What to Do If a Company Goes Bankrupt and Owes You Money | Allianz Trade in Canada

Filing a Claim

If a company goes bankrupt and owes you money, you will receive a notice from the bankruptcy court detailing the action. That notice will include instructions for filing a proof of claim. A proof of claim is a written statement and supporting documentation that outlines why the client declaring bankruptcy owes you money. The proof of claim document and directions for how to complete it will be included with the bankruptcy notice. Filing is time-sensitive, so you should give this document full attention and file on or before the deadline. Submit the proof of claim document with the bankruptcy court where the bankruptcy was filed.

In addition, when a bankruptcy case is filed, you must stop all collection efforts, such as sending past-due notices or calling about past-due invoices.

To receive notice of bankruptcy and a proof of claim form, the business that is declaring bankruptcy must list you as a creditor. If that does not happen and you learn of the customer’s bankruptcy another way, contact the customer and ask for the bankruptcy case number and the court in which the bankruptcy was filed. Call the clerk of the appropriate court and confirm that a filing has actually taken place. Ask them about any relevant dates regarding your filing a proof of claim and request a copy of both the bankruptcy notice to creditors and a proof of claim form. Review the bankruptcy notice to see if you are or are not listed. Then, file a proof of claim.

Filing a proof of claim only means you are listing your past-due amounts for consideration of payment by the bankruptcy trustee. There is no guarantee those debts will be paid. When you insure your accounts receivable with trade credit insurance from Allianz Trade, you can count on being paid, even if one of your accounts is unable to pay due to bankruptcy.

Retention of Title Clause

One way to avert loss from a potential bankruptcy claim filed by a client is to include a retention of title clause in your contract of sale. This clause allows you to retain the rights of ownership of the goods you deliver to the client until full payment is received. A contract of sale that includes this clause and which is signed by you and your client can give you claim to those goods if the client becomes insolvent. This way, you can avoid becoming an unsecured creditor in a bankruptcy filing.

It is important to note that some goods, like perishable goods, are not covered by a retention of title clause. In addition, if your customer enters administration, you will not be able to enforce a retention of title clause.

Creditors Committee

When a business files a Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, a U.S. trustee will appoint a creditors’ committee. The trustee will appoint three to seven creditors to the committee to represent the interests of the business’s creditors. It is not uncommon for a trustee to form both a secured creditors’ committee and an unsecured creditors’ committee. The goal of either of the creditors’ committees is to represent the interests of all the secured or unsecured creditors’ interests in the bankruptcy proceedings. The committee is responsible for reviewing the debtor’s business operation and helping to formulate a plan to reorganize the business or liquidate it.

Protect Your Business From Customer Bankruptcy with Trade Credit Insurance

When a customer declares bankruptcy and later becomes insolvent, collecting on past-due invoices becomes next to impossible. Allianz Trade can help keep your cash flow positive with Trade Credit Insurance. Trade Credit Insurance protects your accounts receivables against loss and guarantees compensation even in the event of non-payment. Learn more about Allianz Trade and get a free trade credit insurance quote.