Use only referees selected by you and not by the customer.

Customers are not going to offer names of dissatisfied suppliers. Make it easy for the respondent with a printed form, tick-boxes and prepaid envelopes, as shown in the example below

• Name and address of business
• How long known (years/less than one year?)
• What terms (30 days/60 days /longer please specify)
• Sales per month (£1000/£1000-£5000/over £5000)
• Payments prompt? (up to 60 days late?/very late?)
• Name of payments contact
• Other useful information
• Thank you for helping.
• We will reciprocate at any time.