AFM’s Attorney Intervention Collection Program (aka: Immediate Collection) provides a stronger collection and adds enormous value to your collection efforts. From the very first day that we receive a new account for collection, an in-house AFM Attorney will directly work your file and contact the debtor to obtain immediate, voluntary payment on a contingency fee basis. If we do not collect the monies owed to you, then we do not earn a fee. Our lawyers do not litigate. Rather, they solely focus on collection and account resolution by phone, email, facsimile and postal mail.
AFM handles each assigned claim with professionalism, the utmost care and decisive action. We attempt to work each new file every single day for three straight days after we receive a new assignment to immediately, directly communicate with the debtor, incite urgency and collect the monies due as quick as possible. The immediate attorney involvement alone subconsciously creates a sense of urgency, so our immediate, persistent and respectful collection pursuits elicit a quicker response and payment.
Further, the immediate attorney involvement provides a stronger likelihood to increase the quality of your claim (e.g. obtain a personal guaranty, promissory note, confession of judgment), while we collect the monies owed on your behalf. Also, if necessary, it sets the foundation for a comprehensive investigation to locate the obligor and learn the obligor’s payment capabilities. This will help you make an informed decision when responding to a settlement offer or when deciding whether to forward a claim to local counsel for possible legal action.
Based on your requirements, desires and goals, we will completely customize our Attorney Intervention Collection Program for you. This includes all procedural items from assigning files to the type and frequency of status updates to remittance manner and location. In addition, every AFM client has access to AFM’s online client portal, which is available 24/7 and allows our clients to view and download all notes, the status and payment history for every account assigned to our office as well as many different cumulative reports, such as History, Inventory, and Payment Reports.
At no cost and with your prior, written authorization, AFM will report your debtors’ and guarantors’ unpaid account balances to the credit bureaus during the first week of the month after 30 days elapsed since you place an account with our office for collections. For example, if you assign a file to AFM for collections on January 15, 2019, AFM will report the debtor’s unpaid balance to the credit bureaus during the first week of March 2019.
Once reported, the delinquent mark on the debtor’s credit report will appear as “American Financial Management” within the Significant Derogatory Data section. After the balance was initially reported, AFM will continue to report the up-to-date unpaid balance to the credit bureaus every month, for seven years, until the balance is paid in full.
Your credit reporting authorization applies to all future assigned accounts, rather than on an individual account basis. By authorizing AFM to report your debtors to the credit bureaus, you obtain additional leverage in both your internal collection efforts and after an account is sent to our office for collections. Plus, you receive an additional level of protection for seven years on all open and unpaid collection accounts. Specifically, if the debtor attempts to procure credit, while the credit reporting is active, the credit grantor will see that the debtor has an unpaid obligation and, in most cases, will not extend credit until the balance is completely satisfied.
In addition to reporting debtor businesses to the credit bureaus, AFM can also report guarantors and individuals to the consumer credit bureaus. This continues to prove to be a very effective means to increase recoveries on older accounts. Specifically, during and after the 2008 recession, many individuals attempt to refinance loans while interest rates are at historic lows. We collect on many of these older debts by reporting guarantors and individuals to the consumer credit bureaus because banks and other lending institutions do not allow the individual to refinance until they satisfy outstanding obligations reported to the credit bureaus.
AFM has built relationships with attorneys throughout the world to assist your litigation needs. That being said, our goal is to maximize and obtain recoveries without having to provide you with the option of filing a lawsuit and more than 90% of the monies we collect are secured prior to forwarding. However, at times, filing a lawsuit is in your best interests.
Specifically, around 60 – 90 days after you assign a file to our office and after we made all possible collection attempts, if we have not secured payment in full, a partial payment or a settlement offer, and debtor communications are not progressing in your best interests, we will either close our file or provide you with the option to forward the file to local counsel for possible legal action. Before providing you with the option to forward the file to local counsel, AFM will consider the size of your claim, the account’s resolution status, whether the obligor showed good faith to resolve the balance due, if the file is disputed and the debtor’s payment capabilities (e.g. operating status of the business and the debtor’s financial status learned through AFM’s investigative efforts).
We will only forward a file to a local attorney after we receive your written authorization. After we receive your approval, we will forward the account to a local attorney that is a member of the Commercial Law League of America and is licensed, bonded and insured in accordance with the requirements of the association. Thereafter, all communications on the account forwarded to local counsel will involve yourself, AFM and local counsel, together, in one email chain, to ensure we work as a team to get the best result possible. Your local attorney, through AFM, will request monies to cover court costs, which vary based on the jurisdiction, the type and dollar size of your claim. Once legal proceedings conclude, local counsel will provide an accounting of all outlaid court costs.
AFM maintains a partnership with Experian to provide clients with the analytical tools necessary to manage business risk and maximize profits. Managing business risk is essential to maximizing revenue while limiting credit losses.
Experian products can assist in:
- Acquiring creditworthy new customers;
- Monitoring how customers are meeting their financial obligations to the business community; and
- Timely identifying customers’ deteriorating financial conditions, allowing you to make informed, decisive decisions to minimize losses.
Experian offers many cost-effective options to assist in evaluating the creditworthiness of a new customer. These options include blended reports, which encompass data from both the business entity and the business owner to give you the added insight for better decision making.
In addition, Experian offers an array of online monitoring tools, including alert warning services, after your company extended credit to a customer. These tools can assist in timely modifying customers’ credit limits and identifying customers’ delinquencies, liens and bankruptcy filings. This information, along with decisive action, such as halting pending orders, modifying credit terms, or immediately placing the account for collections, will greatly help your company minimize losses.
AFM can tailor its services to your company’s needs. We can reduce your internal operating costs, while we improve results and grow customer relationships, especially in high volume environments. Specifically, AFM could contact your customers, as your company, to ensure your customers timely pay invoices and are educated on their payment terms. Our current and recent projects include:
- Assisting a client with first party collections on the client’s computer, telephone and email system from AFM’s office location;
- Sending a customized first-party letter series;
- Performing credit granting activities through Experian and by reviewing and processing Credit Applications; and
- Auditing accounts previously closed by a different third-party collection vendor.
I only send accounts to AFM after thoroughly exhausting internal collection efforts. It is thus amazing that AFM has been able to collect anything for Reebie, but AFM has come through on numerous occasions. I would strongly recommend AFM to other companies that need help collecting on unpaid accounts.
I believe and trust that American Financial Management exhibits both tenacity and professionalism and am confident knowing that they uphold our professional name.
We highly recommend using American Financial Management as your preferred 3rd party when you need to outsource an account for collection assistance. Not only are they very successful in collecting the monies owed to us, they are constantly keeping us updated with the latest progress of every account they are attempting to collect on. American Financial Management has unquestionably been the most successful at collecting than any other collection agency that we have ever done business with. Just as important to us has been the strong relieving trust that has grown between AFM and ourselves. In addition, a great friendship and relationship has also transpired.
AFM conducts their business in a conscientious manner and has maintained PBA Health’s best interests. We are timely notified when payments for bad debt are received. AFM then deposits the funds in their trust account, allow two weeks for the funds to clear and then they send the money to us. This eliminates any inconveniences that would occur if the check was returned by the bank.
AFM conducts their business in a conscientious manner and has always maintained Luster’s best interest. Litigation is done in a timely manner. Their representatives are true to their word and always follow through. I feel confident that our outsourced delinquent accounts are in the best hands. I highly recommend their many services!
My experiences with AFM have been nothing but satisfying. Everyone that I have had the pleasure of dealing with has left me completely satisfied. The professionalism and commitment to service is second to none.
We have had much success in using American Financial Management for our collection needs and highly recommend them for yours.
I have had the opportunity to use EXPERIAN via American Financial Management, Inc., for over a decade, and have found a very capable team of professionals who are available to assist you in all areas relating to EXPERIAN. AFM has access to highly experienced representatives of EXPERIAN and they will establish a personal, friendly, working relationship with you and will be able to answer any and all questions you may encounter with EXPERIAN or the EXPERIAN credit reports.
I would highly recommend AFM if you are looking for a company that will collect on your doubtful accounts. I have been through many third party collection companies in the past, and they have delivered the best results thus far.
We are most impressed with the follow-up procedures conducted and the complete progress given on each case. We are kept informed of every step taken and AFM’s professional approach to collection does not necessarily jeopardize our client relationship. You will without a doubt be pleased with the outcome of their work.
When I need a total of an account in collections, through Client Web Access [Client Login], the information is right there for me to log in and get. I can pull information up while I have a collections account on the phone and tell them exactly what they owe.
I get calls regularly from collection companies that want us to give them a try. But when something is working this well I won’t change. You have made the collection process painless and rewarding.
We have been doing business with AFM for over 17 years. In that time our company has tripled in size. During our transition period, we worked closely with AFM to ensure our accounts were set up properly and all of our questions were answered. They are always available to assist with any of our needs. I have enjoyed our business relationship and hope to continue for many years to come.
I have worked with AFM for the past 13 years and competitors have often tried to get me to switch. Competitors’ rates and expertise do not compare to AFM. Customer contact with AFM is outstanding and I would highly recommend them to others.
I switched Coca-Cola to AFM in 2001 and have experienced wonderful service. AFM conducts their business in a professional and conscientious manner while achieving excellent results.
You have done a wonderful job for us – everyone I talk to is very pleasant and helpful and I feel like I can call or e-mail anytime if I have questions or concerns about any of my accounts. Your attorneys and legal staff are absolutely wonderful to work with! I enjoy my conversations with them as it is informative and keeps me up to date on all proceedings and negotiations (not to mention they are just nice people). I look forward to our continued success in working together.
American Financial has unquestionably been the most successful at collecting than any other collection agency that we have ever done business with. They are constantly keeping us updated with the latest progress with every account they are attempting to collect from and our experience with this prestige collection agency has been nothing shy of excellent.
We have been working with American Financial since 1992. We depend on them to collect on our really tough accounts. They have successfully returned money to us on several accounts that we considered to be lost causes.
We have been working with American Financial since 1994. The reason we keep coming back is because of their attorney intervention program. It has been very successful in returning the money that is owed to us.
I appreciate the ease of filing new claims online, and I am particularly happy with the ‘30-day free demand’ for commercial accounts. I recommend American Financial to other businesses in need of collection services.
I have had a few businesses and have had some uncollectible accounts. AFM has been very excellent in helping me obtain the money owed to me. AFM is professional and informative. The client services department and attorney intervention staff are very good. I do not hesitate to refer AFM to other business owners.
The fact that you have been able to recover what you have to date is fantastic. Your plan below, when executed (and we have every confidence it will be) moves this matter into the EXCEPTIONAL category. Great work.
During my over 15 years in Accounting, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many third party Collection Agencies. I will say that American Financial Management has been the best. It is not just their success in the collection rate, but their entire service that has been provided making it an easy and wonderful experience.
We have complete confidence in their professionalism and determination to collect our outstanding debts. Their representatives have always been conscientious and thorough with every account we have placed with them. AFM has exceeded our expectations. We highly recommend their services to you.
AFM has successfully collected a large number of our delinquent accounts. We even had an account that we considered a write off from four years ago that was paid because the customer could not buy a house with us on their credit report!
American Financial Management is a superb company and I recommend that you consider them as your collection agency; you will be very pleased with the results they will achieve for you.