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ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017
ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS [Abstract] |
ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS | ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS The following table shows the activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts (in thousands of dollars):
| For the Years Ended December 31,
| 2017 |  | 2016
Balance at beginning of period | $ | 26,690 |  |  | $ | 22,288 |
Provision for uncollectible accounts | 16,376 |  |  | 16,216 |
Write-off of uncollectible accounts, net of recoveries | (16,597 | ) |  | (11,248 | )
Foreign currency and other | 2,798 |  |  | (566 | )
Balance at end of period | $ | 29,267 |  |  | $ | 26,690 |

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- Definition The entire disclosure for claims held for amounts due a entity, excluding financing receivables. Examples include, but are not limited to, trade accounts receivables, notes receivables, loans receivables. Includes disclosure for allowance for credit losses. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=d3e5066-111524 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(4)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.6-04(6)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488278&loc=d3e603758-122996 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(3)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=d3e5162-111524 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(5)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(7)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=d3e5074-111524 + Details
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