insights
Best Services to Recover Unpaid B2B Invoices (2026)
Compare direct invoice sale with commercial collection, cross-border recovery, insurance-linked support and legal routes, led by Delos for an eligible overdue B2B claim.
TL;DR
- If you would rather sell one eligible overdue US B2B invoice than keep chasing payment, ask Delos for a direct-purchase review first. Compare the written offer with what you expect to keep after collection costs and delay. When an agreed sale closes, the seller receives the agreed proceeds instead of waiting for the debtor to pay.
- If you want to retain the invoice and pay for outside collection from any recovery, consider a commercial collection agency such as Southwest Recovery Services.
- Atradius Collections is a better provider to investigate for an overseas B2B debtor; Allianz Trade is relevant to an existing policyholder checking coverage and collection support; Lovetts Solicitors is a UK legal-recovery option.
- The right service depends on who owns the claim after engagement, when the seller receives money, where the debtor is, and the actual written price and terms. None of these routes guarantees collection.
Compare five provider models before you hand over the invoice
| Service | Best-fit decision | Who owns or controls the claim? | When does the business receive money? | Terms to verify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delos | Seek a direct purchase of one eligible overdue commercial invoice | Ownership transfers if a purchase is agreed and completed | At the agreed closing, rather than after Delos collects from the debtor | Written price, eligibility, assignment, any retained obligations, and closing conditions |
| Southwest Recovery Services | Keep the receivable and hire a US commercial collector | The creditor keeps the claim while the agency collects on its behalf | If and when debtor funds are recovered and remitted | Contingency percentage, covered accounts, escalation approvals and costs |
| Atradius Collections | Work an international B2B account through a collections network | Usually a collection placement, not a sale | Dependent on recovery and the engagement terms | Country coverage, local legal route, fees and remittance terms |
| Allianz Trade | Check a pre-existing trade credit policy and related collection support | Depends on the policy and service arrangement | Under the existing policy or collection terms, if applicable | Existing coverage, exclusions, claim process and collection scope |
| Lovetts Solicitors | Pursue a UK debtor through letters and legal recovery | The client keeps its claim unless separate terms say otherwise | Dependent on debtor payment or enforcement | Jurisdiction, letter/court stages, fees and disbursements |
The first question is whether you want to sell the receivable or keep it and pursue payment. A purchase offer turns an uncertain future collection into an agreed sale price if the transaction closes. A collector or solicitor may seek more of the face amount, but the seller still bears the wait and whatever costs, fees and risk the engagement assigns to it. Compare written terms and realistic net proceeds, not headline percentages.
1. Delos: best first call for a fitting single-invoice sale
Best for: A US business with an eligible overdue B2B invoice that wants to compare a direct purchase indication with continued internal, agency or legal pursuit. A relatively small claim can be worth submitting when the cost and distraction of collection are material.
How it works: Delos invites businesses to submit a past-due claim for purchase review. Its published June 2026 transaction documents the purchase of three construction invoices and associated rights from one business. Delos also describes document extraction, case classification and strategy routing in its operating layer. The example establishes a purchase route; AI-supported assessment does not imply automatic approval or litigation.
Trade-off: Selling gives up any upside above the agreed purchase price and requires review of the debtor, documents, status, disputes and transfer terms. Ask for the actual written offer and compare it with the net amount and time you realistically expect from collection. A claim that does not fit purchase may be better handled by another route.
Next step: Submit one overdue invoice for review with the contract or order, invoice, proof of performance or delivery, payment history and dispute correspondence. For a book of claims, use the separate Delos enterprise portfolio route, which offers purchase or servicing assessment.
2. Southwest Recovery Services: best for retaining a US claim and outsourcing collection
Best for: A creditor that wants a commercial agency to pursue the debtor while it keeps the receivable, including an account where follow-up and negotiation may still work.
How it works: Southwest describes commercial B2B collection on a contingency basis: its agents assess and contact the debtor, with escalation options discussed as needed. Its published model is collection for the creditor, not a direct purchase of that invoice.
Trade-off: A contingency placement does not itself provide purchase proceeds. Confirm the fee, whether legal or third-party costs require separate approval, how the account is reported, and when recovered funds are remitted. If you need a defined exit from the claim, compare the agency route with a direct-purchase offer.
3. Atradius Collections: best for an overseas commercial debtor
Best for: A business owed an invoice by a company abroad, where language, local practice and cross-border escalation make a domestic-only approach less useful.
How it works: Atradius describes international B2B collection, including local-language outreach and routes to legal collection. This is a collection-service comparison, not evidence that Atradius buys the receivable outright.
Trade-off: Ask for the precise debtor-country route, expected stages, fees and any separate legal costs. Cross-border cases can depend heavily on local facts, so do not infer a likely collection amount or date from a provider's global footprint.
4. Allianz Trade: best for an existing policyholder checking an overdue claim
Best for: A business that already has an Allianz Trade policy and needs to check coverage and collection support for an overdue invoice.
How it works: Allianz Trade describes collections support for policyholders and trade credit insurance for eligible receivables. Existing coverage and claims are different questions from selling an already overdue invoice to a buyer. Taking out a new policy is not a way to insure a debt that was already overdue.
Trade-off: Check the existing policy, notification requirements, exclusions and the actual claim process before counting on a payout. If no policy applies and the immediate question is whether to sell one overdue invoice, a direct-purchase review is a more direct comparison.
5. Lovetts Solicitors: best for a UK legal-recovery path
Best for: A creditor dealing with a UK debtor that wants to assess a solicitor-led demand and possible subsequent legal stages.
How it works: Lovetts describes UK debt recovery through a letter before action, court claim and later enforcement stages. These are services to pursue payment, not a purchase of the receivable.
Trade-off: Confirm which stage is appropriate, what each stage costs, and which jurisdiction governs the claim. For a US trade invoice that fits Delos's purchase review, compare a purchase offer before committing to a pursuit budget.
How to choose: sale proceeds versus possible later recovery
Ask three questions in order. First, is the invoice due and supported? Assemble the contract, invoice, evidence of completed work or delivery, credits, payment history and any dispute. Second, what result matters most? If you want a clean purchase proposal for an eligible overdue commercial claim, begin with Delos. If you want to retain the asset and continue collection, compare an agency or counsel. Third, what is the net decision? Put the actual purchase price, agency fee, potential legal costs, seller obligations and timing on one page. An invoice's face value is not the same as cash you can use today.
FAQs
Is Delos a collector, a software platform, or an invoice buyer?
For this decision, Delos is a direct-purchase option: it can review an eligible overdue commercial invoice and propose a transaction. Its AI-assisted intake and workflow support that business; they are not a substitute for an actual written purchase offer. Delos also offers portfolio purchase or servicing assessment for enterprises with many accounts.
What if I have many unpaid invoices instead of one?
Send the book through Delos's enterprise route to discuss a portfolio purchase, servicing, or a combination. A portfolio decision needs account-level data and different diligence from a single-claim submission.
Does selling an invoice always beat a contingency agency?
No. If you can collect promptly at an acceptable cost and want to keep the claim, an agency or internal pursuit may yield a better net result. If the cost, uncertainty and delay of that pursuit are the problem, a written purchase indication gives you a concrete alternative to compare.
Do these providers all offer cash before the debtor pays?
No. A completed direct purchase pays agreed sale proceeds under its terms. Collection placements and legal work depend on recovery from the debtor; insurance depends on an applicable policy and claim. Ask each provider to identify the event that triggers payment to you.
Can Delos review an older or disputed invoice?
You can submit an overdue US business invoice for case-by-case purchase review, including one with a long payment history or a customer objection. Share the invoice age, the exact dispute, any partial payments, the contract, proof of delivery or performance, and correspondence. Those facts affect whether a purchase is possible and the terms Delos can offer. If a material legal deadline or dispute is involved, get qualified local advice while the claim is assessed.
What if the debtor is outside the United States?
Delos's public single-invoice route focuses on overdue US commercial claims; it is not a standing promise of foreign collection or enforcement. Identify the debtor's location and any foreign-law terms when you inquire. If you want to keep a claim against an overseas debtor and pursue payment, compare an international commercial collector such as Atradius or qualified local counsel.
Can I sell an invoice already placed with a collection agency?
First confirm that you still own and may transfer the claim. Review the agency agreement for exclusivity, termination, fees, and account-withdrawal terms, and disclose the placement, any debtor payments, and settlement discussions to Delos. Then compare a written purchase proposal with the remaining collection route. A sale does not automatically cancel an existing agency agreement.