Direct Debit for Associations: Collecting dues while maintaining club love

Members who don't pay are every association's biggest concern. Whether it's a field hockey club, a music association or a Home Owners Association (HOA); overdue payments create liquidity problems. You can't maintain the fields, pay the trainers or make the necessary repairs to the premises.

There is often"social control" at clubs, which makes it difficult for volunteers to hold their own clubmates accountable for their debts. This is where Credifin offers the solution: we act as the professional, external buffer. We take the tedious conversations about money out of your hands, so you can focus on the sport or the community.

Collection from associations (B2C) falls under the strict rules of the Wki (Law on Quality Collection Services). In 2026,'hard debt collection' from associations is out of date. We believe in Social Debt Collection.

What does this mean for your association?

• Preventing escalation: We first approach members in a friendly, inviting manner. Often a forgotten payment is simply human error.
• Payment arrangements: In our portal, members can make their own arrangements that suit their financial situation. This prevents members from having to cancel because they cannot catch up on arrears in one go.
• Member retention: Our goal is not only to collect the money, but also to ensure that the member continues to come to the club with a good feeling. A thank you after payment is a standard part of this.

As with other private collections, as an association you are required to first send a proper 14-day letter before collection fees may be charged.

What should you look out for as an association?

• Correct deadline: Give the member 14 days from receipt of the letter.
• No VAT Error: Many associations are not subject to VAT. In that case the VAT on the collection costs may be passed on to the member. Are you as a club VAT liable? Then this is absolutely not allowed. Credifin checks this for you as standard in order to avoid legal flaws in court.
• Clear breakdown: Specify exactly the amount of dues outstanding and the additional charges for late payment. Do you want to know in advance what the maximum costs are? Use our collection costs calculator.

Do you use ClubCollect for your membership administration? Then our collection system is fully integrated. With one push of a button, you send difficult to collect invoices directly to Credifin. We then immediately start the process on a No Cure, No Pay basis.

The benefits of the Credifin link:

• Time saving: No more manual import or export of Excel files.
• Error-free collection: Invoice data is transferred directly and correctly from your membership records.
• Results-oriented: We understand the sensitivity within an association and collect with the human touch, without damaging the relationship with your members.
• Immediate start: After your approval in ClubCollect, we start working for you the same day.

We understand that an association does not want to incur unnecessary costs. This is why we work for associations in the amicable phase on the basis of No Cure, No Pay.

• No risk to the club treasury: We only earn something when the member pays. Our costs are recovered from the member through legal collection fees.
• 24/7 Insight for the treasurer: In our web portal, you can see exactly which members have paid, who has made a settlement and what actions we have taken (such as deployment of our AI call robot Tom).
• Wki-Certified: We meet all quality requirements, giving you, the board, the assurance that debt collection is ethically and legally correct.

We keep it friendly. Our collection process is specifically tailored to associations and their members. We use well-drafted payment reminders and reminders. Members we approach through:

• E-mail (including Registered E-mail™)
• WhatsApp and text messages
• Letters with QR codes for easy payment
• Telephone contact via our call robot that leaves voicemails
• We make it as easy as possible for your members to pay, without disrupting the relationship.

With clear agreements, good communication and smart payment options, you can prevent late payments and keep your association's contribution collection efficient and orderly. With these 10 practical tips, you will lay a strong foundation.

1. Clear rules: Have clear policies around dues. Members need to know exactly what is expected of them.
2. Communicate payment deadlines: Make clear agreements about when members must pay and communicate them in a timely manner, such as at registration and at the beginning of each season. Want to know what is legal and customary? Then read more about payment terms.
3. Use a reminder system: Establish a set reminder system for members who have not yet paid, with friendly but clear messages.
4. Confirm Payments: Send a confirmation as soon as a payment is received. This gives members clarity and reinforces trust.
5. Keep good records: Make sure you keep accurate records of who has paid and who has not, so you can act quickly in case of arrears.
6. Offer several payment options: Make payment as easy as possible, such as by direct debit or online payments via iDEAL (Mollie) or PayPal.
7. Allow payment in installments: Allow members to pay in installments when the amount is higher or when it better suits their situation.
8. Be flexible in payment timing: Offer options such as monthly, quarterly or annual payments so members can choose what works best for them.
9. Communicate when payment problems arise: Engage with members who are having trouble paying and together find a solution, such as a modified payment plan.
10. Engage timely debt collection: Does payment remain unpaid despite reminders? Then outsource the claim. We take over the collection for you and ensure professional, careful handling.