In Understanding Collections Law, you'll learn...
- Five things you should never say to a debtor—ever
- Key points of the Federal Debt Collection Practices Act—do’s and don’ts
- Is it time to take legal action?
- Five of our best tips for greatly reducing the chance of an expensive lawsuit
- And much more!
Collecting overdue accounts is an extremely important job that directly impacts your cash flow and bottom line. If a customer disputes a debt, can you keep calling on the phone? Can you say you have an attorney working with you when you really don’t? What if the debtor sends you a check and it bounces? Could a lawyer or collection agency get any further than you have? Just think how much easier and less risky your job would be if you knew the answers to questions like these before they came up. And that’s just what you’ll get at this seminar—insider techniques developed to cut through the layers of federal collection law, show you where the potential for error exists throughout the collection cycle and provide you with practical guidelines for treating debtors fairly while staying out of court. Collect the money you’re entitled to—easily, quickly and legally with the step-by-step processes you’ll receive at this workshop.
WORKSHOP AGENDA
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The latest laws and issues that impact how you do your job+
- Understanding the Federal Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA): What you need to know to be effective while avoiding legal prosecution
- How even veterans sometimes step over the fine lines of the FDCPA … when that happens, what are the legal implications?
- Issues you’ll face sooner or later that are related to the Fair Credit Reporting Act
- A simple action that will protect your company from Truth in Lending Act violations
- Tempted to do an investigation on your own, without an attorney? Don’t go there!
- Easy mistakes to make when using Mutual Release Agreements
- HIPAA: Could you be violating a customer’s privacy without even realizing it?
- Lessons learned: How others have violated the law—and the price they’ve paid
- Why speed counts in recovering your money
- Avoiding civil liability under the FDCPA
- Handling billing disputes … when the Fair Credit Billing Act applies
Safeguard your company’s interests in court+
- Make sure you have ALL the evidence before appearing before a judge
- When going to court makes sense
- You’re being sued—what must be your immediate first steps?
- What businesses often forget when deciding to sue a debtor
- Clearing up common misconceptions about small claims court
- A debtor is taking you to court! Do you have a solid legal defense?
- 2 situations where litigation is most likely unavoidable
Deal with the challenges of debtors in bankruptcy+
- How creditors can overcome what seems like an unfair advantage bankruptcy gives debtors
- How to protect your company—either before or after a bankruptcy ruling
- Surprisingly, how the credit application itself can help you collect bad debts
- The bitter truth about bankruptcy and collections
- The differences between commercial and consumer bankruptcy
- Clarifying the issues involved in Chapter 7, 11 and 13 bankruptcy
- Won’t pay vs. can’t pay: Why it’s important to know the difference
- How a successful reclamation claim can give you a real shot at getting your goods back
Work within legal boundaries to get what’s owed you+
- The first step in collecting debts legally
- How to go about using a promissory note to reduce risk—and get paid
- Bad checks: Is there anything you can do to get your money?
- Why you must use a mini-Miranda warning faithfully or find yourself at a huge disadvantage
- What about your faithful customers who suddenly can’t pay?
- Positive approaches to resolving conflicts earlier—and bringing bucks in faster
- Spotting and correcting legal danger areas in your collection processes and practices
- Collecting older receivables: How you can be your own worst enemy
- Understand how a post-dated check can turn into a legal hot potato
- Steps you can take to avoid frauds—and getting ripped off
- Charging late fees: The advantages and drawbacks
- Why who signs a personal guarantee—and how—is of crucial significance
Turn up the heat when all else fails+
- What to do about customers who have absolutely no intention of paying you
- An inside look at collection agencies and how they really work
- Which accounts to refer to a third party for collection—a rule of thumb to follow
- Assessing if—and when—to get a lawyer involved
- Alternatives to costly legal action
- Pros and cons of setting up your own in-house collection agency
- The problem with giving up and writing off a bad debt
- The most formidable challenges in getting out-of-town debtors to pay
- A word of caution about attorney and collection agency fees
- Tracking down debtors
FDCPA violations in the news: Recent court cases you need to know about+
- The latest court cases and the lessons to be learned from them
- In the spotlight: Debt collectors accused of violating the FDCPA in recent court cases and the costly penalties they paid
