Customer checks
12 questions to ask before giving business credit
A good customer conversation should leave you knowing who is buying, where the goods are going and how the bill will be paid. Start with the order in front of you.
Who is placing the order?
A signboard name and a registered business name can differ. Record the connection instead of guessing that one is false. Where somebody acts for a business, clarify their role before asking them to accept the agreement.
- 1. What name should appear on the sale?
- 2. Which business is buying, and where does it trade?
- 3. Are you authorised to accept these terms for that business?
- 4. Which phone number or email should we use about this order?
Where will the goods go?
Read the important details back to the customer. For a delivery to a building site, a general street address may not identify the entrance or the person authorised to receive stock. Settle that before dispatch.
- 5. What quantity, specification and pack size do you need?
- 6. What is the delivery address?
- 7. Who will receive the goods there?
- 8. How should we record a shortage or damaged item at delivery?
How will the order be paid?
These questions help you understand the proposal. They are not a substitute for checks required by your business or a payment provider, and answers are not a guarantee of payment.
- 9. What will provide the money for this payment?
- 10. Which exact date can you commit to?
- 11. Do you have another unpaid order with us that we should include?
- 12. Who should contact us if the payment plan changes?
Keep the answers useful and private
Write the agreed details beside the order. Explain why you need any additional information. Do not copy a customer’s entire contact list or ask them to post identity documents in a shared group.
If an answer is unclear, ask one specific follow-up question. “Who will sign for the cement at the site?” is easier to answer than “Send everything about your business.” Pause the order when an essential detail remains unresolved.
Questions people ask
Frequently asked questions
Should I ask every question on every repeat order?
Confirm what has changed. A different recipient, larger order or new payment arrangement deserves attention even when you know the customer.
What if the buyer is not registered with CAC?
Record the actual person and trading details. Registration and identity checks depend on the transaction and provider; do not invent a registration number or bypass a required check.