Updated 26 Sept 2026 6 min read
Commercial debt recovery concerns money owed by one business to another under a trading relationship: goods supplied, services rendered or project work completed. It differs from consumer collection in its documentation, its negotiation dynamics and the remedies available. This article explains how a B2B claim is assessed before recovery begins.
What makes a claim commercial
A commercial claim arises from a transaction between businesses or organisations. The creditor typically holds a contract or purchase order, issued invoices and evidence that it performed its side of the bargain. Because both parties are businesses, the relationship, the paper trail and the debtor's reputation with its own suppliers all shape how the claim is resolved.
How a claim is assessed
Before recovery begins, each claim is reviewed on its merits. The assessment looks at:
- Documentation: whether the contract, invoices and delivery records support the amount claimed.
- Dispute status: whether the debtor has raised a quality, delivery or pricing objection.
- Age: how long the debt has been outstanding and whether any limitation question arises.
- Debtor status: whether the debtor is trading, reachable and identifiable at its registered address.
- Existing proceedings: whether any court, arbitration or insolvency process is already under way.
Factors that improve recovery
Speed matters. The longer an invoice remains unpaid, the lower the prospect of full recovery. Creditors who act within the first few months, while the debtor is still trading and the facts are fresh, recover more often and more fully.
A written acknowledgment of the debt, a record of part payments and correspondence in which the debtor does not dispute the amount all strengthen the creditor's position considerably.
The role of advocates
Commercial recovery combines administrative work with legal steps. Eastbridge Recoveries manages intake, documentation, tracking, reporting and the money ledger. Demand letters that state legal consequences, and any court or arbitration proceedings, are handled by partner advocates under a separate engagement with the creditor.
Frequently asked questions
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This article is general information for commercial creditors and is not legal advice on any particular matter. Submitting a claim does not create an advocate-client relationship.