West Virginia Debt Collection Attorneys

If you aren’t happy with the results that the typical collection agency in Charleston, West Virginia is providing, consider switching to a debt collection attorney. If your agency is like most, they’re only providing you with about a 28% recovery rate. In comparison, the corporate debt recovery firm of Stevens and Ricci delivers a 72% success rate, and we can collect on most accounts within 45 days. Give our offices near Charleston, WV a call today to start the collection process.

Charleston, West Virginia Collection Attorneys Succeed Where Others Fail

Don’t let your collection agency’s opinion stop you from recovering debts that they failed to collect. In many cases, the Stevens and Ricci firm can take advantage of critical opportunities that your collection agency missed. The typical collection agency will give up when they don’t get a positive response to their phone calls and letters. In contrast, the business collection lawyers at Stevens and Ricci will take steps to track down your debtors for face-to-face negotiations when necessary. Our national support network includes the very best collection lawyers and private investigators from each state in the Union. Don’t let your debtors continue to hide! By combining the collections and legal functions into a single team, the Stevens and Ricci group has created the most effective corporate debt recovery strategy possible. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to let us represent your interests when it comes to commercial claims.

Be Careful When Accepting Checks in West Virginia

If you really need the positive cash flow that receiving payments on outstanding debts can create, let the Stevens and Ricci firm handle this for you! By doing so, you’ll eliminate the possibility of receiving a bad check as payment. Because many of your delinquent debtors may be having their own cash flow problems, this can easily happen by accident. If your debtor tells you upfront that it will be awhile before they can make their payment and offers a post-dated check, don’t take it. Accepting a future-dated check can mean that you have no legal remedy when the check bounces. Look out for checks with low numbers or no numbers at all. The checking account is probably brand new, and most bad checks are written on accounts that are less than a year old. If you do receive a check that bounces, hold onto it until the writer reimburses you in full for the face value of the check and any bad check fees that you incurred. Although you can only charge a $15 service fee in West Virginia on a bad check, one written for more than $500 is considered a felony. While you may not want to take a customer to criminal court, it is a powerful incentive for repayment.

Charleston, West Virginia Debt Collection Attorneys vs. Collection Agencies

In addition to protecting your company from bad checks, experienced business collection attorneys in West Virginia can add even more value to your collection process. Not only does the Stevens and Ricci firm outperform the standard collection agency every time, but we also have the authority and the knowledge to use recovery methods that aren’t available to an agency. Unlike the typical collection agent who works strictly from their office, our team of private investigators and corporate debt collection attorneys go out into the field to meet directly with your debtors and their representatives. If your debtor hires a legal team, it can stop a collection agency immediately. However, the Stevens and Ricci firm finds this development encouraging. We will actively seek out their attorney for more advanced negotiation meetings. Don’t miss your chance to use the most effective corporate debt recovery process available to its full advantage!

Getting Creative in Charleston, WV

At Stevens and Ricci, we will take unconventional measures to collect your commercial debts when needed. Our private investigators frequently visit local courthouses to examine legal documents or prepare for collecting a judgment. We may decide to talk to your debtor’s other business partners including their bank, their vendors, or their suppliers. If your debtor likes to hide from our process server, they will dress up as a delivery person to get past the closed door. When all else fails, our debt collection lawyers often work with the debtor’s legal team to create billable time. This new debt can restart the clock and serve as a new reason to settle a debt.

Aggressive Payment Plans in Charleston, West Virginia

In uncertain economic times, the collection industry usually sees more requests for extended payments than payments in full. While we are always willing to work with your debtors, this situation can lead to potential defaults down the road if they can’t maintain a payment schedule. Our business collection attorneys can turn this potential problem into a great opportunity. We will draft an aggressive payment plan to increase your chance of regular payments and increase your default security.

Your collection agency has probably stuck with verbal agreements when negotiating a payment plan with your debtors in the past. We never make this mistake. To fully protect your interests, our debt collection lawyers never miss a chance to formalize the extended payment terms.

To start, we add a Consent Judgment to the payment agreement. This handy little legal clause allows us to file for an immediate and automatic judgment against your past due debtor when they miss their first payment. You won’t have to go to court, pay any additional fees, or waste any time. By using Consent Judgments in our payment agreements, we have increased our recovery rates by 40%.

As a second step, we convince your debtor to sign a Personal Guaranty clause to take personal responsibility for the debt. If the corporation fails, you have no recourse without this signed statement. In most cases, your debtor will readily agree in return for the extended payment terms. `

As a final addition to the payment plan, we calculate a 1.5% per month interest rate. The debtors usually agree to this amount without any further negotiations. As a bonus to our clients, this interest usually pays for the majority of the collection costs. With this feature, you can take advantage of the best collection methods in the industry at a much lower cost than the less effective collection agencies.

Utah Debt Collection Attorneys

If you’ve had less than optimal results from the collection agencies in Utah, consider using a corporate debt collection attorney instead. The commercial debt recovery team at the Stevens and Ricci firm can deliver a 72% success rate compared to the much lower 28% figure offered by a standard collection agency. In most cases, we can collect your debts faster, too; our average collection timeframe is 30 to 45 days. If your business is located near Layton, Utah or Murray, Utah, give us a call today to start the commercial debt collection process.

Salt Lake City, UT Collection Lawyers Succeed Where Others Fail

A business debt recovery attorney succeeds where a collection agent fails because their method misses critical opportunities. The collection agent will make a few phone calls, but will give up sooner or later when there is no positive response. A collection attorney with the Stevens and Ricci firm will take the extra steps to track down your debtor to negotiate payments. We have formed a national support network for our collection process that includes the best private investigators and debt collection attorneys in every state across the nation. If your debtor is trying to avoid paying their debts, there will be no place to hide from our team. Although our services are strictly on the pre-litigation side of the collection game, just the hint of legal action is usually enough to get the payment process started. After all, a call from an actual attorney always carries more weight than one from a mere collection agent. To make sure that we never miss a critical opportunity, the Stevens and Ricci firm has combined the best minds in the legal and collection worlds into one group. Don’t miss your opportunity to take advantage of the collection services offered by Stevens and Ricci in the Tooele, Utah or Layton, Utah areas.

Watch Out for Bad Checks in Utah

When accepting a check for payment in Utah, be very careful. If the check has a low number, especially below 125, it is probably written on a very new account. The vast majority of bad checks are written on accounts that are less than a year old. While there’s not much you can do about a bad check to recover your money unless the debtor is willing to pay, you can press criminal charges. In Utah, anything under $300 is considered a misdemeanor, and everything over is a felony. While you probably don’t want to take the time to go to court to press charges, the threat of doing so can often make the debtor compensate you for your loss. When anyone attempts to provide payment in order to retrieve a bounced check, never hand it over until you’ve received payment in full in the form of cash, money order, or certified check. Of course, if you use the services of the Stevens and Ricci offices in Tooele, UT or Layton, UT, you never have to worry about receiving a bad check as payment on a delinquent account. We’ll make sure that every payment is received in a secure manner before forwarding it to your receivables department.

Murray, Utah Debt Collection Attorneys vs. Collection Agencies

In addition to preventing additional costs by avoiding bad checks, using an experienced corporate debt collection attorney has numerous other benefits when compared to hiring a typical collection agency. You will not only find that our attorneys outperform a normal collection agency each and every time, but that we also have the knowledge and the authority to use recovery methods that simply aren’t available to a regular collection agent. While a mere collection agent is usually stopped by the voice mail system, a debt collection attorney can not only get in the door, but meet directly with the owners and their agents. In fact, we look forward to the day that your debtor hires their own legal counsel. Instead of stopping the collection process, this helps us move it forward.

Business Sales in Salt Lake City, Utah

Collection agencies don’t know to handle a business sale, acquisition, or merger. In fact, one of the fastest ways to get a collection agency to leave you alone is to tell them that you’ve sold your business. However, a business collection attorney has a very specific strategy reserved for this situation. Every transaction of this kind must have a buy/sell agreement that often includes a set-aside provision or a reserve allowance intended to pay unsecured creditors who hole a balance during the transfer of ownership. A collection agency would never be able to get their hands on this legal document, but our business collection attorneys can put pressure on the owners and their agents to turn a copy over for review.

Murray, Utah Case Study

In 2004, a Murray, UT materials supplier was having trouble collecting a $25,000 balance from a local soil stabilization company. They had paid for the materials, but were refusing to pay the sales tax based on two issues they were having with the supplier. There was a discrepancy in wording between the credit application and the invoices. The other issue was that there was a supposed defect in the materials themselves.

Although the Stevens and Ricci debt collection attorney tried their best, this debt went uncollected and was placed in a cold case file for later reference. Because the soil stabilization company had a strong defense, we felt it best to report it to the two major commercial credit bureaus and move on to other matters for the time being.

Just this past year, another employee from the soil stabilization company called our offices to find out why there was an entry from the Stevens and Ricci firm on their credit report. This employee did not know anything about the original matter, and they were told that the attorney would look into the matter and call them back.

After pulling the file, our debt collection attorney returned their call. After listening to a brief explanation, they requested proof from the materials company that the sales tax was paid. This was very different from 2004 when they wanted the $25,000 to serve as a discount for failing to fix the problem with the materials.

This matter was closed completely when the debtor settled the account for $20,000 in exchange for clearing the item from the stabilization company’s credit report. This old debt was settled because the collection attorney handled the matter in a professional manner.

Commercial Debt Recovery in Oklahoma

If you’ve been less than impressed with the results that your Oklahoma collection agent has been providing, take advantage of the corporate debt recovery legal team at Stevens and Ricci. Our commercial debt recovery attorneys deliver an aggressive 72% recovery rate compared to the average 28% rate that most collection agencies provide. Not only will we recover more of your debt, we’ll also collect it faster. In most cases, you’ll receive payment in 45 days or less. If your company is located near Tulsa, OK or Oklahoma City, give our offices a call to start the collection process.

Collection Attorneys in Oklahoma Succeed Where Others Fail

By taking advantage of critical opportunities that the collection agency misses, we succeed where they fail. Your collection agent will make a few phone calls, but give up when they don’t receive a positive response. Our debt collection lawyers actually track down the debtor, wherever they may be, to negotiate a payment plan. Our national support network includes private investigators and collection lawyers in every state. They will leave no stone unturned when pursuing your corporate debts. Our services are strictly pre-litigation, but your debtor doesn’t know that. One hint of a lawsuit, and they will take the negotiation process seriously. By combining the collections and legal functions into one streamlined team, the Stevens and Ricci firm leaves no opportunity out of the equation. Don’t miss your opportunity to have our team represent your next commercial claim in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma or Edmond, OK.

Don’t Count on Legal Protection for Oklahoma Creditors

In Oklahoma, you must collect your debts according to the state’s strict statute of limitations. This state has some of the lowest limits seen anywhere. In many cases, you may have as little as three years to collect your money, and you never have more than five. Even a court judgment expires in Oklahoma after five years. Don’t waste another second in Tulsa, OK by trying to collect your own commercial debts or contracting with a normal collection agency. Call our Oklahoma City offices to today to take advantage of the fastest possible collection methods.

Debt Collection Attorneys in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma vs. Collection Agencies

Using an experienced legal team to collect your commercial debts provides numerous advantages in addition to saving time. Our business collection attorneys have knowledge and authority that simply isn’t available to a standard collection agency. When the typical collection agent is screened using voice mail, a debt collection attorney can gain direct access to the owner or their agent. When a debtor obtains legal counsel, a collection agent must cease all collection efforts. Our business debt recovery lawyers welcomes this development and will actively seek out the opposing counsel for further negotiations. Continue reading to learn more about how a collection attorney can help recover your debts in Edmond, OK.

Forbearance Agreements in Oklahoma City

A forbearance agreement allows the Stevens and Ricci debt collection attorney to help your debtor stay in business so that they can repay their debts. After all, if they stop making money, how will they ever pay you? We prevent other creditors from filing lawsuits against your debtor to allow them to restructure their debt. In this situation, you not only help out a valuable customer, but you’ve also escalated your payment position while avoiding the courtroom. By creating a win-win situation, your delinquent debtor may go on to be a valued customer again in the future.

Unusual Strategies in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Sometimes, the legal team at Stevens and Ricci has to use a few unique strategies to recover your commercial debts. However, we always do whatever it takes to complete the job. Our team of private investigators may investigate the debtor’s other business partners including vendors, suppliers, or financial institutions. They may examine public records or meet with the district attorney before collecting a judgment. Our process servers have to be particularly crafty at times. Desperate debtors will go to any lengths to avoid receiving legal paperwork that means the collection process has entered a more serious phase. When required, our process servers will disguise themselves as a delivery driver or other service worker. This strategy often results in an open door. In extreme cases, we can even create billable time by working with the debtor’s counsel and use this as a new reason for settlement.

Edmond, Oklahoma Case Study

It’s a growing trend in the United States for companies and individuals to claim that they no longer owe a debt because they have either sold their business, merged with another company, or been acquired by another corporate entity. In most cases, provisions will have been made to pay any creditors, but the debtor isn’t always forthcoming with this information.

One of our clients, an office supply companies in Edmond, Oklahoma, had such a problem. A local printing company, ABC Printing, owed them a total of $72,000, but refused to pay the debt. They claimed that they sold the business to XYZ Printers before our client generated or sent the invoices to ABC. During the sale process, our client was never notified of the transaction.

At this point, the average collection agency would consider the account uncollectible and close the case. However, that’s not the standard operating procedure at Stevens and Ricci. Our collection attorney was able to obtain a copy of the buy/sell agreement for further analysis. After looking over this legal document, we found that it included a set-aside provision and a reserve allowance to pay unsecured creditors like our client who hold an open balance during the transaction. By enforcing this provision, we were able to force the debtor to pay our client’s invoices in full.

The average collection agent would not be able to obtain a copy of the buy/sell agreement even if they were aware that such a document existed. The legal offices of the debtor’s counsel would never even discuss the matter with a mere collection agent. By using a commercial debt recovery lawyer instead, our client avoided losing a substantial amount of money.

Commercial Debt Recovery in Kansas

If your collection agency isn’t delivering the results that you would like to see for your Kansas City, Kansas business, it’s time to consider using a debt collection attorney instead. The corporate debt collection firm of Stevens and Ricci offers a 72% recovery rate that compares very favorably to the 28% rate that the normal collection agency offers. Our recovery system provides those results faster, too. In most cases, it only takes 30 to 45 days for the payments to begin coming in. If your business is located near Leavenworth, KS or Mission, KS, call our offices today to start the corporate debt collection process.

Overland Park, Kansas Collection Agencies Always Succeed

The success of the Stevens and Ricci firm depends on never missing a critical opportunity, something that doesn’t always happen with a collection agency. The other guys will make a few phone calls, wait for a response, and give up when no one calls them back. Our collection attorneys, on the other hand, track down your debtor instead of waiting for the phone to ring. Our national support network includes attorneys in every state in addition to the best private investigators in the collection game. Although our services are strictly on the pre-litigation side of the fence, just a hint of a lawsuit is usually enough to make your debtor start paying. This is entirely due to the fact that a conversation with an actual attorney carries much more weight that a call from a collection agency. At Stevens and Ricci, our process combines collection and legal functions to make sure that no opportunity is missed. Don’t miss your opportunity to use our firm for your commercial debt collection needs in Shawnee Mission, KS and Topeka, KS.

How Long Do You Have to Collect a Debt in Kansas?

If you don’t already know the answer to this question, you might be surprised. Depending on the type of contract, or if there even is one, the statue of limitations in Kansas runs out on corporate debt in three to five years. With this short timeframe, why would you ever waste more than a few days trying to collect a debt on your own or with a collection agency? Instead, take advantage of the most efficient corporate debt recovery process available by contracting with the business debt collection attorneys at Stevens and Ricci. We have offices located in several Kansas cities including Valley Center and Wichita.

Business Collection Attorneys vs. Collection Agencies

An experienced business collection attorney will save your company much more than time when compared to a standard collection agency. In addition to outperforming a collection agent every single time, they also have the authority and the knowledge that simply isn’t available to a collection agent. A collection agency will normally get voice mail, but we can gain direct access to your debtor and his representatives. When a delinquent customer hires a legal team, the collection agency is stopped in their tracks. However, a collection lawyer will call on the opposing counsel to arrange a meeting for further negotiations. Continue reading through the next few sections to find out even more ways that a debt collection lawyer in Topeka, Kansas will always be better than a collection agency.

Pursuing Principals in Kansas City

A business collection attorney can often pierce the corporate veil to go after the individual behind the commercial debt. This is often necessary when individuals run up hefty bills in the name of the corporation before closing their doors without filing for bankruptcy. Without an individual name to go after, creditors are left in a bad place because they can’t pursue a failed corporate entity for repayment of a debt. A business collection lawyer can use the theory of liability to pursue the principal. Another strategy is to use the alter-ego theory. This works whenever a business owner has used a non-corporate account to pay for company expenses. We can argue that the corporation wasn’t legal and that the owner personally owes the debt.

Business Sales in Leavenworth, KS

In the case of a liquidation, merger, acquisition, or bankruptcy, most collection agencies do not know how to move forward to collect your debt. A corporate debt recovery attorney can put pressure on the owners or their legal team to supply a copy of the buy/sell agreement. After careful analysis, this legal document often reveals a set aside provision or a reserve allowance for unsecured creditors holding a balance during the transaction.

Wichita, Kansas Case Study

A few years ago, Stevens and Ricci received a call from a medical equipment manufacturer in the Wichita area. They had sold a large amount of medical supplies to a small hospital and surgery center. The debtor was a small startup in an established medical community where our client sold a large portion of their products. The facility was custom built for the debtor by the landlord after the lease was signed. About a year into their business, the surgery center closed down, and the property reverted back to the landlord. Before long, it was re-leased to a new medical tenant. At this time, the debtor owed our client about $46,000 in unsecured debt.

Because the state Medicare proceeds and other patient receivables were specifically earmarked for the secured creditors, our client felt they had no way to collect and turned to the Stevens and Ricci firm for help. We discovered that the debtor was in the process of collecting in the courtroom against several third parties. If he won, the award could pay off the majority, if not all, of his unsecured debt.

In order to recover our client’s commercial debt, we knew that we had to keep the other creditors from filing their own lawsuits against the debtor while the case was pending. If this happened, the debtor could simply file bankruptcy, and everyone would lose out. We drafted a forbearance agreement and convinced all parties, including the other creditors, to agree. By creating this type of collection plan, we were able to collect $35,000 to settle the account in full eighteen months later when the debtor collected their damages from the lawsuit. A collection agency would never have been able to pursue this corporate collection avenue.

If your company in Rhode Island isn’t satisfied with the poor results that your current collection agency provides, consider using a debt collection attorney instead. The commercial debt collection firm of Stevens and Ricci can provide a 72% recovery rate to improve your cash flow. Compared to the much lower 28% rate delivered by the typical collection agency, our process can make a big difference in your past due accounts. Our collection process is much faster as well. In most cases, we only take 45 days to complete negotiations with your delinquent debtor. At times, it’s even faster. Call our Newport, RI, Providence, RI, or Warwick, RI offices today to get started!

Newport, Rhode Island Collection Attorneys Succeed Where Others Fail

If your collection agency considers many of your past due accounts uncollectible, you’re in for a pleasant surprise with the Stevens and Ricci firm! A collection agency misses critical opportunities that we always use to their full advantage. Instead of wasting our time with missed calls and letters that end up in the trash can, we meet with your debtors and their agents in person when needed. Our support network includes private investigators and business collection attorneys in every state in the nation. When your debtor tries to simply avoid their debts, they will have nowhere to hide when Stevens and Ricci is handling their corporate account. Our firm concentrates solely on pre-litigation collection methods, but even the hint of legal action can make a big difference. This is because a conversation with an actual collection lawyer always makes a bigger impact than a call from a collection agent. By combining collection and legal functions, Stevens and Ricci never misses a critical opportunity to collect on your behalf. Don’t miss your opportunity to have a Stevens and Ricci debt collection attorney represent your interests on your next commercial debt recovery effort.

The Statute of Limitations in Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, the statute of limitations is actually pretty fair. In most cases, it gives you 10 full years to collect on a debt before your time runs out. However, if your client doesn’t want to pay now, why would you think that time will change their mind? Plus, you probably need this money now to pay your own debts. Because the Stevens and Ricci firm offers the fastest, most efficient collection process available, you can’t afford to try to collect these debts on your own or place them with a standard collection agency.

Newport, RI Debt Collection Attorneys vs. Collection Agencies

Not only will an experienced debt collection attorney save time for your Rhode Island company, they can also provide numerous other advantages when compared to hiring a standard collection agency. Not only will a Stevens and Ricci business debt collection attorney outperform a regular collection agency every time, we also have the knowledge and the authority to use collection techniques that just aren’t available to a collection agent. While your collection agent will typically get voice mail, a corporate debt recovery attorney will gain direct access to company owners and their agents. When the delinquent business owner obtains legal counsel, a collection agency will usually be forced to stop their collection efforts. In comparison, a business collection attorney welcomes this opportunity to actively seek out the opposing attorney. Continue reading to discover more ways that Stevens and Ricci can help collect your commercial debts.

Bounced Checks in Providence, RI

Don’t get so excited to see a payment come in that you accept a potentially bad check. Bounced checks will only add to your problem by adding fees and complicating the collection effort. When your debtor pays on their account with a low-numbered check, be very careful. You may even want to call the bank to verify that the funds are there. Low-numbered checks often indicate that the account is fairly new, and most bad checks are written before the account reaches the one-year point. If you are holding a bad check, never give it back to the debtor before they pay you in full with cash, a money order, or a cashier’s check. When you use the Stevens and Ricci firm for your collection effort, this is no longer a concern. We always collect the payments for you in secure funds before forwarding the payments to your company.

Getting Creative in Warwick, RI

Sometimes, the Stevens and Ricci firm has to use creative methods to collect your corporate debts. Our debt collection attorneys may work with a private investigator to speak to your debtor’s other business partners from financial institutions to suppliers. At times, the investigator may also examine public records or meet with the local district attorney before collecting on a judgment. Some of your debtors can be fairly good at avoiding our process servers. In these cases, our servers don’t mind using a disguise to gain entry. It’s curious how a process server in a suit is left standing outside while one in a delivery uniform can walk right in. In some cases, our collection lawyers will work with your debtor’s counsel to create billable time that can be charged to the debtor. This new debt can create a reason for settlement.

Rhode Island Case Study

Recently, our Rhode Island office received a call from a Portland medical equipment manufacturer. A small hospital and surgery center close by had purchased a significant amount of supplies from our client to start their practice. Their facility was custom-built by the landlord and leased to the debtor. Within a year, the surgery center shut down and the property reverted to the landlord. The office was soon re-leased to another medical practice, but our client was left with $46,000 in unpaid bills.

The state Medicare proceeds and all other patient receivables were earmarked specifically for the secured creditors, which left our client in an uncertain position. The local debt collection attorney on our staff was familiar with the situation and began a deeper investigation. He discovered that the debtor was in the process of suing several third-parties for a substantial amount. If he won, the damages could possibly pay off his unsecured debts completely.

To make sure that our client received payment, our collection lawyer knew that he must convince the other creditors to delay any further action against the debtor so that he could put his affairs in order. Our attorney drafted a forbearance agreement and convinced the other major creditors to agree to the delay. Due to the professional collection methods used by our debt collection attorney, our client received $35,000 as a settlement in full from the debtor’s lawsuit proceeds some months later.

Kentucky Debt Collection Attorneys

If you’re less than satisfied with the poor results that your Kentucky collection agency provides, consider using a corporate debt collection attorney instead. The firm of Stevens and Ricci delivers a 72% recovery rate. This is much higher than the 28% average recovery rate that the typical collection agency offers in Lexington, Kentucky. In addition to collecting a higher percentage of your commercial debts, we can collect it faster, too. Expect to see payments within 30 to 45 days on average. Give our offices in Lexington, KY or Louisville, KY a call today to find out how we can help bring your accounts current!

Lexington, Kentucky Collection Attorneys Succeed Where Others Fail

We never miss a critical opportunity at the Stevens and Ricci firm. This is the main reason that we succeed where standard collection agencies fail. Your collection agency’s standard operating procedure is to make a few phone calls and wait for someone to call back. A collection attorney will take the steps needed to track down your debtor, no matter where they may be, to start the repayment negotiation process. In addition to debt collection attorneys in every state, our national support network includes a team of private investigators. Although Stevens and Ricci concentrates on the pre-litigation side of the collection process, just the hint of a lawsuit is usually enough to make a difference in the recovery effort. After all, a conversation with a collection attorney will always carry more weight than a call from a collection agent. To make sure that no opportunity is missed, Stevens and Ricci has combined the collections and legal functions into one streamlined network. Don’t miss your opportunity to have Stevens and Ricci represent your Kentucky company in their next commercial claim!

Are Kentucky Laws there to Protect Your Company’s Interests?

In Kentucky, you have as little as five years or up to ten years to recover your debt depending on the circumstances. While this sounds like plenty of time, you may be surprised the first time someone tries to avoid paying their bill. It’s amazing how quickly time can fly by when you’re running a successful company. If the end of your timeframe is approaching, don’t waste more time on a typical collection agency. Instead, give us a call. The Stevens and Ricci firm provides the most efficient collection services available in the commercial collections industry.

Lexington, KY Debt Collection Attorneys vs. Collection Agencies

A debt collection attorney in Lexington, Kentucky can do more than just save time. In fact, they will outperform a standard collection agency each and every time. This is mostly due to having knowledge and authority that isn’t available to the typical collection agent. While a collection agent is usually stopped by voice mail and screened calls, a business debt attorney can gain direct access to your debtor and their agents. A collection agency is usually stopped immediately by the debtor if they decide to hire legal representation. In contrast, our debt collection attorneys welcome this development as a new way to advance the collection process. Continue reading to learn more about how a commercial debt recovery team can help resolve your issues in Louisville, Kentucky.

Consent Judgments in Louisville, KY

When your debtor in Louisville or Lexington, Kentucky agrees to a short-term payment plan, our collection lawyer can often strengthen the agreement by convincing the debtor to sign a legal document called a consent agreement. This contract allows the creditor to request an immediate judgment without stepping into the courtroom or paying any additional fees as soon as the first payment is missed. It allows the debtor’s bank account to be garnished for the entire amount due. In most cases, we already know the banking information from previous paperwork. This makes the process very simple and increases the chances of payment dramatically. In fact, you will be in a better position than the vast majority of secured creditors with a consent judgment.

Bounced Checks in Lexington, Kentucky

At times, companies are so glad to see a payment finally come in that they don’t give the check a second thought. However, a delinquent company is much more likely to pay you with a bad check by accident or on purpose. Be especially careful of any check with a low number. This indicates that the account is fairly new, and most bad checks are written on accounts that are less than a year old. When you receive a bad check, hold onto it until the debtor repays this debt in cash or secured funds along with any fees that you may have incurred. When you use the Stevens and Ricci firm to collect your commercial debts, you no longer have to worry about bounced checks. We will make sure the funds are collected in a secure manner before forwarding the payments to you or your agent.

Louisville, KY Case Study

More and more frequently, the Stevens and Ricci firm is seeing collection cases in which debtors are claiming they aren’t responsible for their debts because they have sold their company to another business.

One of our food supply clients places a $72,000 commercial account with us against a debtor in the restaurant business. The debtor, ABC Restaurant for this example, claimed that they sold the business to XYZ Restaurant, another alias, before our client sent out the invoices. Our client never knew about the sale, and continued to supply food items in good faith to the ABC entity.

Any typical collection agency would have given up and closed the account as uncollectible when this happened. However, the Stevens and Ricci firm went a step further and obtained a copy of the buy/sell agreement from the debtor’s legal team. This is something that the collection agency could never do. In this situation, a set-aside provision and reserve allowance was found in the sales documents that was intended to pay any unsecured creditor who held a balance during this business transaction. Our client’s invoices were paid in full under the terms of the buy/sell agreement.

Commercial Debt Recovery in Kansas

If your collection agency isn’t delivering the results that you would like to see for your Kansas City, Kansas business, it’s time to consider using a debt collection attorney instead. The corporate debt collection firm of Stevens and Ricci offers a 72% recovery rate that compares very favorably to the 28% rate that the normal collection agency offers. Our recovery system provides those results faster, too. In most cases, it only takes 30 to 45 days for the payments to begin coming in. If your business is located near Leavenworth, KS or Mission, KS, call our offices today to start the corporate debt collection process.

Overland Park, Kansas Collection Agencies Always Succeed

The success of the Stevens and Ricci firm depends on never missing a critical opportunity, something that doesn’t always happen with a collection agency. The other guys will make a few phone calls, wait for a response, and give up when no one calls them back. Our collection attorneys, on the other hand, track down your debtor instead of waiting for the phone to ring. Our national support network includes attorneys in every state in addition to the best private investigators in the collection game. Although our services are strictly on the pre-litigation side of the fence, just a hint of a lawsuit is usually enough to make your debtor start paying. This is entirely due to the fact that a conversation with an actual attorney carries much more weight that a call from a collection agency. At Stevens and Ricci, our process combines collection and legal functions to make sure that no opportunity is missed. Don’t miss your opportunity to use our firm for your commercial debt collection needs in Shawnee Mission, KS and Topeka, KS.

How Long Do You Have to Collect a Debt in Kansas?

If you don’t already know the answer to this question, you might be surprised. Depending on the type of contract, or if there even is one, the statue of limitations in Kansas runs out on corporate debt in three to five years. With this short timeframe, why would you ever waste more than a few days trying to collect a debt on your own or with a collection agency? Instead, take advantage of the most efficient corporate debt recovery process available by contracting with the business debt collection attorneys at Stevens and Ricci. We have offices located in several Kansas cities including Valley Center and Wichita.

Business Collection Attorneys vs. Collection Agencies

An experienced business collection attorney will save your company much more than time when compared to a standard collection agency. In addition to outperforming a collection agent every single time, they also have the authority and the knowledge that simply isn’t available to a collection agent. A collection agency will normally get voice mail, but we can gain direct access to your debtor and his representatives. When a delinquent customer hires a legal team, the collection agency is stopped in their tracks. However, a collection lawyer will call on the opposing counsel to arrange a meeting for further negotiations. Continue reading through the next few sections to find out even more ways that a debt collection lawyer in Topeka, Kansas will always be better than a collection agency.

Pursuing Principals in Kansas City

A business collection attorney can often pierce the corporate veil to go after the individual behind the commercial debt. This is often necessary when individuals run up hefty bills in the name of the corporation before closing their doors without filing for bankruptcy. Without an individual name to go after, creditors are left in a bad place because they can’t pursue a failed corporate entity for repayment of a debt. A business collection lawyer can use the theory of liability to pursue the principal. Another strategy is to use the alter-ego theory. This works whenever a business owner has used a non-corporate account to pay for company expenses. We can argue that the corporation wasn’t legal and that the owner personally owes the debt.

Business Sales in Leavenworth, KS

In the case of a liquidation, merger, acquisition, or bankruptcy, most collection agencies do not know how to move forward to collect your debt. A corporate debt recovery attorney can put pressure on the owners or their legal team to supply a copy of the buy/sell agreement. After careful analysis, this legal document often reveals a set aside provision or a reserve allowance for unsecured creditors holding a balance during the transaction.

Wichita, Kansas Case Study

A few years ago, Stevens and Ricci received a call from a medical equipment manufacturer in the Wichita area. They had sold a large amount of medical supplies to a small hospital and surgery center. The debtor was a small startup in an established medical community where our client sold a large portion of their products. The facility was custom built for the debtor by the landlord after the lease was signed. About a year into their business, the surgery center closed down, and the property reverted back to the landlord. Before long, it was re-leased to a new medical tenant. At this time, the debtor owed our client about $46,000 in unsecured debt.

Because the state Medicare proceeds and other patient receivables were specifically earmarked for the secured creditors, our client felt they had no way to collect and turned to the Stevens and Ricci firm for help. We discovered that the debtor was in the process of collecting in the courtroom against several third parties. If he won, the award could pay off the majority, if not all, of his unsecured debt.

In order to recover our client’s commercial debt, we knew that we had to keep the other creditors from filing their own lawsuits against the debtor while the case was pending. If this happened, the debtor could simply file bankruptcy, and everyone would lose out. We drafted a forbearance agreement and convinced all parties, including the other creditors, to agree. By creating this type of collection plan, we were able to collect $35,000 to settle the account in full eighteen months later when the debtor collected their damages from the lawsuit. A collection agency would never have been able to pursue this corporate collection avenue.

Debt Collection Attorneys in New Hampshire

If your New Hampshire company is not receiving the results that you were promised by your collection agency, it’s time to consider a change. Using a professional debt collection attorney with the Stevens and Ricci firm will make a significant difference to your cash flow. The 72% recovery rate delivered by our firm compares very favorably to the lower average rate of 28% that the standard collection agency offers. We can also recover your commercial debts in a shorter timeframe. In most cases, we can complete the collection process in 30 to 45 days, or even less! If your offices are located near Chester, NH or Wilton, NH, give us a call today to get the ball rolling!

Concord, New Hampshire Collection Attorneys Succeed Where Others Fail

When you contract with the Stevens and Ricci firm for your commercial debt collection needs, you get much more than promises. You will get results! Unlike your collection agency, we never miss a critical opportunity to collect your debt. While a collection agency will stick to phone calls and letters, our business debt attorneys are never stopped by a lack of response. When necessary, we will use our national support network of private investigators and collection attorneys in neighboring states to physically track down your debtor, no matter where they may be. Although the Stevens and Ricci collection method sticks to purely pre-litigation services, just the hint of legal action can make all the difference in the collection process. After all, a conversation with an actual attorney will always carry more weight that a call from a collection agency. By combining the collection and legal functions into one team, the Stevens and Ricci firm never misses a critical opportunity to recover a debt. Don’t miss your opportunity to use a professional debt collection attorney to represent your financial interests in Exeter, NH or Manchester, NH.

Don’t Waste Time in New Hampshire

Depending on the circumstances, you may only have three years to collect your debt in New Hampshire without going to court. Even if you obtain a judgment, this little piece of paper is no guarantee that you’ll ever receive the matching payment. In fact, the collection process can still be a long, frustrating process. Instead of wasting time and increasing your collection problems, allow the Stevens and Ricci to handle these matters for you. Our collection process offers the most efficient and timely recovery system in the collections industry.

Newport, New Hampshire Debt Collection Attorneys vs. Collection Agencies

The Stevens and Ricci firm can save your Portsmouth, New Hampshire business more than time. An experienced debt collection attorney can provide even more benefits when compared to hiring a standard collection agency. When your collection agency is just getting voice mail, our business debt collection lawyers will be meeting directly with the business owners and their agents. When your collection agency is stopped in their tracks by your debtor’s legal team, our commercial debt recovery attorney will be sitting down at the table for the formal negotiation process with the opposing counsel. Read more to discover additional ways that we can help you with your outstanding debts in Chester, NH or Manchester, NH.

Business Sales in Concord, New Hampshire or Exeter, New Hampshire

You might be surprised to know that most collection agencies will automatically designate an account as uncollectible when they’ve been informed of a business sale. However, the business debt collection attorneys at Stevens and Ricci know a little bit more about business sales, mergers, liquidations, and bankruptcies. We can pressure the owner or their representatives to supply a copy of the legal documents that are part of this type of transaction. In many cases, our analysis reveals a reserve allowance or set-aside clause that is specifically included to pay unsecured creditors who hold an open balance during this process.

Forbearance Agreements in Wilton, NH

Some debtors are truly in financial difficulty and would like to pay their debts if they only had the funds. If this appears to be a temporary situation, the debt collection attorneys at Stevens and Ricci can help them out. By drafting a forbearance agreement that prevents the other creditors from filing suit until they can get their financial house in order and begin repaying their debts, many of our clients finally receive payment in full. With this plan, everyone wins. Our client receives their money, the debtor can remain in business, and both parties often continue to do business together for years to come!

The Collections Game is Changing in New Hampshire

Due to the poor economy in New Hampshire and the rest of the nation, the collection industry is seeing more and more extended payment plans compared to payments in full. At Stevens and Ricci, we can turn this crisis into an opportunity. With a properly and aggressively drafted legal agreement, we can not only increase our client’s chances of receiving payments as promised, but add increased default security, too!

While the typical collection agency usually creates an informal payment plan through a set of verbal discussions, the Stevens and Ricci firm never makes this mistake. To give our clients the best chance of recovery on their commercial accounts, we never miss the opportunity to profit by these situations.

As a first step, we will add a Consent Judgment clause to the payment agreement. This allows us to ask for an automatic judgment against your debtor when the first payment is missed. This easy process doesn’t involve filing any additional paperwork, going to trial, or spending any more money. This strategy alone increases our payment percentage by more than 40%.

Next, we ask the principal to sign a Personal Guaranty clause. This assigns the debt to them personally in the even that the corporation fails. In most cases, they will sign in exchange for extended payment terms. By using a little psychology, we can usually convince the debtor to sign this agreement.

Our final method involves adding a 1.5% interest factor to our notes per month. Very rarely do debtors attempt to negotiate a lower rate. This covers virtually all of our fees so that you can often take advantage of the Stevens and Ricci collection method for next to nothing out of pocket.

Business Debt Collections in Maine

Don’t let the lackluster results of the typical Maine collection agency convince you to simply write off your company’s delinquent accounts. Instead, consider using a debt collection attorney. The commercial debt recovery firm of Stevens and Ricci can provide you with a 72% recovery rate. When you compare this figure to the 28% rate that the average collection agency delivers, it’s easy to see why you’ve been disappointed in the past. In addition to collecting a higher percentage of your money, our collection team can also complete the negotiation process much faster. In the vast majority of cases, payments begin coming in for each account within 45 days from the time you place the account with our firm. Sometimes, the process is even faster. If your company is located near Bangor, Maine or Portland, Maine, give us a call today!

Westbrook, ME Collection Attorneys Succeed Where Others Fail

There’s a very good reason for the success of the Stevens and Ricci firm. We never miss a critical opportunity. Your collection agency must rely on phone calls, voice mails, and collection letters to collect on your accounts. If this worked, you would have been able to collect on these accounts without their help. The debt collection attorneys at Stevens and Ricci will physically locate your debtor, no matter where they may be, for face-to-face negotiations when needed. Our national support network includes attorneys and private investigators in every state. When a delinquent customer owes money to one of our clients, there is truly no where to hide! Although our services stay in the pre-litigation arena, just a hint of a legal battle is usually enough to make your debtor begin satisfying their financial responsibilities. After all, how much weight does a call from a collection agent carry when compared to a conversation with an actual attorney? At Stevens and Ricci, we have combined the legal and collection functions to make sure that we take full advantage of every critical opportunity. Don’t miss your opportunity in Yarmouth, Maine to use our services to collect your next corporate claim!

Statute of Limitations on Debts in Maine

In Maine, you only have six years from the time a debt is incurred to collect your money. Of course, if you take the time to have every contract signed in the presence of witnesses, you’ll have 20 years. Who has time for that when they think they’re dealing with honest business people? If your time is running short, don’t waste even more trying to collect on your own or using a regular collection agency. Use the Stevens and Ricci firm for the fastest and most efficient corporate debt recovery method in the industry.

Bangor, ME Collection Attorneys vs. Collection Agencies

When you use the corporate debt recovery services of Stevens and Ricci, you’ll gain more than a substantial time savings. Not only does a collection attorney outperform a collection agency time and time again, we also have the knowledge and authority to use recovery strategies that a collection agency wouldn’t even know about. A collection agency may only get voice mail, but a debt collection agency can gain direct access to your debtor and their agents. If your debtor hires their own attorney, a collection agency is usually forced to cease their collection efforts. In comparison, our debt collection attorneys welcome this situation. They will immediately act to seek out the opposing counsel for more advanced negotiations. The next few sections detail even more advantages that come with retaining a corporate debt attorney in Portland, Maine.

Bounced Checks in Westbrook, ME

If you really need to collect on your delinquent accounts to pay your own bills, you may be so glad to see a check come in that you don’t think twice. Unfortunately, this can be the start of new problems if the check bounces. When accepting a check on a delinquent account, be very careful with any check that has a low number. This usually means that the account is new, and most bad checks are written within the first year of opening a checking account. Always hold onto the check itself until you receive payment in full, including any fees, in either cash or other secured funds. By using the Stevens and Ricci corporate debt recovery lawyers, you’ll never have to worry about this situation with an account that we are handling. We always collect and deliver secure funds.

Creative Methods in Yarmouth, Maine

Do you think the standard collection agency will do anything out of the ordinary if your debt is hard to collect? They’ll simply sit in their little office and move on to easier pickings. We often hire private investigators to research your debtor’s other business partners including banks, vendors, and suppliers. Our debt collection attorneys may review public records or meet with the district attorney to prepare to collect on a judgment. Our process servers are creative, too! It’s amazing how a tricky debtor will suddenly open their door when our server dresses up like a delivery person or uses other unconventional attire. As a last resort, we may even send a team of collection attorneys to work with your debtor’s lawyer. In this way, we can bill their time to the debtor and use this as a new reason to collect on your debt.

A Case Study in Bangor, Maine

One of our clients provides a wonderful example that shows how our services are far superior to a regular collection agency. They sold surgical equipment to a Maine surgery center, but couldn’t collect after the center closed their doors and left the area without leaving any contact information. The surgery center was incorporated, and there was no personal guarantor behind the debt.

As our client tried to decide how to proceed, they began calling the credit references that the surgery center had listed on their credit application. One, another vendor, was also left with a large delinquent account. They had been told by their collection agency to write the debt off. With a failed corporation, there is no one to collect from.

However, our client just couldn’t afford to do this. It was just too big of a loss to give up on. They called our offices in Bangor and spoke to one of our collection attorneys who looked into the matter. After speaking to employees at both our client’s location and the other vendor’s office, he found out that a local hospital administrator was very familiar with the debtor. From this contact, he obtained the name of the surgeon who had owned the surgery center as well as the phone number for his private practice.

Our attorney made contact and spoke directly to the surgeon. He found out that the doctor was in the process of opening a new surgery center with other financial backing. He convinced the doctor to accept the debt personally by signing a Letter of Responsibility for the equipment.

While the debtor in this case did not have a legal responsibility to pay for the medical equipment after the corporation failed, we managed to collect the amount due for our client plus interest. Instead of giving up quickly like the original collection agency, our debt collection lawyer acted in a professional manner. His skillful investigative and negotiation practices resulted in a very positive outcome for our client. As a bonus, he also created a win-win situation for all parties involved. The doctor protected his reputation and continues to be a valued customer for our client’s company to this day.

Iowa Commercial Debt Collection Attorneys

The vast majority of companies in Des Moines, Iowa are disappointed with the poor results they receive when using a standard collection agency. If this describes your experience, consider using a team of collection attorneys instead! The corporate debt collection firm of Stevens and Ricci has a 72% recovery rate when compared to the 28% rate that the standard collection agency delivers. Not only are we better, we’re faster, too! When you use our recovery services, you can expect payment in less than 45 days on average. Sometimes, it’s even faster! If your company is located in or near Cedar Rapids, IA or Dubuque, IA, call our offices today!

Greenfield, Iowa Collection Attorneys Never Miss a Critical Opportunity

It’s no big secret why the Stevens and Ricci firm delivers results when others only make promises. We never miss a critical opportunity! Your collection agency will make a phone call or two, but quickly give up when their calls are avoided. Our business debt collection attorneys never stop there! We take whatever steps are necessary to track down your delinquent debtor, no matter where they might be, to negotiate the payment of their debt. Our national support network includes private investigators and collection lawyers that leave no stone unturned when it comes to our clients! Although we concentrate on pre-litigation services exclusively, just the mention of filing suit usually brings your debtors around. When you consider that the collection agent doesn’t have much to back up their requests, it’s not surprising that our debt recovery attorneys always outperform their efforts. By creating a team of collection and legal experts, the Stevens and Ricci firm leaves nothing to chance! Don’t miss your chance to have our team represent your interests on your next corporate claim in Grundy Center, IA or Iowa City, IA.

Iowa Laws Only Protect Your Debtor

While the laws in Iowa will allow you to continue trying to collect your debt for five years without a written contract and ten years with one, you really shouldn’t let that much time pass without receiving payment in full. After all, the longer you wait, the less likely you are to see a dime. While you’re being patient, your customer could file bankruptcy or simply close their doors and disappear. These events don’t mean it’s impossible to collect, but they certainly complicate matters. Instead of wasting time, allow the Stevens and Ricci firm to collect on your overdue accounts in a timely fashion!

West Des Moines, Iowa Debt Collection Attorneys vs. Collection Agencies

Although this really isn’t a fair comparison, we just couldn’t resist. To be completely honest, the Stevens and Ricci firm does have knowledge and authority that just isn’t available to the standard collection agency. While your collection agent is limited to voice mail, we can gain direct access to your debtor and their representatives for face-to-face meetings. When your debtor hires their own legal team, you collection agency will cease all collection efforts. In stark contrast, our corporate debt recovery attorneys look forward to this development as a new contact point. Continue reading the following sections for even more reasons that you should hire the firm of Stevens and Ricci for your collection efforts in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Bounced Checks in Des Moines, IA

Even when you’re desperate for money, you have to be careful when accepting checks, especially from delinquent customers. Instead of solving your problem, you may be creating a new one for both your operation and your customers. When the check number is low, watch out! This usually means that the account is new, and most bad checks are written within the first year. If you do find yourself in the situation where you’re holding a bad check, never return it to your customer until they’ve paid in full through cash, money order, or cashier’s check. When you use the services of the Stevens and Ricci firm, this problem disappears. We always make sure that your debts are collected in a secure manner before the payments are forwarded to you.

Creative Collection Methods in Dubuque, Iowa

When necessary, the Stevens and Ricci firm can get quite creative. We often hire private investigators to look into your debtor’s other business partners including other vendors, suppliers, financial institutions, and more. We might take a look at public records or meet with the district attorney prior to enforcing a judgment. If your debtor refuses to answer the door when our process server arrives, they frequently dress up as a delivery man or send someone else who looks a little less professional. This often opens an otherwise locked door. Sometimes, we work with your debtor’s lawyers and charge a fee that can be used as a new reason to settle the debt.

Iowa Case Study

In 2004, an Iowa City building supply firm contracted with Stevens and Ricci to collect a $25,000 debt against a local builder. The open debt wasn’t for the building materials because that debt had been paid. It was for sales tax that the debtor claimed should be absorbed by our client due to a problem with the wording in the credit application and invoices.

We tried our best, but couldn’t immediately collect the debt. It went into the cold case file after we reported it to both major commercial credit bureaus. Because the debtor had a fairly good reason for not paying, we thought it best to move on to other matters.

In February 2010, the builder called our offices in Des Moines to find out why we had reported them as delinquent with the commercial credit agencies. This employee had no idea what had happened back in 2004.

When our corporate debt recovery attorney called them back to review the matter, the employee simply asked for proof that the sales tax had been paid by our client. This was an easy enough request to satisfy, and a very different situation from what had occurred in 2004 when the builder wanted our client to forgive the debt as a discount and for a problem with the building materials.

After receiving proof of payment, the builder settled the debt for $20,000 in return for a clearing of the credit reports. The Stevens and Ricci firm was able to settle this six-year-old account because our debt collection attorney handled the issue in a professional manner!