Hi Brnstrmr,
Welcome to the Community. It's essential to correctly record bad debts in your QuickBooks Online account to keep your books balanced. I'd be glad to help.
I encourage you to contact an accountant. They will be able to point you in the right direction to record bad debts and keep your books balanced. If you don't have an accountant, you can find one near you by clicking on My Accountant on the left navigation menu> and then Find a pro to help.
Let me know if you have questions, I'll be happy to help.