How to track credit sales and customer debts on Meku

Selling on credit is not a mistake in your business. It is how you keep your regular customers. The mistake is the notebook page that says “Mama Rashidi — sukari — 12,000” with no date, no phone number, and no record of the 2,000 she paid last Tuesday. Meku solves this, but only if you record the credit at the moment of the sale, not from memory at the end of the day.

What you need before you start

The customer’s name (the name you really use, such as “Mama Rashidi”, “Mzee Kiosk” or “Salon Caroline”)
Their phone number
An agreement with the customer about when they will pay

Step 1: Choose Credit when the customer pays

Make the sale as normal at the POS. Add the products, then under PAYMENT LATER tap Credit. Choose the customer from your contacts, or create them with their name and phone number. Tap Charge. The customer takes the goods, and the debt is recorded under their name.

Step 2: Why the phone number is needed

The phone number is what allows Meku to send reminders. Meku sends a polite SMS in Kiswahili after 7 days, 30 days, 6 months and 1 year. It is the kind of reminder that is uncomfortable for you to send yourself, but easy for Meku to send every time.

Step 3: Check your debts every week

Open Debts. You see every debt that is not yet paid, with:

The customer’s name and phone
The original amount, and the amount not yet paid
How old it is, grouped by 7 days, 30 days, 6 months and 1 year
The last reminder sent

Sort by age. Any debt older than 30 days needs a conversation. Any debt older than 6 months is at risk.

Step 4: Record part payments

When Mama Rashidi pays 5,000 of the 12,000, tap her debt and record the payment. Enter the amount and the account the money went into, then save. The balance is updated, and Meku shows the history of every payment.

This is where a notebook usually fails. Part payments are lost, or the whole debt is written again badly. Meku keeps the original amount, every payment and the balance separately.

Tip: Even when you trust a regular customer, always use their correct phone number. Trust is for your relationship. The SMS is for memory.

Step 5: When it is fully paid

When the last payment is recorded, the debt is fully paid. It leaves your list of debts and stays in that customer’s history.

Common questions

Is the debt linked to the customer’s other purchases? Yes. The debt is on the customer’s card under Contacts, together with their purchases, their other debts and their bookings.

Can I switch off the SMS reminders? Not for one debt at the moment. They are sent for every debt. The 7-day reminder is gentle, and the words are chosen to protect your relationship with the customer.

Can my staff record credit sales too? Yes. Staff can use the POS, including Credit. They can also open Debts to record payments at the counter.