Defining customer default codes

In this procedure, you will set up customer default codes for your processing, statement, and finance charge options. This allows you to enter customers with similar parameters. You can override these defaults at the individual customer level. You must define at least one customer default code for each company.

Procedure flow: Defining customer default codes
  1. Access Customer Defaults (AR08.1).
  2. Use the Main tab to define default processing options. Use these guidelines to specify the field values:
    Default Code

    Use different default codes for groups of customers that have characteristic differences such as: open item or balance forward billing, regional changes, finance charge billing.

    Audit Customer Changes

    Select if customer changes will be tracked at the company level.

    Credit Analyst

    Select a credit analyst. There are numerous reports that offer credit analyst as a sort and select option.

    Invoice Terms

    Select a terms code. Invoice terms are used to calculate due dates and discount information for a customer's invoices.

    Major & Minor Class

    Select the major and minor class that you want to assign to this default code.

    Sales Representative

    Select a sales rep code. There are numerous reports that offer salesrep as a sort and select option.

    Memo Terms

    Select a memo terms code to default on customers assigned this default code. Used to calculate due date and discount information for a customer's debit and credit memos. Must be a valid terms code in the Lawson Terms system.

    Payment Code

    (Required) Select the payment method that you want to assign to this default code. This indicates the method of payment for a customer (cash, check, EFT, or BOE). It controls what screens and reports the transaction would be eligible for based on the payment method.

    Aging Code

    You can select an aging code to default on customers assigned this default code. Used when a single customer aging is processed. This must be a valid aging code in AR15.8 (Aging).

    AR Code

    The accounts receivable code to default on customers assigned this default code. Used for open item processing. This will override the AR code of the process level during open item entry (memos, invoices). If entered, this must be a valid code in AR15.7 (GL Code).

    Tax Exempt

    Select if customers assigned this default code are exempt from tax or are taxable.

    Tax Code

    The tax code to default on taxable line items during invoice entry for customers assigned this default code.

    If you are using the Lawson Tax system and selected Taxable in the Tax Exempt field, then this field is required. This must be a valid tax code in the Lawson Tax system. If you are using a third party tax system and selected Taxable in the Tax Exempt field, then this field is optional.

    Remit Lockbox

    The remit-to lock box code to default on customers assigned this default code. This is used for payment receipt and must be a valid lock box code in AR14.1 (Lock Box). The lock box address is used on statements, request for payment notices, and past due notices.

    Language Code

    This specifies the language in which a dunning letter or statement is sent. Select the customer's preferred language code (locale).

    If no language code is specified, then the environment base language is assumed which is U.S. English.

    Credit Percent Review

    (Required) This field indicates the percent of a customer's credit limit that, when reached, cause the customer to require a review. If left blank, then the value 100 is set as default.

    BOE Type

    Select a processing type for customers assigned to the default code:

    Individual creates one bill of exchange for each invoice payment obligation.

    Summary groups invoice payment obligations together.

    Automatic Dunning

    Select whether AR160 (Dunning Letter Select) will automatically create past due notices for customers assigned this default code.

    Cycle

    You can select a Dunning Cycle Code to group customers for dunning letter selection by AR160 (Dunning Letter Select). This must be a valid dunning letter cycle code for the company in AR04.1 (Cycle Codes).

    Age Dispute

    Select whether disputes are aged, using the default aging method defined for the company. If left blank, then the age disputes option defined for the company in AR01 (Company) is set as default.

    Dispute Financed

    Select whether to assess finance charges on disputed invoice amounts. If left blank, then the disputes financed option defined for the company in AR01 (Company) is set as default.

    Currency Revaluation

    Select whether the transaction currency should be revalued against the base currency to account for exchange rate fluctuations when the transaction is processed.

  3. Access the Application tab to define application defaults.
  4. Define the application tolerances and discounts. Use these guidelines to specify the field values:
    Detail Chargeback Dates

    Select Invoice or Payment. This field will control the dates used in calculating the transaction and due dates for detail chargebacks.

    Application Method

    Select which processing method you want the customer to use to apply payments. There are two methods:

    • Open item processing is a method that selects specific open items for cash application, displays them on inquiries, and lists them on reports such as, statements. You cannot change Open Item to Balance forward once a statement has been printed.

    • Balance forward processing is a method that carries forward a customer's balance. Customer's pay toward the outstanding balance, not a specific transaction. The statement will list each transaction made during the current statement cycle but carry over only the unpaid balance from previous cycles. You can change from Balance Forward to Open Item once a statement has been printed.

    Discount Reason Code

    Select a discount reason code to default on customers assigned this default code. Used for earned discounts during manual and automatic cash application. Must be a valid adjustment reason code in Reason (AR15.1).

    Auto Cash, Apply method -

    Select whether cash can be automatically applied in Automatic Cash Application (AR130) for customers assigned this default code. Select an automatic cash application method. This field is required when you have selected Yes in the Automatic Cash Application field.

    Payment Grace Days

    The number of grace days to be added to the discount date to allow automatic discount during cash application. If left blank, then the payment grace days defined for the company in Company (AR01) defaults or no grace days are used.

    Print Chargebacks

    Select whether chargeback notices are printed.

    Automatic Transaction Removal

    Select whether to automatically write off transactions.

    Application Tolerances

    Specify the maximum shortage amount, or percentage allowed during cash application. Shortage amounts within the maximum amount that you define, or percent that you define, are automatically adjusted during cash application. If you define more than one tolerance, then you must define the maximum amounts or percentages in consecutive, ascending order.

    Automatic Apply Mixed Signed

    Select Auto Apply Mixed Signed to apply credit line items to debit line items in order to create a transaction with only same-signed line items that are open. This option is used to eliminate problems that may occur when open status processing is done with mixed signed line items.

    Maximum Shortage Amount

    Specify the maximum shortage amount, in company base currency, allowed during cash application. Shortage amounts within the maximum amount that you define are automatically adjusted during cash application. If you define more than one application tolerance, then you must define the maximum amounts in consecutive, ascending order.

    Maximum Overage Amount

    Specify the maximum payment overage amount in company base currency, allowed during cash application. Overage amounts within the maximum amount that you define are automatically adjusted during cash application.

    Reason Code

    For each level of tolerance, select the reason code for this application tolerance. This code defaults on automatic adjustment tolerances during cash application.

  5. Access the Statement tab to define default statement options. Select if the customer will receive statements and what kind of statements will be created with: zero balance, past due only, over credit limit only, or credit balance. Use these guidelines to specify the field values:
    Required

    Select whether statements are required for customers assigned this default code. Zero balance statements are not created unless specified.

    Cycle code

    Assign a statement cycle code to default on customers assigned this default code. This is used to group customers for statements and must be a valid statement cycle code for the company in AR04.1 (Cycle Codes).

  6. Access the Finance tab to define how you want finance charges to be assessed. Use these guidelines to specify the field values:
    Charge Type

    Select the type of finance charge to be assessed for customers assigned this default code. If left blank, the charge type option defined for the company defaults.

    Rate code / Cycle

    You can assign a rate code to default on customers assigned this default code. This code contains a monthly percentage rate, which is used to calculate finance charges for a customer, and must be a valid finance charge code in Finance Charge (AR07.1). If left blank, then the rate charge code assigned to the company in Company (AR01), if assigned, is set as default.

    You can assign a finance charge cycle code to default on customers assigned this default code. This is used to group customers for finance charge processing and must be a valid finance charge code for the company in Cycle Codes (AR04.1). If you entered a Finance Rate Code, then this field is required.

    Grace days

    Specify the number of grace days to be added to a transaction's due date before finance charges will be assessed. If left blank, then the grace days defined for the company default or no grace days are used.

    Print Notice

    Select whether finance charge documents will be printed. If left blank, then the print notice option defined for the company is set as default.

    Calculation Method

    Select the calculation method that you want to use to assess finance charges. You have two choices:

    • Net Finance Charges assess one finance charge based on the net amount of past due open items.

    • Detail Finance Charges assess finance charges individually for each open item over due and paid late.

    Cust Min Charge Method and Max/Min Amounts

    If you selected Y in the Minimum Charge Method field, then you must define the minimum finance charge amount. If the calculated finance charge for the customer is less than the value that you define, then the minimum charge will be assessed.

    If you selected N in the Minimum Charge Method field, then you have two options:

    • Leave the minimum charge field blank, and customers will be assessed the calculated finance charges.

    • Specify a value in the minimum charge amount field, and calculated finance charges below the minimum charge amount will not be assessed.

  7. Access the Dunning Advanced tab.
  8. Define the advanced options for the processing of dunning letters. Use these guidelines to specify the field values:
    Dunning Leter Indicator

    Specify whether the advanced dunning letter process is to be used for this customer.

    Dunning Process Code

    Select the dunning process code for this customer. This is a code that represents a combination of dunning letter options.

    Assess Dunning Fee

    Specify whether to assess a dunning letter fee.

    Multiple Letters

    Select Y if you want multiple dunning letters to be created per dunning cycle. Select N for a single letter creation per dunning cycle.