Sometimes a payout needs to be reversed, or a Debtor pays late. This article explains the difference between the two, when a clawback applies, and what it does not cover.
TL;DR
- A clawback only happens when an invoice or Billing Request itself was wrong (credit note, dispute resolved against you, duplicate, invalid VAT or KVK data). It is not related to whether your Debtor pays on time.
- A Debtor paying late does not trigger a clawback if you used Direct Payment. Non-recourse factoring means Finqle carries that risk, not you.
- Clawbacks are deducted from your next payout, or invoiced separately if there is no upcoming payout.
Clawback versus late payment: know the difference
| Situation | Clawback? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Debtor pays 10 days after the due date | No | Non-recourse: Finqle absorbs late-payment risk on Direct Payment invoices |
| Debtor becomes insolvent and never pays | No | Non-recourse: the credit loss sits with Finqle |
| You issue a full or partial credit note | Yes | The original invoice amount was incorrect |
| A Debtor dispute is resolved in the Debtor's favour | Yes, for the disputed portion | The disputed amount was not actually owed |
| Duplicate invoice paid twice | Yes | Correcting an operational error |
| Invoice later found to be invalid (wrong VAT, KVK or KOR mismatch) | Yes | The invoice should not have passed verification |
Decision flow
How a clawback is processed
- 1You receive an email explaining the reason and amount.
- 2The amount is deducted from your next scheduled payout.
- 3If no payout is scheduled soon, Finqle sends a separate purchase invoice for the clawback amount.
- 4You can see clawback entries in your Transaction Statement history in My Finqle.
Late payment by the Debtor
If you used Direct Payment, a Debtor paying late or not at all does not affect you:
- You keep the money you already received.
- Finqle's credit management team handles reminders, collections and, if needed, legal follow-up.
- You only hear from us if we need additional documentation to support collections.
If you did not use Direct Payment for that invoice, the payment terms are between you and your Debtor directly, and Finqle is not involved in collections.
FAQ
Can a clawback push my balance negative?
Yes, if the clawback is larger than your next payout. In that case Finqle invoices you the difference as a purchase invoice with standard payment terms.
I disagree with a clawback, what can I do?
Contact your Account Manager or info@finqle.com with the Transaction Statement reference. We will review the underlying invoice or dispute resolution with you.
Does a clawback affect my credit terms with Finqle?
A single clawback does not. Frequent clawbacks for the same Debtor may prompt a review of that Debtor relationship, since it usually signals a recurring data or process issue upstream.
Will I be notified before a clawback happens?
Yes. You always receive an email with the reason and amount before or at the same time the deduction is processed.