While you wait patiently (because you’re Mr. Nice Guy) your debtor is likely paying someone else.  And, if your debtor is experiencing poor cashflow or going out of business, you may miss your only opportunity to get paid.  Good communication with your customer is key. But, once communication breaks down and you are being ignored or promises are broken, you need to act quickly to get an experienced attorney involved.  

When it comes to moving to the top of someone’s bill paying pile, using threats and harassment are not the best ways to get results.  PEOPLE PAY PEOPLE THEY LIKE.  Maintain a professional attitude at all times while conveying options, expectations and deadlines.  “I’ll be calling my lawyer” shuts doors but small changes in verbiage such as “I’ll be forced to transfer this account to our collection attorney on Monday” communicates the same message and creates urgency while maintaining a professional tone.  

While its common for management to have to wear many hats, using inexperienced people to manage overdue accounts can be a costly error.  Experienced debt collection attorneys know all the ins-and-outs of collection accounts.  Professionals are best suited to convey legal arguments and carry the weight of litigation.  Only attorneys can talk about previous cases, rulings and viable (and unviable) defenses.  With years of experience one can detect truth-telling from wishful thinking and master the nuances of negotiation.  While it may cost less to do-it-yourself upfront, you pay a higher price for inexperience in the end.