Tempest

28/05/2026

"Your messages lose the friendly emojis and gain exclamation marks. You threaten legal action, draft blistering emails, and vent to anyone who will listen. The anger feels productive, but unfortunately, sending furious text messages has a terribly low recovery rate."

In 1969, psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross introduced the five stages of grief: a framework designed to help humans process monumental loss. However, if you have ever lent money to an acquaintance, finished a contract, sold a vehicle on a handshake agreement, or waited on a client invoice settleme...

07/05/2026

Six Strategies to Avoid Bad Debt

Tempest is, in part, a debt acquisition firm. We purchase aged and complex debt, either outright or through a recovery split arrangement. However, the most effective debt collection strategy is avoiding the bad debt altogether. Implementing the following six steps will significantly reduce your credit risk and protect your cash flow.

The foundation of avoiding bad debt is avoiding unreliable customers. In a sales-driven environment, turning away a prospective sale is difficult. Nevertheless, conducting rigorous due diligence before extending credit is a vital protective measure.

Here are six ways to assess a customer’s creditworthiness before accepting a promise of future payment:

1. Conduct a Formal Credit Check Do not rely on instinct alone. Engage a specialised agency, such as Gravity Credit Management, to provide a comprehensive credit report before opening any new account.

2. Verify Trade References Mandate at least two or three trade references during your onboarding process to verify payment history. Keep in mind that applicants typically provide their best references, so requesting additional contacts can often yield a more accurate picture.

3. Secure Personal Guarantees Incorporating a personal guarantee into your terms of trade provides an essential layer of security. It broadens your avenues for recovery and ensures the directors have a personal stake in settling the account.

4. Register on the PPSR Where applicable, lodge a security interest on the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) for any unpaid goods or services. If you are unfamiliar with the registry, a lawyer or credit agency can assist you with the process.

5. Review the Companies Office Investigate the prospective client's directors. A thorough review will reveal whether they have a history of involvement with insolvent or liquidated companies, which is a critical warning sign.

6. Assess Real Property Ownership Determine whether the directors own real estate. In the event of a default, property ownership provides tangible leverage and often increases the likelihood of a successful recovery.

While you know your market best, a disciplined approach to extending credit is your primary defence against bad debt.

However, if you are holding a debt that appears too difficult to collect, contact us before you decide to write it off entirely. The residual value or recovery split Tempest can offer may surprise you.

Get in touch with our team at [email protected] or call 0800 845 885.

13/04/2026

Traditional debt collectors act as agents for creditors, typically charging a commission—often around 20%—on the funds they successfully recover. Their methods generally rely on phone calls, written demands, and occasional site visits.

While this may sound similar to the role of an internal credit controller, businesses typically employ collection agencies for two primary reasons:

Specialised Efficiency: Debt collection requires a specific psychological approach. Collection agencies are highly adept at managing debtors efficiently, often recovering funds at a lower operational cost than an in-house team.

Resource Allocation: An internal credit controller’s primary task is maintaining steady cash flow, making it more efficient for them to focus on reliable clients. Chasing evasive debtors consumes valuable time and resources. Collection firms utilize strict, systematic processes to ensure delinquent accounts do not slip through the cracks.

Read the full article below.
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https://www.tempest.net.nz/blog/disputed-debts-and-how-to-avoid-them/

03/03/2026

EOFY is Approaching: Don't Let Bad Debt Freeze Your Cash Flow!

The 2026 Financial Year is drawing to a close. For New Zealand businesses, this is the critical window to clean up your ledgers and ensure a stronger start to 2027.

While glimpsing signs of economic recovery are appearing, the road ahead remains challenging for many Kiwi households and businesses. Recent data paints a picture of continued financial strain:

🏡 Mortgage Strain: Thousands of homeowners are feeling the pinch, with a notable number in arrears on their home loans and council rates as interest rates take their toll.

🛒 Material Hardship: Over 160,000 Kiwi children continue to live in households experiencing material hardship—unable to meet basic, everyday costs.

💳 Debt Write-offs: Challenging economic conditions are impacting customers' ability to pay, leading to increased write-off expenses for businesses and government departments alike.

What this means for your business:
Holding onto ageing debt is holding onto risk. If your customers are struggling, the likelihood of recovery decreases every day. Act now before the books close for the year.

Tempest has two powerful solutions to unlock your capital:

Sell Your Debt: Instantly convert bad debt into cash. We buy your outstanding debtor ledgers, giving you immediate cash flow and removing the risk from your balance sheet.

Litigate: When payment is due and negotiation has failed, we provide expert litigation services to enforce your rights.

Don't start the new financial year burdened by the old.

Let’s chat about how Tempest can help you free up cash flow and focus on growth. Send us a DM or visit our website. 🤝

26/02/2026

Got a valid legal claim but worried about the upfront court costs and lawyer fees? That's where Litigation Funding comes in. We believe justice shouldn't just be for those who can afford it. Tempest covers the costs of your litigation upfront—meaning no further investment from you, and absolutely no fee if there is no recovery. Let us take the financial risk.



https://www.tempest.net.nz/litigation-funding/

22/02/2026

At Tempest, we believe all debtors must be held accountable. We take a direct approach. If debtors don't engage with us swiftly, our in-house team of specialist lawyers immediately commences with legal proceedings. We don't just send letters; we take action.

28/01/2026

27/01/2026

At Tempest, we believe all debtors must be held accountable. We can take a direct approach to contact debtors, and if they don’t engage with us swiftly, we immediately commence with legal proceedings.

We are a litigation funding and debt buying agency that removes the time, cost and risk involved with bad debtors.

Arranging a split is a new solution for bad debt.Benefits:1. Upfront costs covered by Tempest2. No lawyers time charged3. No success = no feeVisit www.tempes...

12/02/2024

Dr Eric Crampton and I discuss slavery, Charles Dickens, the governor of New Munster, sexual servitude, the Great Chain of Being, hanging Jamaican rebels, evolution, John Stuart Mill, differing 19th century perspectives on racial differences and where the term Dismal Science comes from. (It isn't what you might expect).

This podcast will take you places you didn't know you wanted to get to and you will find there is no way back.

‎Show Different Matters by Damien Grant, Ep Dr Eric Crampton on Different Matters - 8 Feb 2024

08/02/2024

Where did the term Dismal Science come from?

I sat down with Eric Crampton to discuss the history of this term, the economics of slavery and prostitution, Great Chain of Being and the governor of New Munster.

‎Show Different Matters by Damien Grant, Ep Dr Eric Crampton on Different Matters - 8 Feb 2024