We  shall  expect  a  remittance  within  the  next  ten  days.  Will  you
favor  us,  Mr.  Stone  ?


DUNNING  LETTERS  81

We  do  not  wish  to  believe  that  you  desire  to  defraud  any  man  of  his
just  dues,  so  we  take  it  for  granted  that  your  delay  in  settling  our  account
is  from  carelessness  rather  than  any  inclination  to  avoid  payment.
If  you  are  not  in  a  position  to  send  us  a  check  for  the  entire  amount
of  your  bill,  we  will  gladly  arrange  with  you  some  partial  payment  plan
to  suit  your  convenience  if  you  will  kindly  call  at  our  office  or  write  us.
We  have  no  desire  to  cause  you  any  unnecessary  expense  or  trouble  if
it  can  possibly  be  avoided  in  order  to  collect  this  bill.  You  understand
that  should  we  place  this  in  the  hands  of  outside  persons,  such  an  expense
would  surely  be  incurred.
Will  you  extend  us  the  courtesy  of  an  answer  to  this  letter  ?  If  there
is  some  reason  why  you  have  not  settled  the  account,  we  shall  be  glad  to
know  it.  If  there  is  no  reason,  then,  of  course,  you  intend  to  remit
promptly.
Enclosed  is  a  statement  of  your  account  which,  as  you  know,  is  long
overdue.  We  have  already  called  your  attention  to  this  matter  several
times,  but  as  yet  have  not  been  able  to  effect  a  settlement.
We  feel  that  we  have  been  very  lenient  with  you  in  allowing  so  long  a
term  of  credit,  and  we  must  now  insist  on  an  immediate  payment.  If
we  do  not  hear  from  you  soon  we  shall  be  obliged  to  resort  to  other  means
of  enforcing  a  settlement.
