New Study Reveals Unprecedented Levels of Debt for Americans

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A new study by The Kaplan Group shows that the debt burden has reached an all-time high for American households. We analyzed the evolution of auto loans, mortgages, credit card and student loans since 2003. Key Takeaways All-time high Auto loans, mortgages, and student loans are at an all-time high since 2003. Although the total … Read more

States with The Biggest Debt Burdens

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A new study by Kaplan shows that the average monthly search for “debt relief” on Google has grown by 49% in the past year, highlighting a national concern about managing financial obligations. This study identifies the states facing the most significant challenges and those with a potentially healthier financial landscape. Key Takeaways Search Interest for … Read more

The True Cost of Hiring a Commercial Collection Agency

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It’s always exciting to land a new client, but when that client does not pay you and the debt adds up, excitement turns into anxiety and disappointment. It may be time to consider hiring a commercial collection agency. We all know managing a business and the cash flow process is a financial pain point. We’ve … Read more

Angry? You’re LESS Likely to Collect

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When it comes to collecting commercial debt, getting mad almost never leads to getting even. But the concern extends well beyond your bottom line. How to be 30% less effective in collecting business debt It’s simple. Just allow yourself to get absolutely furious about the situation, and BOOM. Your ability to recollect your money drops … Read more

Business Credit and Loan Resources for Veterans

Veterans play a vital role in our economy, with veteran-owned businesses making up 9.1% of companies today. Their efforts employ almost six million Americans and a trillion dollars in annual sales receipts. While they tend to choose self-employment more often than their civilian peers, they still find challenges when it comes to securing funding to … Read more

What Debt Collectors Can and Can’t do on Social Media

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Yes, it’s true. Debt collectors can now contact consumers on social media. Here’s the background and all you need to know about what debt collectors can and can’t do on social media. The History In November 2021, The CFPB made some long-awaited updates to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The FDCPA was enacted by … Read more

Three Things to Know Before You Sue a Client

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Thanks to the silver screen, many people believe they have a solid understanding of our court system and the judicial process. But what is often depicted in the most captivating courtroom scenes is far from reality. A debt collection lawsuit can be serious, complex and time-consuming. If the case isn’t settled and you move to … Read more

Preserving Your Client Relationships During Commercial Debt Collections

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Maintaining client relationships as you pursue an escalated B2B debt collection is a delicate balance. Many industries are “small worlds,” and your clients could be talking to each other more than you think. As a business owner, you need to preserve your bottom line, so commercial debt collection is critical. But, how you collect outstanding … Read more

7th Annual Scholarship Awarded

We are pleased to announce that Favour Ozordi, a junior at Minot State University, is the winner of our 7th annual $1,000 scholarship.  There were over 100 applicants this year, and it was extremely difficult picking a winner.  What gave Favuour’s essay the nod is that she used her own initiative to create a cash … Read more

Outstanding Debt Reduces Injury Settlements

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Being injured in an accident is scary, especially when the bills start to pile up. However, going after the negligent party responsible for your injuries can result in a settlement to cover those bills. As a personal injury lawyer can share, a settlement grants financial relief to the injured party. Unfortunately, if you have outstanding … Read more

Demand Letters: 4 Things to Know

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Clients often want to know about demand letters. They may consider having an attorney send a demand letter before turning it over to collections. Paying an attorney for an hour or two to write a letter is less expensive than a collection agency contingency fee. But, a letter itself may not actually get you paid. … Read more

Give Your Company More Leverage If Your Customer Does Not Pay

All too often, commercial debt collection becomes a negotiation.  At that point, the stronger the position our client has, the better the deal we typically can negotiate.  This could be more money, faster payments, avoiding court, or if necessary, the final outcome in court and the subsequent judgment collection process. Surprisingly, the vast majority of … Read more

FDCPA: 6 Things to Know About Regulation F

We’ve talked about the FDCPA before. This is the federal law that protects consumers from being harassed by debt collectors. As we’ve mentioned before, the law applies only to consumer debt, not businesses. The law also only applies to outside debt collectors, not companies who are owed the money for product or services they provided. … Read more

State of the Collections Industry in 2021

How did Covid-19 and the resulting economic downturn affect the collections industry? We may not know all the ramifications for a few years, but it’s clear that things have changed and will continue to do so. While delinquency levels did not spike, it is unclear how consumers will manage their obligations as the recession continues. … Read more

Collection Acronyms: 10 You Should Know

Most people think that the acronyms and terms they know are common knowledge. But the truth is that every field has its jargon and acronyms. Collections is no different. Whether you’re talking to your accounts receivable department, or hiring a collection agency, you are likely to hear a lot of terms you don’t know. You … Read more

5 Accounts Receivable Trends for 2021

What will be different about accounts receivable in 2021? Most of us will be pretty eager to leave 2020 behind. But, a lot of what we’re experiencing now, will most likely carry over into the new year. At least in terms of the economy. Here are 5 trends I’m expecting to see emerge or continue … Read more

Diversity and Office Holidays

Thanksgiving is almost here, which means it’s actually time to start thinking about your office and the winter holidays. Just like everything else, the holidays are going to be a little different this year. This year, with so many offices still working remote, trying to bring people together around the holidays is especially challenging and … Read more

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