$50 Oil

When oil hits $50 a barrel, your unpaid invoice becomes their emergency fund.

That’s the shift I see every time the market dips. Operators and service companies start choosing who to pay—not based on fairness, but on who’s loudest, fastest, and legally prepared.

I’m writing this because when oil drops, collections get dirty. If you’re not ready to act, you’re the one who gets left behind.

Here’s what I tell every client trying to collect commercial debt in a $50 oil market:

Don’t wait.

Send demand letters immediately.

Review contract terms and payment clauses.

Check for liens or security rights.

File a UCC-1 if applicable.

Document every missed payment clearly.

Don’t accept partial payments blindly.

Watch for transfer of assets or shell moves.

File suit early to get in line first.

Freeze funds when possible through garnishment.

Push for summary judgment if terms are clear.

Use leverage, not just letters, to negotiate.

Don’t bluff about court—be ready.

Collect before bankruptcy makes it impossible.

Oil may go up again. But the money you’re owed today is worth more than the promises they’ll make tomorrow.