What is the difference between a specific bad debt and a provision for bad debt?

A provision for bad debt is an accounting category/entry wherein the idea is to set aside monies/reserve from inclusion in income catigories in one's budget for debts owed to oneself/one's company which may become bad debts in the event they are not paid timely by the debtor. A specific bad debt is a debt owed to you by a debtor which you have determined or by the length of time it has remained unsatisfied your rules require that you identify as not to be collectable in normal process and which you now plan to turn over to your bill collecting process.