.
Read article NDIS providers regularly experience delays between service delivery and payment. Here is how to manage cash flow in the gap and what options are available when delays become severe.
Read article Construction retentions — withheld from progress payments — are a persistent cash flow issue for subcontractors. Here is the process for claiming them at practical completion and what to do if the head contractor disputes the release.
Read article Recovery rates decline dramatically as debts age. The numbers behind this decline are important for any business deciding when to refer an overdue account for external recovery.
Read article Australian businesses pay each other late — later than their peers in comparable economies. The causes are structural, but individual creditors are not powerless. Here is what works.
Read article Sole traders have fewer tools for debt recovery than incorporated businesses, but the same legal rights apply. Here is what works for sole traders dealing with non-paying clients.
Read article Credit bureau listing and collection agency referral are different tools with different strengths. Here is how to choose between them — and when both make sense.
Read article The latest data on payment times across Australian industries shows clear patterns of which sectors are paying fastest and which are most likely to leave suppliers waiting.
Read article Recent amendments to security of payment legislation across Australian states have strengthened subcontractor protections. Here is what changed and how to use the updated provisions.
Read article DSO, collection rate, bad debt ratio, ageing bucket percentages — what to measure, what the numbers mean, and how to benchmark your AR team against industry practice.
Read article Not every invoice is a tax invoice. The distinction affects GST obligations, what a recipient can claim, and how your documentation holds up in a recovery.
Read article Legislation changes, PPSR amendments come into force, and new enforcement options emerge. Terms of trade written in 2019 may be missing clauses that matter in 2026.
Read article Tourism operators, agricultural suppliers and construction firms all face seasonal revenue. The receivables strategies that help you survive the lean months without writing off the busy ones.
Read article When a company in voluntary administration proposes a DOCA, creditors vote on whether to accept it. What DOCAs offer, what they cost, and how to decide whether to vote yes.
Read article Not every overdue invoice is a clean debt. When a customer raises a dispute, you need to determine quickly whether it is genuine or a tactic. The distinction determines your next move.
Read article A PMSI gives a supplier priority over other secured creditors when a buyer becomes insolvent. Here is how it works — in plain terms, with a worked example.
Read article Concentration risk — where one customer represents a large share of revenue — is one of the most dangerous credit exposures a business can carry. Here is how to manage it.
Read article Obtaining a judgment is not the end of the recovery process — it is the beginning of enforcement. What judgment options are available and how each works in practice.
Read article Recovering outstanding accommodation and care fees after a resident departs — or dies — involves specific rules around RAD refund timing, estate claims and next-of-kin liability.
Read article Principal debtor liability and guarantor recourse operate under different legal rules. Understanding the distinction determines who you can pursue, in what order, and on what basis.
Read article Telling a customer their account is being referred to a recovery agency is a conversation many businesses avoid. Done right, it can still resolve the debt — and preserve the relationship.
Read article Fee disputes, guarantee periods and replacement clause arguments make recruiting agency debt recovery uniquely complex. What the law says and how to protect your position.
Read article When is a digital payment actually received? What happens when a BPAY payment goes missing? The rules around electronic payment timing and disputes — and why they matter for creditors.
Read article If you have remitted GST on an invoice that turns out to be uncollectable, you can claim it back — but the timing rules and conditions are specific. Here is how it works.
Read article Cost-plus contracts, invoice approval chains that run through multiple tiers, and site crew decisions that head office refuses to honour — payment risk in mining services is structural.
Read article Most bad debts are preventable. The credit practices that create them are consistent, identifiable, and fixable before the next customer account is opened.
Read article Retail and commercial leases operate under different legislative frameworks across Australian states. The rules on formal notices, tribunal jurisdiction and the retail vs non-retail distinction matter before you pursue a defaulting tenant.
Read article A statutory demand is the first step in winding up a company for non-payment. The 21-day window, the winding-up petition, and what creditors need to know before using this power.
Read article Unpaid levies in a strata or community title scheme create real cash flow problems for the owners corporation. The recovery options — from internal processes to VCAT and QCAT — and what each costs.
Read article When a ledger has aged past the point of easy recovery, two paths emerge. Understanding the trade-offs between selling a debt and recovering it helps you make a commercial decision, not a default one.
Read article A structured payment plan is often the fastest route to full recovery when a debtor cannot pay in one hit. Why a plan beats a stalemate — and what makes one work.
Read article Digital credit applications with e-signatures are now the standard for well-run trade creditors. Why they outperform paper — and what to look for when adopting them.
Read article The clauses in your terms of trade determine what you can claim, how fast you can act, and how hard a debtor can push back. Here is what they need to say.
Read article When a debtor enters voluntary administration, your recovery options change fast. What to do, when to do it, and what to realistically expect from the process.
Read article Proactive receivables management and reactive debt recovery solve different problems. Understanding the distinction helps you choose the right intervention at the right time.
Read article The joint ACCC and ASIC guideline sets the conduct standards for debt collection in Australia. A plain-English explainer on what collectors can and cannot do — and why it matters to you as a creditor.
Read article Most bad debts are predictable at the point of credit application. A practical guide to the checks that separate reliable customers from risk — before you supply.
Read article Every commercial debt in Australia has a limitation period — a window in which legal proceedings can be started. Once it closes, your options narrow significantly. Here is what you need to know.
Read article A business can be profitable on paper and insolvent in practice. The gap between issuing an invoice and receiving payment is where growing businesses get into trouble.
Read article The Personal Property Securities Register is one of the most underused tools available to Australian trade creditors. A plain-English guide to what it is, why it matters, and how to register.
Read article When a debtor company has no assets, the question becomes whether the director can be personally liable. The answer depends on guarantees, insolvent trading and phoenix activity.
Read article Late payment is not evenly distributed across the economy. These five sectors consistently outpace others for slow payment — and understanding why helps creditors protect themselves.
Read article A letter of demand resolves many overdue accounts on its own. But when it is ignored, the path forward is escalation — and the options available depend on how the account is structured.
Read article The payment terms you set shape your cash flow, your customer relationships and your recovery options. Understanding the trade-offs helps you choose deliberately rather than by default.
Read article A $10,000 bad debt is not a $10,000 loss. When you account for the tax you paid on the revenue, the time spent chasing it, and the margin required to replace it, the real cost is significantly higher.
Read article ASIC Connect is free, publicly available, and contains more useful information about a debtor company than most creditors realise. Here is what to look for and what the red flags mean.
Read article Subcontractors at the bottom of a construction payment chain wait the longest and recover the least. Security of Payment legislation exists to change that — if you know how to use it.
Read article A plain-English walk through how commercial debt recovery actually works — from the first reminder to resolution — and where Merion fits in.
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If a letter from Merion has landed on your desk, it is not a cause for alarm. Here is a clear explanation of what it is and the options open to you.
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Recovery is most effective when there is less to recover. Five changes to billing and terms that measurably cut the age of your receivables.
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In-house follow-up has a natural limit. Here are the signals that an account has reached the point where a specialist will do better.
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A letter of demand is often the single step that resolves an overdue account. What separates one that works from one that is ignored?
Read article The best recovery strategy is needing less recovery. A practical look at the credit-control habits that keep receivables healthy.
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Debt does not stay recoverable forever. A general overview of why the age of an account matters — and why acting sooner is better.
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Many overdue accounts grow beyond the original invoice. A clear look at when interest and recovery costs can be added — and when they cannot.
Read article Debt collection in Australia sits inside a framework of regulators and ombudsman schemes. A plain guide to who does what.
Read article The ageing report is the single most useful document for managing what you are owed. Here is how to read one and act on it.
Read article A personal guarantee can change what is recoverable when a business cannot pay. A general overview of how they work.
Read article Most recovery problems are really documentation problems. Why a clear set of terms of trade is the best protection a business has.
Read article The debtor in an overdue account is often still your customer. Why how a debt is collected matters as much as whether it is.
Read article An overdue invoice costs more than the sum on the page. A look at the hidden costs of slow payment — and how to limit them.
Read article A letter of demand is often the fastest route to payment on an overdue account. What makes one effective — and what gets in the way.
Read article A dispute does not end a recovery. It changes how it proceeds. What to expect — and how a well-documented account makes the difference.
Read article A payment plan is often the fastest route to full recovery on an account where the debtor cannot pay in one go. When they work, and what to watch for.
Read article One of the most common questions about debt recovery is how long it takes. The honest answer — and what determines it.
Read article When a commercial debtor enters administration or liquidation, your options change. What to know — and how to protect your position.
Read article A credit application is the foundation of a recoverable debt. What a strong one includes — and the gaps that create problems later.
Read article The joint ACCC and ASIC debt collection guideline sets the conduct standards for commercial debt recovery in Australia. What creditors should know.
Read article Every debt has a legal clock. What the limitation period rules mean for commercial creditors in Queensland, Victoria, NSW and the ACT.
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