Trade account recovery
Review credit terms, account statements and payments to assess overdue commercial balances.
Explore this serviceFor Retailers & Wholesalers
Move overdue trade accounts toward recovery.
Commercial recovery support for retailers and wholesalers managing unpaid orders, trade accounts and supply payment disputes.
Ontario Alberta British Columbia
Support for your industry
Make the order, delivery and account history clear.
An unpaid trade balance may involve several orders, deliveries, returns and credits. A clear reconciliation helps your team understand what is outstanding and address the reasons a customer has not paid.
We help retail and wholesale businesses assess those commercial accounts and consider proportionate recovery steps. The agreement, records of supply, payment history and available debtor information guide the discussion about demands, settlement or an eligible claim.
Unpaid order and supply accounts
Organize orders, delivery confirmations, returns and credits to establish the goods supplied and the balance sought.
Explore this serviceCommercial court claims
Assess the evidence and disputed issues before discussing an eligible Small Claims Court route for the account.
Explore this serviceThe province, agreement, parties and type of claim guide the available process. We review these with your team before recommending a course of action.
Schedule a consultation
Let’s discuss your trade accounts.
Tell us about the customer accounts, orders or supply balances your team needs to recover.
Helpful for our first conversation
- Credit application, account terms and any guarantees
- Purchase orders, invoices and delivery confirmations
- Reconciled ledger showing payments, returns and credits
- Customer correspondence and previous payment demands
A brief overview is enough to start. We’ll discuss how to provide the supporting records.
Thank you
Consultation request received.
Our team will review your request and follow up to arrange a consultation.
Illustrative scenarios
The kinds of matters
we can discuss.
These examples show the issues a first conversation may cover. For actual file histories and outcomes, see the published case studies below.
A trade customer stops making payments
Illustrative scenario: a wholesale customer has received several orders but no longer pays its account. The credit application, purchase orders, delivery records and reconciled ledger help the team assess further recovery.
Returns and credits complicate a balance
Illustrative scenario: a customer says returned goods should reduce an unpaid account. The order history, return authorizations and credit notes are reviewed to identify the remaining balance and unresolved issues.
The recovery knowledge centre
Information for your
next recovery decision.
Watch the issues explained
2:54Video · Michelle Haigh
Accounts Receivable Recovery for Medium and Large Businesses
Learn how structured accounts receivable recovery can help businesses protect revenue and improve cash flow.
Watch video
0:29Video · Michelle Haigh
How Legal Recovery Transforms Accounts Receivable
Explore how formal recovery processes, judgments, and settlements can help address unpaid invoices.
Watch videoRead the practical perspective
Article · Debt Recovery
When to Choose Collections vs. Legal Action: A Guide for Businesses and Lenders
Weigh recovery prospects, evidence, costs and timing when deciding how to pursue unpaid commercial invoices, business accounts and lending debts.
Read article
Article · Debt Recovery
Why Some Creditors Are Choosing Small Claims Over Superior Court
Compare small claims limits in Ontario, Alberta and BC, plus recovery prospects, legal costs and the consequences of reducing a commercial debt claim.
Read article
Article · Debt Recovery
Five Things Every Judgment Creditor Dreams of Hearing
A lighthearted look at the five things a debtor can say that make collecting on a judgment quick and painless — and how to be ready to act when a debtor's finances improve.
Read articleFrom published files
Relevant recovery
experience.
Explore the facts, decisions and outcomes of these published files, with the connection to your industry explained for each.
A food distributor obtained judgment on an unpaid restaurant trade account, followed by payment of the outstanding balance.
Case Study · Debt Recovery
Payment After Default Judgment in an Alberta Restaurant Supply Debt
A food distributor’s unpaid restaurant account led to default judgment and a writ, followed by a cheque payment resolving the outstanding balance.
AlbertaTrade CreditDefault JudgmentCommercial Collections
Read case study Related commercial-account assessment: a small business reviewed competing claims before deciding to stop collection.
Case Study · Debt Recovery
Corporate Debt Collection: When Due Diligence Changes the Plan
A litigation search revealed competing claims against a corporate debtor, helping a business assess whether further collection steps were worthwhile.
Small ClaimsCorporate CollectionsCollectabilityPre-Litigation Review
Read case study Questions from your industry
Before you refer
a matter.
Start with the questions that matter to your team, then speak with us about your specific circumstances.
Discuss Your Trade AccountsCan you help with unpaid commercial trade accounts?
Yes. Tell us about the customer account, goods supplied, province and amount outstanding. The accepted credit terms, invoices and delivery records help us assess the account and the available recovery approach.
Should we reconcile returns and credits before referral?
Provide the most current reconciliation available and identify anything still disputed. Returns, credit notes, part payments and adjustments affect the balance and should be explained alongside the invoices.
Can a personal guarantee be included in the review?
Yes. Include the guarantee and related account documents with the credit terms. The wording and supporting records need to be reviewed before a claim involving a guarantor is considered.
Can you review both individual accounts and recurring referrals?
We can discuss either a single unpaid account or an ongoing referral process. Typical balances, available records, provinces and reporting requirements help define a practical scope and budget for your business.
More procedural guidance
Ontario, Alberta and British ColumbiaWhat is and how Can a business do a Business Search?OntarioIs it worth it to sue in Small Claims Court?OntarioDoes a business need to have a record of any payments, returned cheques, etc. and/or a clear recollection of what happened and when?Put the next step in perspective
Let’s discuss your trade accounts.
Tell us about the customer accounts, orders or supply balances your team needs to recover.