COLLECTION AGENCY

[HOMER]

I just read the other posts concerning bad debt and collecting.

My question is this, how do you turn something in to a collection agency.

1. Do you have to sign up with them and pay a fee?
2. Do you have to do x # of $$$$$'s a year to qualify?
3. Do you just call them.

I don't know anything about them from this side of the business but it may be time to "get to know one"! I myself have some vvvvveeeerrrrrryyyyy sloooooooooooowwwwwww payers, some of which I don't think have any intentions of paying at all. Looks like a good tool!

[ron]

hello try http://www.madagency.com this is an agency that I use all the time they are very good and you do not pay until they collect in full.
http://homestead.com/skyler72/ron.html

[ron]

opps sorry http://homestead.juno.com/skyler72/ron.html

[bob]

I think people must fear the collection agency. Last year I had 2 dead beat customers, who still owed me money in Febuary. I sent them both letters stating that I want their bill payed in full with in 7 days or I would turn ut over to a collection agency. Both of them payed real fast. I was just bluffing.

[jay]

I've been using a collection services for about 2 years now and how I actually signed up with them, they called me by mistake thinking I owed a bill I already payed. But all they asked for was some simple info about your buisness and had me sign a paper and that was it. They take a percentage of your money when they get the people to pay which sometimes comes out to 50%. Don't expect a great return though or a payment anytime soon. Being able to send a letter letting them know they'll be sent to collections usally gets the ones who will pay you to do so. I use the collections mainly because I fill something should be done to these people who still your services and it seems like to much a hassle to go to court. oh yeah and give your collection agency detailed accounts about these customers.

[KindGardener]

Jay - I'm also in So. Cal - Which agency do you use?

[kutnkru]

I like to park my stakebody in the middle of their driveway at about 645am. Then when they get ready to leave I just inform them that this is a curtesy call because they havent returned my two (2-thats all they get) phone calls pertaining to their overdue balance, and was wondering if they could write me a check to bring them up to date.

I tell them something like "Obviously its been overlooked because they havent called to cancel our services. I hadnt thought there was a problem with the statement since they also had not called about a discrepency in the billing within the first 7 days of recieving it. I would greatly appreciate it if they could take a moment to write me check to bring their account up to date??"

If they dont have time, then upon returning to my truck it wont start or something. How inconveinient for them to be late to work, or lose money because of someone else being inconsiderate to their needs.

Ironic-huh.
Kris

[jay]

Jay - I'm also in So. Cal - Which agency do you use?

J.M. Hollister youll probaly have to find one in your area though I think they just do local accounts1-800-266-4100

[awm]

Ive done the same.Be careful though I had
one pull a 38 on me last year.Im easy to get
along with.But I dont have much patience
with someone I know for sure is deadbeating.
Work hard forum and dont like to sweat for nothin.

[kutnkru]

Never had any guns pulled on me ,,, yet. I know what you mean though awm.

Kris

[Jason Pallas]

Unfortunately I've had the same experience with the gun - working in Detroit on occasion. You should have headed straight to the cops. That happened to us and the guy ended up facing 5-7 years on an aggravated assualt (shoulda'paid the lawn bill!). I have a ccw and when I go to collect I always take the gun. Never had to use it - or even show it, but some areas here are very rough. We service multi-million $ neighborhoods that are less than a mile away from really bad ones. We have some senoir citizens in neighborhoods that we first started doind 20 years ago. The 'hood changed and the senoirs never moved. Now they're trapped like rats. We still service about 20 or so (mainly because I feel sorry for them) - and occaisionally pick up a neighbor to make the run more profitable (hence the guy who pulled the gun). BEST ADVICE: No bill is worth getting killed over, let the cops handle it, it's their job. Collection agencies are good, they sometimes end up getting you the money (less 40-50% commission). Most of all, you can let someone else chase the bad debt while you go make more money and retain the peace of mind that, until the deadbeat pays, you're a black mark on his/her credit.

[Grassman]

Before you threaten them witha collection agency, try sending them a registered letter. Explain to them you are to be paid within 7days or you will file a lean against the property. This has worked better for me than the collecting agency. Russ

[VLM]

I never allow my accounts to accumulate over $250 balance except for my commercial accounts. I found this eliminated most of my problems. Now when I take on a new customer if I dont feel right about them, I ask them to pay monthly in advance.

[Twotoros]

Careful about sending those letters threatening collection. I was told when inquiring with a collection agency to not send a letter , that they (the deadbeat) could sue you for harassment . So check the law. That's all one of us needs is getting sued by some deadbeat cause he may be able to sue. The agency told me I am legally intitled to my money at the time the job is done and that if payment is late turn it into collection with no other warning than normal late notices. Check your local law.

[Turfclippings]

i have a deadbeat now i am dealing with still since June, its partiallty my fault it ran on this late. But they have no answering machine and were never around when i cut next door. So i looked into the collection agency thing. The customer owed $210. The one I called said they get 45% of invoice collected and the customer gets marked on their credit. So i thought $90 was worth the hassle of sending the paperwork to them, because i wouldnt see any of it, and how would i know they ever recieved it or not. So I ran into a lawyer i cut for shortly after the collection call, and he said dont go that route, goto small claims court and sue her for the amount. So I did that, it costs me $45 up front and is added to the suit. Know i am waiting for the outcome, i am going thru the typical court system of rescheduling the hearing because the suponea was never marked as delivered. But the attorney said that it will be ruled in my favor, its just how long before i see $$$.

[Twotoros]

I've been burned for about 1500. in 16 years, not to bad. Collection didn't seen worth it at the time . It is never more than $250 a couple times or 50-75 other times . But it is sure hard to give some your hard labor for free. Maybe these folks should get back a couple loads of grass or debri as revenge . Somehow the lawn guy is the last to be paid half the time . Are we not in a real business or what? One time I spent half a saturday calling every LCO that I could to warn and blackball a customer that when they finally paid for 10 weeks work it was with a rubber check. I became so enraged that I called them every name in the book and told them I would smear their name with other LCO's . This of coarse got me nothing but at one point I think these people were afraid I'd turn violent and since they rented they moved out soon after. Never heard from them. Should have stole their nice patio furniture:)

[mowerman90]

I know the feeling twotoros, but try not to ever let it get to you again. To me, it sounded like if your deadbeat would have wanted to, he could of sued you for harrasment. Don't get me wrong, I'm on your side. Just don't ever let it get to the point that you may be sorry for. I have a situation where every time I fill my backpack sprayer up with roundup I think about the builder that STILL owes me over $1800 from 10 years ago. I'd like to give his yard a little spraying some night. But with my luck I'd get caught, I still think about it though.

[Twotoros]

Mowman90. Iknow what you are saying . After I went off
I knew I could get into trouble. I have mellowed with each incident. Now I would send a ' this is your final notice" bill and not mention collection. Then on the due date-BOOM- off to the collectors.
As for your round-up plan for the contractor casoron might work better against an 1800$ bill:)the bum:(

[lawrence stone]

Ed wrote:

>I have a situation where every time I fill my backpack sprayer up with roundup I think about the builder that STILL owes me over $1800 from 10 years ago. I'd like to give his yard a little spraying some night. But with my luck I'd get caught, I still think about it though.

I lawrence stone have perfected the Round Up "drive by".

What I do is put some round up in the windsheild washer tank of my Chrysler.

Then I just hook the hose to the passenger side nozzle only and turn the nozzle to to spray towards the street.

I do the real big circular drives twice once in BOTH directions.

I just keep sending monthly statements and providing monthly round up drive bys until they get the message.

[Evan528]

Stone, The sad part is that I really beleive you!

[kutnkru]

i like the way you think

Kris