Day 1: Welcome to My World

If you think being a “credit controller” sounds like a calm, orderly job where we just tick boxes, send the odd reminder letter and make the occasional phone call… you’d be wrong.  Wildly wrong.

My job means being part detective, part negotiator, part agony aunt – and occasionally part-time psychic.  I have to chase money without losing customers, sniff out excuses before they hatch, and keep a straight face when someone tells me they “can’t pay until their dog’s trust fund matures.”

In this new series, I’ll share the real stories from behind the desk (names changed, of course, to protect the innocent… and the guilty). Hopefully you find it entertaining. You might find some accounts funny, some downright bizarre,  but hopefully you will also get some tips on how to get paid faster, avoid bad debt, and keep your sanity in the process.

Over the coming weeks, I’ll tell you about:

The serial late-payer with a new “emergency” every month.

The client who thought ignoring invoices was a negotiation tactic.

The honest mistake that nearly cost us thousands (and how we dodged it).

Think of it as a mix between Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Line of Duty, and a business survival guide — with a cup of tea and a biscuit on the side.

So buckle up, and step into the shoes of a credit controller.  It’s not always glamorous… but it’s never boring.