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A debt collection agency founded in California started a scheme to motivate and educate employees to live healthier lifestyles in early January. There are twenty eight employees at the agency; more than half are currently participating in the implementation.

All of the parties involved have made a goal to lose ten percent of their total body weight by the end of June. Every Monday morning the workers have weigh-ins and employees have an opportunity to win two cash prizes for losing five percent of their body weight by the end of March, and then another five percent by the end of June.

The Agency’s executive said that he had been thinking about the initiative for quite some time. He declares it perfect for the stereotypical office setting that is fraught with unhealthy eating, and employees taking breaks to get fast food. He made note of the fact that attempting to make employees lose weight was more cost efficient than actually getting health insurance for his workers.

In a scheme to get employees to have healthier lifestyles, the agency hosts sporadic lunches and “education track meetings” every week. The meetings are designed to assist employees target and plan for their weight loss goal. So far the program has been successful. The collection company has collectively lost 72 pounds to date. That’s the size of a small child.

The program tries to establish a better all around worker. It logically follows that a less stressed worker will be more efficient and motivated. Even though a very relaxed debt collector might not seem like they would be the most efficient worker, it all seems like a good idea. As the government tries to sort out the health care system, perhaps it is time that more companies like this take this route. If employees cannot get health insurance, health initiatives and goals at work could be the next best solution.

Mallory Megan is employed by a debt collection agency. Also she composes articles on business and finance, consumer spending and collection agencies. This article, Debt Collection Agency Gets Healthy is released under a creative commons attribution licence.

Research recently collected by RealtyTrac Year-End 2009 Foreclosure Market Report indicates that 3,957,643 foreclosure filings were reported on 2,824,674 United States properties in 2009. Included in this research was scheduled foreclosure auctions, default notices and bank repossessions.

All told, that is a twenty one percent increase in properties from numbers in the information collected in 2008, and a one hundred and twenty percent increase in total properties from 2007. The report additionally showed us that one in forty five housing units, 2.21 percent, had at least one foreclosure filing during 2009, up from 2008′s 1.48 percent and 2007′s 1.03 percent.

In the month of just December, foreclosure filings measured out to 349,519 properties in December. This marks a fourteen percent jump from the last month of November and a fifteen percent increase from 2008. However, even though there was an increase in December, foreclosure activity in the fourth quarter of 2008 has decreased by seven percent.

Of all of the Amercian states, Nevada has the nation’s highest state foreclosure rate; more than ten percent of housing units obtained at least one foreclosure filing in 2009. This marks Nevada’s third consecutive year at the top of the foreclosure list. Nevada’s foreclosure activity in December has grown twenty seven percent from the previous month, but still was down by twenty two percent from December of 08.

Arizona claimed the nation’s second highest state foreclosure rate in 2009 with more than six percent of properties receiving at least one foreclosure filing during 2009, and Florida claimed the nation’s third highest foreclosure rate at 5.93 percent of its properties getting at least one foreclosure during the filing year.

This raises things to think about in the debt collection industry. Trends that have recently been noted that debtors are maxing out their credit debt and low balling their assets to receive lower payment plans. The fact that they are maxing out their credit cards to receive lower payment plans does not look promising.

Mallory Megan is employed by a debt collection company. Also she composes stories on business, finance, consumer spending and collection agencies. This article, Foreclosures On The Increase is released under a creative commons attribution licence.

More than 200 Scranton taxpayers might have be mailed a letter from a debt collection agency they didn’t deserve. The notices are for garbage fees supposedly unpaid that may have actually been paid. According to officials, the garbage bill for 2009 could be at fault for more than 200 collection notices sent to city taxpayers in error last week.

Authorities feel the issue might be the way the bills were folded into the envelopes that the . The bill comes ready with a perforated line above a bar code that was utilized by the consumer, but because a crease made by the folding of the envelope, a second line under the bar code was formed, causing people to rip the bill off without the bar code.

Bills without a bar code could cause a bank not to register the payment. The mailing house that Scranton hired to stuff the envelopes was blamed. If the bill was sent to the bank, it would be the pay stub in their payment that goes directly to a lock box. The stubs are then scanned and the bar code is read. After that the bank provided the town a list of those who had paid up based on the bar code readings.

Representatives from the bill collections company who mailed out the letters say that they are taking every dispute from people who did pay very seriously. Company protocol says that consumers to dispute a notice within 30 days of receiving a collections letter. Additionally, representatives say that no bill will be collected while they are still sorting out the issue.

The collections company will research every claim from people who claimed they had paid and also received the notice. Those that they see have paid will be left alone.

Mallory McGuinness is employed by a debt collection agency. She also writes articles on business and finance, consumer spending and collection agencies. Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.

When scouting for a Business Collection agency, it is critical for businesses to find a collection agency that services their specific needs. Some corporation’s may rely on collection agencies more than others. For example, a freelance graphic designer may only need to use a Collection agency’s services once during his or her entire career. However, a larger company, such as a credit card company, may require the services of a Collection agency more repeatedly.

There are a few things that companies should look for when making a choice for the right Business Collection agency. These include:

Price. Not all Collection companies will charge the same rate or the same way. Almost all Collection agencies do, however, set their rates based on a percentage of the total amount of the monies to be collected. For example, a collection agency may charge ten percent of the total collection amount to the business that hires it. Some collection agencies also charge only once funds have been collected, while other collection agencies charge an upfront fee for their services.

Reliability. Not all Collection agencies are alike when it comes to reliability and effectiveness. One of the most excellent ways to determine how reliable a Collection agency is likely to be is to run a simple background check on the agency through an search thought the Internet or search with the Better Business Bureau. Also, many Collection agencies will offer references or have a list of clients that they have provided services for that new clients may check before hiring the agency.

Contracts. Some Collection companies offer contract work or retainers for their clients. In such a case, the agency may work a fixed number of hours each month for a set fee. Companies need to be sure that they require a Collection agency’s services before they sign a long-term contract or retainer contract so that they can be sure that they get what they pay for.

Methods. It is important to ensure that a Collection agency is able to use a variety of methods when contacting non-payees. For example, Collection agencies should not only be able to approach a non-payee diplomatically through letter writing and phone calls, but the Collection agency should also be able to use legal courses of action, if necessary. May Collection agencies are part of law firms, which enables them to file legal cases easily and quickly, if necessary.

Mallory McGuinness works for a collections agency that works with a debt collection lawyer. Also, she writes articles on business, finance, consumer spending and collections agencies.

The fact of the matter is, the more time that passes between the time the payment was unpaid and the time the customer is contacted, the less likely you are to be given any sort of payment. If you’re serious about making a profit, there are three ways to handle collection on past debt; in house efforts, hiring a collection agency, or taking legal action.

Collecting the debt independently: If the debt is new or small, you’ll in all likelihood start by trying to collect the debt yourself before hiring a collection agency or a lawyer. The most practical way to start the process of collecting an overdue debt is by calling the debtor. Many nonpaying customers can talk a great talk on the phone, but then never deliver. If the business is local, attempt to make an appointment with their finance manager to talk face to face.

Another useful way to motivate consumers to make a payment is by using a 10 day demand letter. Some collection agencies offer a free 10 day demand letter service that includes postage and mailing of a demand letter sent on official collection agency letterhead. Many times, this is enough to get your customer to part with their payment.

Hire a Collection Agency: Many small businesses don’t initially think of hiring a collection agency to collect overdue debt, but of the outsourced solutions, a collection agency is usually the most cost effective and gets the best results. With a collection agency, you don’t pay until they collect the debt, meaning that the collection agency is highly driven to find a way to get the customer to pay. Because they don’t get paid unless you do, a collection agency tends to work fast and much more efficient when working on a contingency basis.

Today’s new collection agencies don’t use scare tactics or bully customers. Besides, not all clients who are behind on payments are deadbeats. When you choose a collection agency, make sure one of its goals is to maintain extreme professionalism and one that fallows the FDCPA diligently.

Taking the legal avenue: Another choice to collecting a debt is to take legal action whether by taking the debtor to small claims court or by hiring a lawyer to pursue the debtor.

Mallory McGuinness is employed by a collections agency that works with a debt collection lawyer. Also, she does pieces on business and finance, the credit industry and collections agencies.

Being able to locate a debtor’s bank account can be quite useful in your attempt to collect. By law, it is necessary that a private, licensed investigator to do the work. You should always be wary when you hire someone to locate bank account numbers as there are a great deal of scam companies claiming that they can help, and take your money with no activity in return.

Down Below are legal and legitimate ways to obtain a debtor’s bank account number.

If your debtor is employed by a retail store purchase something from the debtor and pay by check. This is a great technique that you can use to find out account information by looking at your own bank statement; the bank account information will allow you to determine the debtors account number.

Interacting with a previous landlord of the debtor can be quite helpful. Ask his formal landlord if you can look at the rental application and obtain financial information. You can also subpoena the old land lord for a copy of the rental application to see where the defendant banked. Because old habits die hard, it is likely that the debtor still uses the same bank account.

Consider serving a Business Record Subpoena on the employer in order to obtain a copy of a payroll check the debtor has cashed in. The check should have the defendant’s account number and possibly the name of the bank on the bank.

In addition, there are a few “colorful” ways to acquire information about a debtor’s bank account. Conduct a trash search. This is an simple way to obtain bank information and a way to get to know more than you ever wanted about this debtor.

A very elaborate ploy to get the skinny on your debtor’s bank account is what I like to call “the fake block party.” Send post cards to anyway who lives on the debtor’s block, and put up signs directing traffic towards his house. The debtor may get block party fever and open his garage. Scope out his items and take inventory. He may even start to sell things. At this point, purchase something and hand them a check.

Viola! All of these plots are legal, but my advice would be to root through a debtor’s trash and stage a block party last, because that seems kind of crazy.

Mallory McGuinness works for a debt collection agency. Also, she composes articles on business and finance, the credit industry, and debt collection. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service