i run a small business, i know that most of the time when a customer goes broke and owes me $5,000 - $10,000 they normally owe the tax man $200,000 - $500,000, they normally owe there staff in holiday pay and super $100,000 - $300,000
taxman first, staff second, the rest of us last
if i want my money it would cost me $25,000 in legal fees to get back $5,000 in four years time if theres any left
i just drop it, move on and never forget, i will find them one day