• A demand letter is a letter sent to someone who owes you money, demanding that they pay the amount owed. You will find a demand letter for your use below.
  
  
• Remember, in order for a court to award you attorney fees and/or interest, your need to have language authorizing it in one of the original documents that your patient signed.
  
  
• Suggested language to include in the papers your patient signs include the following: "In the event it is necessary for this Office or Doctor to take any action to collect any overdue fees and/or costs, I agree to pay said Office or Doctor 33 1/3% attorney fees plus interest at the rate of 18% per annum.

Dear Patient:

We have written you several times concerning our outstanding bill. Our efforts to resolve this matter have failed. Your entire debt is now due and owing.

We have instructed our attorney to immediately file a lawsuit against you to recover the amount due, plus costs and attorney's fees. However, we shall stay execution of these instructions for a seven (7) day period.

Unless we receive payment in full by October 15, at 5:00 pm, we will take direct court action without further notice. Once such action is taken, you will no longer be able to settle this matter for the above amount, since additional costs will accrue immediately.

In proceeding against you, we shall seek, in addition to the amount you owe, all court costs, monthly interest charges, service of process expenses, 33-1/3% attorney's fees, and any additional costs and remedies as the court may grant.

This does not, of course, include any legal fees incurred on your behalf in answering this suit, court costs for your attorney, as well as the time and inconvenience which this will entail. Again, the increase in the amount of your indebtedness can be avoided by forwarding a certified check for the principal amount. The choice is yours.

If you want to bring this matter to an amicable conclusion, send us full payment in the form of a cashier's check or certified check within the next seven (7) days,

We suggest that you arrange to have payment hand carried to this office. You know the problems that can arise with the mail. We will not accept any representation that the money was mailed on time if we do not receive it on or before the last date required.

Sincerely,

(insert name of doctor or office manager)

*This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.