In March 2022, a global exporter turned to Cedar Financial to recover a $333,553 unpaid invoice from a long-standing trading partner in India. The stakes were high, requiring a delicate balance between securing payment and maintaining the integrity of a business relationship that still held future potential.
Before we get into the details, it’s worth understanding the context behind this challenge.
The client had worked with the Indian company for years. But payment delays had mounted, and communication had slowed to a crawl. Despite the tension, the client hoped for a solution that wouldn’t end in legal threats or lost business. They needed a partner who understood both global collections and the nuances of preserving cross-border commercial ties.
The Industry Backdrop:
International B2B transactions in emerging markets like India often involve extended credit terms, fluctuating liquidity, and intricate cross-border regulatory considerations.
In sectors like manufacturing and export-import trade specifically, it’s not uncommon for receivables to stall due to operational bottlenecks or foreign exchange limitations.
Now, the challenge wasn’t just getting paid – it was to do so without closing the door.
Setting the Tone Early: Contact Within the First Week
Cedar acted promptly in this case, and within the first week of placement, our international recovery team had established direct contact with the account holder.
Once the contact was established with the intended party, the first priority was to assess the willingness and ability to pay. Initial conversations revealed that the payer was willing to resolve the matter – but also exposed the reality of financial hardship on the payer’s end.
Rather than applying immediate pressure, Cedar made a strategic choice: to lead with dialogue.
In May 2022, we organized a conference call between the payer, the client, and a Cedar mediator. The tone was professional and solution-oriented, giving the payer space to explain their position while gently reinforcing the seriousness of the debt.
It was a successful attempt at resetting the tone of the relationship and helped open the path to resolution.
The Standoff: When Cooperation Stalled
By June 2022, momentum had slowed again. Payments had not materialized. Excuses became more frequent. Tensions quietly rose.
At this point, Cedar shifted gears and with that came moving towards the step two of Cedar’s three-phased approach:
Step 1: Relationship Re-Engagement
The focus here is on rebuilding communication, assessing willingness to pay, ability to pay, and resetting the tone through respectful, people-first outreach.
✅ Step 2: Strategic Pressure
We use this to apply assertive yet culturally aware tactics with localized follow-ups, negotiation leverage, and escalation cues to drive urgency and commitment.
Step 3: Legal Readiness
If all amicable efforts go to vain, then this phase ensures legal preparedness and escalation if required, including jurisdictional assessment and legal coordination, while still prioritizing an amicable resolution wherever possible.
But, without escalating into formal legal proceedings, our team intensified communications, leveraging assertive follow-ups, localized strategies, and cultural diplomacy that balanced firmness with respect.
Cedar Financial’s goal was clear.
In July 2022, complex negotiations resumed behind the scenes.
To keep the payer engaged, move the conversation forward, and create the conditions for a payment plan the payer could realistically follow. And that too without compromising our client’s expectations.
The Breakthrough: From Talk to Action
In August 2022, the first payment of $26,000 arrived.
This was a big sigh of relief for our client as Cedar had just reignited its commitment without litigation, threats, or reputational damage. From here, things began to move forward.
In November 2022, the payer made a significant payment of $120,056.32. This showed not only liquidity but trust in the process Cedar had facilitated.
The final stretch came in the spring of 2023. Continued engagement and patient coordination led to three additional payments:
- $60,000 in March, 2023
- $15,000 in April, 2023
- $112,497.08 in May, 2023
By the end of May 2023, $333,553 had been successfully recovered!
The Result: Recovery Without Repercussions
This case not only delivered a full recovery but also safeguarded the relationship.
The client was able to close the matter with confidence and without resorting to legal action.
The payer, despite early reluctance, appreciated the respectful and professional tone Cedar maintained throughout.
In the months that followed, both companies resumed talks for potential future cooperation, closing this recovery case on a high note.
What This Case Proves
You can recover six-figure debts across borders without losing business partners – if you use the right approach.
Cedar’s team didn’t just focus on payments. We focused on people. We listened, mediated, negotiated, and adapted – working across time zones and cultures to create a path forward that both parties could walk.
Why Cedar Financial
With licensed recovery partners in 150+ countries and a people-first approach honed over three decades, Cedar Financial helps global businesses resolve complex debts while protecting the relationships they value most.
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