Debt Age Impact Calculator
Time is the enemy of debt recovery. This calculator shows you how the expected recovery amount falls as a debt ages — and the real dollar cost of every month you delay. Move the slider to see the impact.
Recovery rate by debt age
Based on published industry recovery rate averages for commercial B2B debt. Your result will depend on the specific debtor, documentation and other factors.
How to read the result
The calculator applies an industry-average recovery rate curve to your debt amount. The rates used are:
- 0–30 days: ~85% expected recovery
- 31–60 days: ~75%
- 61–90 days: ~65%
- 91–180 days: ~50%
- 6–12 months: ~35%
- 12+ months: ~20%
The "cost of waiting" figure compares what you'd have expected to recover if you had referred at the 30-day mark versus what you'd expect now. It's the dollar value of the recovery you've already forfeited by waiting.
What this means for your business
Most businesses refer debts too late. The most common trigger is receiving no response to a second or third reminder, which by that point is typically 60–90 days past due. By then, the expected recovery is already 20–35 percentage points lower than it would have been at 30 days.
The practical takeaway is simple: if a debtor hasn't responded to a reminder within 30 days, escalate. If they haven't responded to a formal letter of demand within 7 days of that, refer to Merion.
See also: Days overdue calculator — action guidance by invoice age; Recovery ROI calculator — the full cost-benefit of referring this specific debt.
Recovery rates are indicative industry averages for commercial B2B debt. Actual recovery depends on the debtor's circumstances, the quality of documentation, and other factors. This is not financial or legal advice.
The sooner you refer, the more you recover.
Commission-only — you pay Merion nothing unless we collect. No upfront cost, no lock-in.