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# STA International

## Sitemaps
[XML Sitemap](https://stainternational.com/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

## Posts
- [In-House vs Outsourced Debt Recovery](https://stainternational.com/news/in-house-vs-outsourced-debt-recovery/): What every Finance Director, Credit Manager, and Operations Lead needs to know before committing to a strategy – including the case for neither.The decision to manage debt recovery in-house or outsource it to a specialist agency is one of the more consequential operational choices a UK business can make, and one that is rarely examined with the importance it deserves.
- [Average unpaid invoices owed to SMEs up 10%](https://stainternational.com/news/sme-unpaid-invoices-late-payment/): New research from SME funder Bibby Financial Services (BFS) paints a concerning picture of the financial pressures facing UK businesses - and the numbers are moving in the wrong direction.
- [Introducing STA Pay](https://stainternational.com/news/introducing-sta-pay/): For over 15 years, we've had the privilege of sitting in rooms with higher education finance teams at our University Discussion Forums. Listening. Learning. Understanding the pressures they face day in, day out.
- [What to do if a Company Owes You Money (2026 UK Guide)](https://stainternational.com/news/what-to-do-if-a-company-owes-you-money/): const stepTitles = ;
- [STA International Secures ISO 27001 Certification, Strengthening Data Protection](https://stainternational.com/news/sta-international-achieves-iso-27001/): We’re delighted to announce that STA International is now ISO 27001 certified. This certification reflects our continued commitment to safeguarding our customers’ data with the highest standards of security and compliance.
- [5 signs it’s time to use a Debt Collection Agency](https://stainternational.com/news/5-signs-its-time-to-use-a-debt-collection-agency/): Running a business isn’t always smooth sailing - especially when it comes to keeping your cash flow positive. Unpaid invoices pile up fast, putting a strain on your finances and slowing down growth. Knowing when to bring in professional debt recovery services can make all the difference in protecting your business from long-term financial issues.
- [7 tips for avoiding late payments](https://stainternational.com/news/7-tips-for-avoiding-late-payments/): 1
- [New Fair Payment Code](https://stainternational.com/news/new-fair-payment-code/): The new Fair Payment Code has been launched to replace the Prompt Payment Code and encourage businesses across the UK to pay promptly. Healthy cash flow is critical for small business' survival and growth. Late and long payment times disrupt the cash flow cycle and can prevent a business from paying its bills. The new code will be more aspirational by supporting businesses that wish to improve payment practices.
- [10 Common Excuses for Late Payment (and how to deal with them)](https://stainternational.com/news/10-late-payment-excuses/): You will often read about the ‘late payment culture’ where many businesses only start to think about your invoice when it becomes due for payment. By definition, this culture means your invoice is overdue or late before even being considered for payment.
- [The Essential Cash Flow Guide for SMEs](https://stainternational.com/news/cash-flow-management-guide/): Poor cash flow management can be fatal for businesses whatever their size, but particularly when they are small and just starting out. It is vital to be able to see where incomes are likely to slow and outgoings increase because this means that these cash shortfalls can be planned for and solutions found. This will ensure that the business can keep its momentum, riding out the lean periods without succumbing to them.
- [How to tackle a disputed invoice](https://stainternational.com/news/how-to-tackle-a-disputed-invoice/): Getting paid is one of the biggest challenges a small business faces – when the smallest delay can turn a positive cash flow into a negative one, accounts departments have to chase up late invoices as soon as they become late. A disputed invoice, not revealed earlier, could well be the reason for delaying payment.
- [STA nominated for industry award](https://stainternational.com/news/sta-nominated-for-industry-award/): We're delighted to announce that our Learning & Development Manager Jacqueline McConnell has been nominated for the Merit Award (Working with Vulnerable Customers) at this year's Credit Services Association Awards.
- [STAs Jacqueline McConnell wins at National Contact Centre Awards](https://stainternational.com/news/stas-jacqueline-mcconnell-wins-at-national-contact-centre-awards/): Congratulations to our Training & Development Officer, Jacqueline McConnell, for winning the 2023 UK National Contact Centre Award for Significant Contributor in a Small Contact Centre.
- [STA International finalists at Contact Centre Awards](https://stainternational.com/news/sta-nominated-at-contact-centre-awards/): We’re delighted to announce that our call centre in Glasgow has been recognised with nominations for both Team Manager of the Year and the Significant Contributor award at the UK National Contact Centre Awards 2023.
- [STA International win Technology Team of The Year](https://stainternational.com/news/sta-international-win-technology-team-of-the-year/): We’re delighted to announce that our IT team has been named Technology Team of the Year for 2022 at the Credit & Collections Technology Awards.
- [STA Nominated at Credit & Collections Tech Awards 2022](https://stainternational.com/news/sta-nominated-at-the-credit-collections-technology-awards-2022/): We’re delighted to announce our nomination for Technology Team of the Year at the 2022 Credit & Collections Technology Awards.
- [Energy Costs & Supply Issues Threaten Business Growth](https://stainternational.com/news/increased-energy-costs-threaten-business-growth/): Rising energy costs, record levels of inflation and supply chain issues are three of the biggest threats facing more than half (58%) of businesses in the next six months, according to new research by accountancy and business advisory firm BDO.
- [Cost of Living Drives Rise in Late Payments for UK Firms](https://stainternational.com/news/quarter-of-uk-businesses-hit-by-more-late-payments/): New research by Barclays reveals that 26% of UK small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have seen the number of late payments they receive increase since the cost of living has gone up.
- [Trade Credit Debt Collection Soared in Q1 2022](https://stainternational.com/news/level-of-debt-placed-by-trade-credit-policyholders-soars/): With post-pandemic B2B trade increasing, sanctions on collecting debt removed, and creditors being less tolerant of late-paying debtors, what impact is this having on credit insurance policyholders placing debt with STA International?
- [Can directors be held liable for a limited company’s debts?](https://stainternational.com/news/can-directors-be-held-liable-for-a-limited-companys-debts/): Although you’d hope it would never come to pass, many limited companies end up becoming insolvent due to incurring amounts of debt that are greater than the sum of their assets. Can their directors be held personally liable for the situation, though?
- [How to check the credit worthiness of your customers](https://stainternational.com/news/how-to-check-the-credit-worthiness-of-your-customers/): Trading on credit terms is a long accepted business practice, but so is late payment and non-payment. To protect your cash flow you need to trade with customers who will pay you on time; waiting (sometimes in vain) to get paid impacts your own finances, and your overall business operations could suffer. When a cash flow gap develops and isn’t resolved, it can have a major financial impact on a small business, even leading to failure.
- [Companies owe money, but people pay bills](https://stainternational.com/news/companies-owe-money-but-people-pay-bills/): Very few businesses using our debt collection services ever charge, or even threaten to charge, their customers for late payment. Why is this, when their terms and conditions contain details of their late payment penalty charge? Why is this, when the government provides them with a statutory right to compensation via its Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 legislation, and its subsequent amendments?
- [Eliminating the stigma of debt recovery](https://stainternational.com/news/eliminating-the-stigma-of-debt-recovery/): With so many businesses struggling with cash flow, it’s important that we eliminate the stigma associated with debt recovery specialists.
- [County Court Options for Recovering Business Debt](https://stainternational.com/news/options-offered-county-court-for-business-debt/): Taking a person or organisation to court is a serious step, and one that you should only use when you genuinely feel that you have no other choice. You therefore have to think carefully about whether you want to go through the process or whether it might be more prudent to simply write the debt off and never deal with the customer again. There are probably other paths you can still take, such as attempting to reach out via a mediator to resolve the situation without the courts having to get involved, or employing a debt collector to secure the money on your behalf. These techniques have strong track records, and the earlier you try them, the greater chance they have of success.
- [Our new workspace at Turkey Mill](https://stainternational.com/news/our-new-workspace-at-turkey-mill/): As soon as our Maidstone town centre landlords told us that the building was to become apartments, we knew we wanted to move into a new sustainable space with scope for growth, and a work-life balance for post-pandemic commerce. Fortunately, fifteen minutes’ walk east sat a green and eco-friendly space that instantly took our eye. Once the country’s largest paper making site, Turkey Mill was famous for its woven paper used by J M W Turner, the brilliant landscape artist. Today, the mill is an oasis of calm, surrounded by trees, lakes, the river Len and opening onto Mote Park, Maidstone’s 450-acre Green Flag park.
- [Tackling Late Payments Key to Economic Recovery](https://stainternational.com/news/tackling-late-payments-to-smes-crucial-to-economic-recovery/): Late payments can be debilitating to any small business with over 50k ceasing trade every year due to this issue. SME’s are chasing £61bn in late payments, a 20% increase compared to this time last year.
- [Getting Your Invoice Right](https://stainternational.com/news/getting-your-invoice-right/): Learn how to write an invoice – and get it right. Invoices are an essential, basic part of business. The person or company who provides the product or service has to send an invoice to the person or company who has bought it so that payment can be processed. However, there are still numerous cases of payment brought to court where the problem turns out to stem from an incorrectly written or submitted invoice. All invoices should be made watertight in order to protect the submitting party in any legal dispute that might arise.
- [Insolvency Service announces end of temporary measures](https://stainternational.com/news/insolvency-service-announces-end-of-temporary-measures/): The Insolvency Service has announced that temporary measures brought in to support businesses from insolvency during the pandemic will be phased out from 1st October.
- [Recover Debts Without Alienating Customers](https://stainternational.com/news/how-can-i-recover-debts-without-alienating-valued-customers/): It is best practice to stop late payment happening in the first place by ensuring that you have a robust credit control process in place. Things such as checking the creditworthiness of your customer and getting your invoice right are essential elements of good cash flow management.
- [Debt Respite Scheme starts today](https://stainternational.com/news/debt-respite-scheme-starts-today/): Creditors with consumer customers, including sole traders, need to be prepared for the government’s Debt Respite Scheme beginning today. Individuals with problems paying their bills can seek a 60-day breathing space, in which time creditors must stop all contact with them and must not add interest or cost to their account in this period. Stricter rules apply to individuals undergoing mental health problems; here, the breathing space must span the individuals’ mental health treatment period.
- [Late payments to SMEs grow by 76%](https://stainternational.com/news/late-payments-to-smes-grow-by-76/): A research survey by Dun & Bradstreet, which polled 753 small business in the UK, found that over a fifth of payments to the SMEs surveyed, whether dealing with large or small businesses, or even public sector payments, were received late in the past 12 months.
- [Half of At-Risk UK Companies Rely on Government Aid](https://stainternational.com/news/more-than-half-of-uk-listed-companies-most-at-risk-of-insolvency-relying-on-government-support/): Analysis by professional services network Ernst & Young LLP has found that more than half of the UK listed companies that are most at risk of insolvency made a claim for government support in December 2020.
- [A Third of Businesses Face Greater Cyber Risk](https://stainternational.com/news/one-third-of-businesses-more-vulnerable-to-cyber-crime-than-pre-pandemic/): In a recent survey of its members by the Institute of Directors (IoD), one in three company directors indicated that their organisation is now more vulnerable to cybercrime than before the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. The increase in risk is largely attributed to more personnel working from home, leaving the business systems more open to phishing and ransomware attacks.

## Pages
- [Outsource Your Credit Control](https://stainternational.com/outsource-your-credit-control/): Year-round credit control run by experts under your brand - so invoices get paid faster, cash flow stays positive, and your team stays focused on the work that grows the business.
- [Thank you for your enquiry](https://stainternational.com/credit-control-thank-you/): One of our credit control experts will be in touch shortly to arrange a quick ledger review and confirm your quote.
- [Download the Playbook](https://stainternational.com/download-the-playbook/): .lp-page { min-height: 100dvh; display: flex; flex-direction: column; position: relative; }
- [Debt Recovery Playbook](https://stainternational.com/debt-recovery-playbook/): .lp-page { min-height: 100dvh; display: flex; flex-direction: column; position: relative; }
- [Payment Terms & Conditions](https://stainternational.com/payment-terms-conditions/): Applicable to STA International Ltd (including its trading name “STA Unify”)
- [Debtor Tracing Agency](https://stainternational.com/debtor-tracing-agency/): OverviewReportingPricingInternational Debt Recovery
- [Does a Business Owe You Money? – Free Quote in 2 Minutes](https://stainternational.com/business-owes-money-free-quote-in-2-minutes/): .hero-content { margin-top: 50px; color: white; }
- [Unpaid Invoice Debt Collection Service](https://stainternational.com/unpaid-invoice-debt-collection-recovery/): OverviewReportingPricingInternational Debt Recovery
- [Small Business Debt Collection Agency](https://stainternational.com/small-business-debt-recovery-credit-control/): OverviewReportingPricingInternational Debt Recovery
- [B2B Debt Collection Agency](https://stainternational.com/b2b-debt-collection-credit-control/): OverviewReportingPricingInternational Debt Recovery
- [UK Debt Recovery](https://stainternational.com/debt-recovery-uk/): OverviewReportingPricingInternational Debt Recovery
- [btsydo](https://stainternational.com/btsydo/)
- [Thank you for your enquiry | Commercial Debt Recovery](https://stainternational.com/commercial-debt-recovery-thank-you/): .hero-content { margin-top: 50px; color: white; }
- [Commercial Debt Recovery – Free Quote in 2 Minutes](https://stainternational.com/commercial-debt-recovery-quote/): .hero-content { margin-top: 50px; color: white; }
- [Flow redirect](https://stainternational.com/flow/): Getting your cash flowing..
- [Your Debts Online](https://stainternational.com/business/your-debts-online/): As an STA International client, you will receive free-of-charge access to our propriety reporting suite, Your Debts Online (YDO). YDO is the bridge between the client and STA International and STA Legal, significantly reducing reliance on email communication and increasing control for clients instantly online. You can expedite service levels by using YDO to:
- [Legal Debt Recovery](https://stainternational.com/legal-debt-recovery/): STA Legal, part of the STA Group, helps you reclaim your overdue payments with a hassle-free legal debt recovery service. STA Legal provide expert assistance at every stage of the process, from issuing formal Letters Before Actions (LBAs), obtaining and enforcing County Court Judgments (CCJs), to pursuing insolvency proceedings when required.
- [Modern Slavery Statement](https://stainternational.com/modern-slavery-policy/): STA International is committed to conducting its business in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, including those relating to modern slavery. We believe that everyone has the right to be free from exploitation and abuse, and we are committed to taking all reasonable steps to ensure that our business does not contribute to modern slavery.
- [Credit Control Case Studies](https://stainternational.com/outsourced-credit-control/case-studies/): < Return to Credit Control services overview
- [Shared Support services](https://stainternational.com/student/shared-support-services/): We agreed on a script for use by selected members of our student collections team – calling in the university's name - using our dialler telephony between 6 pm and 8 pm over three to five days. The aim wasn't to collect the monies owed but to encourage payment via the university payment portal or direct contact with either the income or welfare teams.
- [H&FE Commercial Debts](https://stainternational.com/student/commercial-debts-hfe/): In addition to student debt collection, STA has a separate specialist team collecting overdue commercial debts in our name and recovering receivables in your name. To date, we’ve recovered commercial debts for training, research services, sponsorship, campus office space, recruitment and many others at home and overseas. We add our costs and late payment interest to your principal sum outstanding, often resulting in a free-of-charge service.
- [Make a payment](https://stainternational.com/make-a-payment/): or make a payment below:
- [Training](https://stainternational.com/student/training/): As a direct result of a topic raised at a discussion forum, we now provide university training, either on-campus or in neutral venues. Jacqueline McConnell, compliance and training manager in our Glasgow office, leads the seminars covering understanding your customer, treating students fairly, vulnerability, telephone and interview techniques, handling difficult situations, and wellbeing. Seminar content is flexible to meet the changing landscape of the university and its challenges.

- [How we work](https://stainternational.com/student/how-we-work/): We have dedicated student debt collection and customer service teams from 0800 to 2000, Monday through Friday. For twenty years, we have collected tuition, accommodation, library, research and commercial debts; today, partnering with over 150 universities, colleges and independent student accommodation providers. Last year, we collected c£20m of student debts and today, we have c46k open student debts worth >£174m that we are pursuing.
- [Discussion Forums](https://stainternational.com/student/discussion-forums/): Legislation and common-practice influence and challenge the work-life of our H&FE clients. Having the opportunity to share these challenges with others is both reassuring and educational. To do this, we facilitate bi-annual University Discussion Forums (UDF) in Birmingham, Cheltenham, London, Manchester, York, and Glasgow. Attendees work for HE establishments in AR, Credit Control, Treasury, Student fees, Income and Finance, and clients from independent student accommodation providers.
- [Home](https://stainternational.com/): Business debt recovery is our speciality. STA International works with businesses across the UK and internationally to recover money owed by their customers. With £20m recovered over the last 12 months, our experience with small business debt collection and bigger business to business debt collection cases means we can help almost anyone with our debt collection services. Our debt recovery agency offers a no collection, no commission guarantee means you only pay commission when we successfully collect funds from your debtor, if we don’t collect, you don’t pay. There’s no subscription fee, and no fees for placing your debt with us - unlike some other debt recovery companies.
- [Student debt recovery](https://stainternational.com/student/): We have been helping universities, colleges, independent schools, and accommodation providers (PBSA) to collect unpaid tuition, accommodation, library, commercial, sponsor and research debts for twenty years. More recently, staff shortages and recruitment problems have seen the demand for help with commercial ledger debts and receivables support for income teams grow significantly. Separately, our student contact centre can support volume projects such as new student satisfaction surveys and extend your working hours by contacting students, for any reason, in the evenings.
- [Corporate social responsibility](https://stainternational.com/corporate-social-responsibility/): Making a proactive contribution to our communities and broader society is fundamental to our values and how we do business. Our approach encompasses:
- [Benefits for AIG Policyholders](https://stainternational.com/debt-recovery-uk/member-benefits/aig-policyholders/): As an AIG policyholder, you qualify for discounted rates of commission when you use our commercial collections for your UK and International debts. In addition, when you do place an account for collection with us, you will benefit from AIG Trade Credit reducing the protracted default period to 90 days.
- [Benefits for QBE Policyholders](https://stainternational.com/debt-recovery-uk/member-benefits/qbe-policyholders/): As a policyholder of QBE, you qualify for a discounted and fixed commission rate when you use our commercial collections for your UK/Ireland and International debts.
- [Benefits for Credendo Policyholders](https://stainternational.com/debt-recovery-uk/member-benefits/credendo-policyholders/): As a policyholder of Credendo you benefit from competitive rates of commission when you use our B2B debt collection service for recovery of UK & International debts.
- [Benefits for Nexus Trade Credit Policyholders](https://stainternational.com/debt-recovery-uk/member-benefits/nexus-trade-credit/): As a policyholder of Nexus Trade Credit you are entitled to preferential rates and access to First Place Collections - an exclusive service from STA International designed to support your UK based debt recovery needs.
- [Member benefits](https://stainternational.com/debt-recovery-uk/member-benefits/): We are proud to partner a growing number of credit insurance underwriters who have appointed STA to offer their policyholders worldwide debt collection services.
- [News & Resources](https://stainternational.com/news/): What every Finance Director, Credit Manager, and Operations Lead needs to know before committing to a strategy – including the...
- [Glossary of credit & collection terminology](https://stainternational.com/glossary-of-credit-collection-terminology/): Money owed to a company by its debtors.
- [Privacy policy](https://stainternational.com/privacy-policy/): If you would like to request your rights to access your personal data, you can contact our Compliance department at compliance@staonline.com
- [About us](https://stainternational.com/about-us/): Founded in New York as Stanley Tulchin Associates trading as STA International, later adding offices throughout the US, Mexico and UK
- [Contact](https://stainternational.com/contact/): 01622 600 905 (Businesses)
- [Outsourced Credit Control](https://stainternational.com/outsourced-credit-control/): Our outsourced credit control services operate on a fixed monthly fee - from just £500/mth - with no hidden extras.
- [International Debt Recovery](https://stainternational.com/international-debt-recovery/): FeaturesReportingPricing

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