Most people I talk to say they just don't know what to do when they get a machine, they don't know what kind of message they can leave that will get their past due customer to call them back. Most just hang up because they figure it is a waste of time to leave a message.
The best message you can leave is a short, professional message that leaves your name, company name, and phone number. Another way to prompt a return call is to state that you are returning the customers call. This sometimes prompts them to think, did I call them? Do I owe them money? They may just call you back based on not knowing the situation.
When they do call you back, be ready to set up a payment.
If you are calling a business and get voice mail, try faxing over a copy of the invoice and leaving a voice mail message saying, I couldn't reach you so I faxed over invoice #123. Please call me at 800-999-1234 when you get back to the office and check out the fax and your voice mail.
You can wait an hour and call back, if you get voice mail again, leave another message. Remember to be professional and keep it short, state that you had called and faxes earlier and hadn't heard back so you were trying them again. Also state that you will try again in about an hour. If this customer is avoiding your call, they will know you are not giving up and are going to keep calling, this sometimes prompts customers to make the payment so they don't have to worry about picking up their phone and having you (the persistent one!) on the other end.
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