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Debt Recovery & Payments

How BlueRockTEL automates payment collection, SEPA direct debit, dunning sequences, and reduces overdue invoices.

What payment methods does BlueRockTEL support?

BlueRockTEL supports a comprehensive range of payment methods to cover all customer preferences:

  • SEPA Direct Debit — automated bank debit for European customers (B2B and B2C mandates)
  • Credit/debit card — via Stripe integration
  • GoCardless — bank-to-bank payment for UK and European customers
  • Bank transfer — manual payment with bank reconciliation support
  • Cheque — manual payment recording

For most telecom operators, the bulk of revenue is collected via SEPA Direct Debit or direct debit via GoCardless, with card payments for smaller or one-time customers.

How does SEPA Direct Debit work in BlueRockTEL?

BlueRockTEL manages the full SEPA Direct Debit lifecycle:

  1. Mandate creation — customers sign a SEPA mandate (electronically or on paper), which is recorded in their account
  2. Pre-notification — customers are notified of the upcoming debit amount and date (as required by SEPA regulation)
  3. File generation — BlueRockTEL generates a SEPA XML file compliant with your bank's requirements (PAIN.008 format)
  4. Submission — the file is submitted to your bank
  5. Reconciliation — payments received are matched against the corresponding invoices
  6. Failed payment handling — rejected mandates trigger the dunning workflow automatically

Can BlueRockTEL automate payment reminders and dunning sequences?

Yes. BlueRockTEL includes a fully configurable dunning engine. For each customer segment or payment method, you define a sequence of actions triggered when an invoice remains unpaid after its due date:

  • Day 1 after due date: email reminder
  • Day 7: second reminder with late fee notice
  • Day 14: formal notice (registered letter template)
  • Day 21: service suspension
  • Day 30: handoff to collections

Each step can send an automated email, generate a formal document, apply a late payment fee, suspend services, or flag the account for manual review. You control the timing and content of each step.

What is a dunning sequence and how do I configure it?

A dunning sequence is an escalating series of automated actions applied to overdue accounts. In BlueRockTEL, you configure dunning sequences in the administration panel:

  • Define the number of steps and the delay between each step
  • Choose the action for each step (email, formal notice, suspension, fee)
  • Assign email and document templates for each step
  • Apply different sequences to different customer segments (e.g., a more lenient sequence for long-standing customers)

Once configured, the dunning engine runs automatically as part of the daily processing cycle — no manual intervention required for routine cases.

How does automatic service suspension work for non-payment?

BlueRockTEL can automatically suspend a customer's services when they reach a defined point in the dunning sequence (typically after multiple reminders have been ignored). Suspension:

  • Sends the customer an automated notification explaining the reason
  • Blocks new service consumption (depending on your carrier integration)
  • Flags the account in the helpdesk so your support team is aware
  • Is automatically reversed when the overdue balance is paid

Service suspension is a powerful incentive for payment that operators often find resolves the majority of late payments before they reach the later stages of the dunning sequence.

Does BlueRockTEL integrate with Stripe?

Yes. BlueRockTEL integrates with Stripe for credit and debit card payments. Customers can pay invoices by card, and Stripe payment records are automatically reconciled against the corresponding invoices in BlueRockTEL. Card payments can also be set up as recurring charges for customers who prefer this method.

Does BlueRockTEL support GoCardless?

Yes. GoCardless is a direct debit platform that works across the UK and Europe. BlueRockTEL's GoCardless integration allows you to collect direct debits from customers via GoCardless without managing SEPA files yourself — GoCardless handles the banking infrastructure. Payment statuses are synchronised back to BlueRockTEL automatically.

How does bank reconciliation work?

BlueRockTEL includes a bank reconciliation module. You import your bank statement (or connect to your bank via a feed), and BlueRockTEL matches incoming payments against outstanding invoices automatically. Unmatched payments are flagged for manual review. Once reconciled, invoices are marked as paid and customer account balances are updated.

Can I generate aging reports to track overdue invoices?

Yes. BlueRockTEL provides aging reports that show outstanding receivables by age bucket:

  • 0–30 days overdue
  • 31–60 days overdue
  • 61–90 days overdue
  • 90+ days overdue

These reports are available per customer, per customer segment, or across the entire portfolio. They give your finance team a clear picture of exposure and help prioritise collection efforts.

How much can BlueRockTEL reduce my Days Sales Outstanding (DSO)?

DSO (Days Sales Outstanding) measures how long it takes on average to collect payment after invoicing. Operators who switch to BlueRockTEL's automated dunning and SEPA direct debit typically see a significant DSO reduction — often from 45–60 days down to 20–30 days — because:

  • Direct debit collects payment automatically on the due date for enrolled customers
  • Automated reminders accelerate payment from customers who pay by transfer
  • Service suspension creates strong incentive for rapid payment

The exact improvement depends on your starting point and your customer mix, but the direction is consistently positive.

How does BlueRockTEL improve overall cash flow for telecom operators?

BlueRockTEL improves cash flow through three mechanisms:

  1. Earlier collection — automated SEPA and direct debit collect on the due date, not weeks later
  2. Fewer unpaid invoices — automated dunning converts a higher proportion of late invoices into paid invoices
  3. Better visibility — aging reports and real-time account balances allow better cash flow forecasting

Together, these translate into a more predictable and healthier cash position for operators of all sizes.

How do I handle customers who dispute invoices?

Invoice disputes are managed in the helpdesk module. When a customer disputes an invoice:

  1. A support ticket is created (manually or from the customer's email)
  2. The agent sees the customer's full billing history in the ticket context
  3. The agent can issue a credit note directly from the helpdesk if the dispute is valid
  4. The credit note is applied to the customer's account and reduces the outstanding balance
  5. If the dunning sequence was triggered, it can be paused while the dispute is under review

This integration between billing and helpdesk means disputes are handled efficiently with full context, not in separate systems with no shared data.

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