| 1. |
What makes you different than the competition? |
| |
CMA is a member of the Collection Agency Section of the Commercial
Law League of America, only 2% of all agencies have
attained membership.
Your accounts are more secure with our organization than with any
startup or newly established collection agency. In addition, CMA is
bonded, we hold all collected money in trust accounts not operating
accounts, and we use only bonded attorneys.
|
| 2. |
How
do you handle accounts? |
| |
On an immediate service basis, a acknowledgment letter is sent to
the debtor within 24 hours. All immediate service accounts are assigned
to collectors the day you place them. The collector will review the
file and contact you if further information is needed before the first
call.
The ten day free demand accounts are sent a collection letter the
day they are booked. The collector then holds the file in abeyance
for 10 calendar days. If money is collected in those 10 days there
is no charge to your company. On the eleventh day the collector proceeds
with aggressive
collection action.
|
| 3. |
How long do you work an account? |
| |
The length of time will depend on what happens during the first weeks
of collection. If a payment has been secured with in the first two
weeks, the file will continue to be worked by the collector until the
full balance is paid, or until the debtor starts breaking promises.
If there have been no payments, the account will be reviewed for possible
legal action.
In general you should have a good picture of where your account is
headed after 20 days of collection action.
|
| 4. |
What
happens when a account goes to legal? |
| |
Before an account is sent to an attorney, you will have a chance to
review it and decide whether your company wants to proceed. CMA will
ask for forwarded court costs from your company. These forwarded costs
are completely recoverable in the judgment that our attorneys will
obtain.
CMA audits all attorney actions to make sure your account is moving
on a timely basis. You will continue to receive
reports from CMA.
|
| 5. |
How do you handle out of state accounts? |
| |
Out of state accounts are handled in the same fashion as
California accounts. Through our NACM affiliates and our database of
information on businesses we can reach out and touch, companies nationally
and internationally. When you think about the main aspects of effective
collection, telephone technique, it does not matter if you are next door
or out of
state. |
| 6. |
How
do you keep me updated? |
| |
You are sent special reports on each of your accounts from
the assigned collector. In addition you have phone access to the collectors
any hour of the working day. |
| 7. |
Do I use the online Collection placement form
for the 10 day free demand? |
| |
Yes, especially if it is easier for you to place online.
Just check off the Ten Day free demand option
on the Placement Form. |
|
8.
|
What is the difference between Customer Service Coll.
and aggressive? |
| |
Use Customer Service collection if you think you might
sell to the customer again after this debt is cleared up. It offers a
softer collection approach. Use Aggressive Collection if you are willing
to terminate the customer relationship, have heard rumors of bankruptcy
or negative changes, or you have had unreasonable experiences trying
to collect. |
| 9. |
What is the difference between PreCollect and Immediate
Collection? |
| |
PreCollect offers a 30 day collection period where no rates
apply and is a letters only service (less aggressive), Immediate Collection
applies rates immediately and the collectors make phone and mail contact
with the debtor (most aggressive). |
| 10. |
What does roll
over after 30 days mean? |
| |
Roll Over after 30 days occurs in our PreCollect service.
During PreCollect we send out two letters to your debtor over a 30 day
period of time. On the 30th day- if their has been no payment and you
have not withdrawn the account the debtor is Rolled Over into Immediate
Collection. With Immediate Collection our rates do apply and the collector
will be making phone
contact with the debtor. |