Why you should opt for a certified collections agency

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A sound and effective collections agency is premised on professionalism. Business owners should all go for one that is certified, as certification is the banner of training, experience, and expertise. After all, collection is a craft that needs to be developed, implemented, and approved with the utmost care.


A certified collections agency is backed by the Commercial Collections Agency of America (CCAA), which guarantees that all members of the collections body are certified and therefore adhere to the strict rules and regulations of the umbrella agency. The CCAA is a nonprofit organization that works for the best interests and goodwill of customers while upholding the integrity of the collections industry.

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Some of the advantages of getting a collections agency approved by the CCAA are prompt remittance of funds to creditors, a minimum surety coverage of $300,000, the maintenance of separate trust accounts for collected funds, and, in general, a better method for attaining maximum dollar recovery.


Moreover, collections agencies under the wing of the CCAA abide by the umbrella organization’s strict codes of ethics, attend its annual seminars and training, will provide the assistance of a legal counsel if necessary, and creditors can directly get in touch with the executive director if complaints arise.


For over 30 years, Brennan & Clark has been aiding businesses in achieving well-defined goals for their collection process, evaluating all internal procedures, and implementing improvements and guarantee better collections results. Brennan & Clark is a proud, certified member of the Commercial Collection Agencies of America. For similar reads, visit this blog.

The importance of recordkeeping in debt collection

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Debt collection can be a complicated affair because of various factors. But creating and implementing a procedure for record keeping can help make the collection process more efficient and increase the possibility of recovering as many funds as possible. Below are some of the possible outcomes of having an accurate record:


Easier settlement of disputes: A complete record serves as necessary evidence for businesses when it comes to collecting receivables and debts. It can also determine whether previous correspondences or attempts to recover funds have already been made. The earlier a resolution to commercial debts is made, the less likely it is that a costlier process would be needed.


Getting the facts straight: When talking to debtors, it is imperative to present only facts and avoid providing misleading information as it can trigger legal actions against the business. With a well-kept record, a business will have access to all the transactions that have been made, as well as the partial settlements that may have been agreed on.

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Statute of limitations: Debts are also subject to a statute of limitations, which differ from state to state. This means that there is a period that the processes involved in the recovery of debt can be legally enforced.


Brennan & Clark LLC is a business collections firm founded in 1980. The firm’s prime program is the Fast Track Payment guarantees payment within five working days, allowing clients to get on with their core businesses. To see more details about the program, check out this page.

The Differences Between Commercial And Consumer Debt Collections

Debt collection has deep roots in history, perhaps along the same time when money was invented.  The rules of debt collection remain largely unchanged, with things like honoring one’s commitment to pay within a certain period of time.  With many more commercial transactions today, however, debt collections have branched out to commercial debt collections and consumer debt collections – what are the differences between the two?

In a nutshell, commercial collections are aimed toward recovering unpaid business invoices owed to another business.  Consumer collections, on the other hand, are made when a consumer owes a debt to a specific business.

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Commercial collections are different from consumer collections in a number of ways.  Agencies conducting them are not governed by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act or the FDCPA, although they may be required to be licensed in the state where they operate.  Their work involves a larger expected payment, where an unpaid commercial invoice could affect the cash flow or very survival of a business.  Their collection efforts, too, involve communications with the accounts payables department of a firm and also potentially an escalation to a credit manager.

Consumer collections govern business to consumer (B2C) relationships, and also differ in some ways.  Their agencies are regulated by the FDCPA, limiting the ways their representatives are able to connect with consumers to facilitate payments.  Their efforts involve tracking down the debtor to fulfill his or her obligations, and the amount of the debt may be much smaller than what’s owed in business to business (B2B) transactions.

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Brennan & Clark LLC is a business collections agency offering customized receivables support solutions that enable businesses to eliminate credit losses. Its expertise helps companies achieve well-defined goals for their collection process, evaluate all internal procedures, implement improvements, and guarantee better results on collections. Read more on this page.

Early Indicators That Clients Would Be Delinquent Payers

An invoice that is past its due date becomes less likely to be paid over time.  To be exact, the chances of collecting payment declines by at least 1 percent for every week that passes.  After three months, the likelihood an invoice gets settled drops down to around 75 percent.  Once it is six months past due, the figure drops down to approximately 60 percent.

Because of this, it is important for businesses to be diligent in spotting the beginnings of delinquent customers so they could address it immediately.  There are some indicators or red flags that a client would fail to settle its invoice on time.  Examples are the following:

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Debtor or company owner is experiencing personal problems:  If the owner is suffering from personal issues, such as a divorce or a severe illness in the family, they tend to give less priority to paying invoices.

Company is moving to a new location:  Moving the company or office to a different site entails funneling cash into the relocation, which could mean that payments to vendors can be delayed, especially if the business failed to organize its cash flow properly.

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Broken promises:  Businesses depend on their customers’ integrity when waiting for payments.  If the customer starts to break the promises or agreements that have been made, it is right to question their integrity and start being concerned whether they could settle their credit on time or not.

Brennan & Clark LLC is a business collections agency that has been in operation since 1980. Follow this blog for more discussions about the industry.

Historical Foundations Of Debt Collection

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Debt collection can be traced back to the history of debt itself. Financial exchanges have been defined by different aspects of human communities’ psychosocial and cultural development. It is interesting to take note of changes that happened since the invention of money and the implications of such a representation in the dynamics between parties. The possibility of inequality and discrepancy among the various capacities of individuals and families to respond to the demands of the market was very much a reality even during ancient times and after civilizations were established. Borrowing and lending money have been financial activities that became commonplace.

Debt collection agencies are relatively new and have been a part of the progression of institutionalizing and professionalizing that aspect of the financial world. Since the beginning of the civilized world, the relationship between debtors and creditors have been defined by society, putting in place several guidelines as to how they should conduct business. Punishment for non-payment of debts depended on social conventions. They included different alternatives to what was owed: from usual collaterals to slavery. In colonial America, debtors prison was the usual destination for those with not enough collateral. The conditions and punishments were harsh. Those were the methods used to ensure payment of loans.

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Before the modern history of debt collection, many lenders limited loaning to secure loans. The earlier reliance on physical punishments had proven to be insufficient and ineffective in the collection process. Not until the latter decades of the 20th century have collection agencies been a part of the whole industry.

For more than 30 years, Brennan & Clark LLC has been providing clients effective collection strategies focused on successful account recovery. It offers receivable support solutions that help clients eliminate credit losses. The firm has a management staff with more than three decades of experience in the industry, and the expertise to guarantee higher than average recovery rates in the industry. For more on debt collection, visit this blog.

More benefits of hiring a collection agency

Business owners often have a lot of work to manage and little time to devote to collecting payments and debts from customers. Sometimes the process of collecting can be troublesome, especially as the debt gets older. This is where a good collection agency comes in, relieving unnecessary stress and allowing managers to focus on the business. 

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For one, a good collection agency will offer legal protection. It knows that well-informed customers will not think twice and sue businesses if their rights have been violated, so they know the ins and outs of both federal collection laws and the laws that govern the state in which the agency holds a license. They will likewise prepare a comprehensive documentation that can be used as crucial evidence if the occasion for a legal recourse arises. 

Success in recovering debts is the forte of a collection agency, so ensure that you get one with a good track record and tons of experience. If you are focused on running your business, an agency’s primary job is to focus to collect debts. It will know the best techniques to legally make debtors to pay, including how non-payment can adversely affect a debtor’s credit score for up to seven years. 

Finally, a good collection agency will give you much flexibility, offering programs that fit with your business model and suit your business needs. Some of them will offer a flat or fixed fee, while others will require a commission for successfully recovered amounts. There are even those which offer net returns within a few days of a company turning over accounts for collection. This way, the collection agency absorbs the risks and the client gets the cash immediately. 

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Brennan & Clark LLC is a business collections agency offering customized receivables support solutions that enable businesses to eliminate credit losses. Its expertise helps companies achieve well-defined goals for their collection process, evaluate all internal procedures, implement improvements, and guarantee better results on collections. For more reads on debt collection, drop by this blog.