Debt collection for FMCG.
FMCG has the shortest cycles in our data, but volume and retailer deductions make leakage constant rather than dramatic.
◆ As of 29 Jul 2026, 14:00 GST. Preview readings modelled from public sources — Atradius Payment Practices Barometer UAE 2025, CBUAE, S&P Global UAE PMI — and Wusala methodology. Live readings begin as Wusala's book and partner network report in.
Why fmcg invoices stall
Listing fees, promotional deductions, short-dated stock returns and unagreed chargebacks.
How we work a fmcg book
Challenge unagreed deductions individually — they are rarely defended when tested
Reconcile promotional accruals against what was actually deducted
Enforce the returns window instead of absorbing late claims
Escalate at the account level, not per invoice
The reason you haven't called them is the reason to let us.
Your largest overdue balance almost certainly belongs to a customer you cannot afford to lose. That is exactly why the invoice is still sitting there.
Every call is personal, every “next week” is one you have to accept, and every escalation has your face on it. So the call doesn’t get made.
The asking is done by a function whose only job is the ledger. You keep the relationship, the goodwill and the next order.
Every large company separates sales from credit control to protect the relationship. You don’t have that department. That’s what we are.
And you stay in charge of it:
- You name the accounts we never contact.
- Nothing goes out in your name without your approval of the wording.
- No legal step without your written instruction.
- We’ll tell you when a file isn’t worth pursuing.
Stopping the next one
Recovery gets yesterday’s money back. Keeping DSO down is a different discipline — and in fmcg it comes down to this: Agree deduction rules in writing before the promotion runs, and reconcile trade spend monthly rather than quarterly.
FMCG: common questions
What is a normal DSO for fmcg in the UAE?
Our current reading for fmcg is 53 days, against a national B2B average of 68 days. The sector runs about 15 days faster than the market, so anything materially above 53 days deserves attention.
Why do fmcg invoices go unpaid?
Listing fees, promotional deductions, short-dated stock returns and unagreed chargebacks.
What does recovery cost?
The audit is free. Recovery fees are success-only and published: from 10% on current debt, rising to 25–35% for debt over a year old or disputed. You pay when we collect.
Can you stop this happening again?
Yes — that is what our Protect service does. Agree deduction rules in writing before the promotion runs, and reconcile trade spend monthly rather than quarterly. We also monitor the book for early-warning signals so slow payers are caught before they reach 90 days.
What’s recoverable in your book?
Free, 48 hours, no obligation — scored invoice by invoice.