Don't Forget Debit Memos

Suppose a customer submits a payment that's $100 short — maybe they took an unauthorized discount
or overlooked part of the balance. Just as credits should be documented, so should shortages.

Prepare a debit memo showing:

• The invoice involved
• The amount still owed
• The reason for the adjustment
• The date the shortage was identified

This creates a complete account record and ensures the customer understands how the outstanding balance was calculated.

Avoid Unexplained Entries

One of the most common mistakes businesses make is posting adjustments without sufficient explanation. Every item on a statement should be supported by documentation. If an adjustment can't be explained and verified, it may be difficult — or impossible — to enforce later. Unexplained entries also damage your credibility. Customers are far more likely to challenge invoices when records appear incomplete or disorganized. Good documentation builds trust while protecting your legal rights.

Learn more in our latest article.

We’re Your Michigan Collection Company!

Our Michigan collection company has offices in Birmingham and Grand Rapids, we represent clients throughout Michigan and assist creditors across the United States and around the world. If you're dealing with unpaid accounts, disputed balances, or difficult collection matters, contact us at (248) 645-2440 or submit a contact form to discuss your options. We're here to help you pursue the money you're owed — efficiently, ethically, and effectively.

Why Documents Matter

Every transaction involves orders, shipments, payments, credits, and adjustments — and each should be
documented promptly. Without proper records, even minor discrepancies can become major collection issues. Customers forget details, employees leave, and memories fade. Written documentation preserves the facts long after the transaction occurs. In most disputes, the party with the most complete records is in the strongest position.

A Common Example

Say a customer buys $500 worth of paper plates, but $100 worth arrive damaged. Your sales agreement says the customer assumes risk once goods are delivered to the carrier — meaning they file the claim if damage happens in transit. But if an investigation shows the damage occurred before the plates left your warehouse, your company owes a $100 credit.

The proper response is to create a credit memo immediately, clearly identifying:

• The damaged products
• The amount being credited
• The date of the adjustment
• The related invoice number
• Any supporting notes explaining the reason

Enter the credit into your accounting system without delay so it appears accurately on the customer's statement.

Learn more in our latest article.

We’re Your Michigan Collection Company!

Our Michigan collection company has offices in Birmingham and Grand Rapids, we represent clients throughout Michigan and assist creditors across the United States and around the world. If you're dealing with unpaid accounts, disputed balances, or difficult collection matters, contact us at (248) 645-2440 or submit a contact form to discuss your options. We're here to help you pursue the money you're owed — efficiently, ethically, and effectively.

The Standard Behavior of Debt Collectors

Is it hard to find an ethical debt collector?

The answer is no, it’s actually not hard to find an ethical, responsible debt collector. Consumer laws such as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act arose from the misconduct of a few irresponsible, abusive debt collectors, not the majority. These consumer laws have cut back abuses. Scrupulously following these laws, even when they don’t apply, can help ensure professionalism and avoid misunderstandings and other problems. 

Unless you negotiate specific file handling procedures, your collections professional operates in accordance with their own standards. When you desire a more restrictive standard of conduct, don’t hesitate to instruct your collector to follow your standards. For example, you may limit the number of demands that they make to a debtor before filing collection litigation.

You should be comfortable that your outside collectors are well-trained and professional, and will handle your customers (debtors) with dignity. None of those hallmarks of professionalism are incompatible with aggressive debt collection. The bottom line is that you want your collection professionals to follow a standard of ethics that’s as similar as possible to the ethical standards of your own business.

Read more about this in our latest article.

Have Confidence with Michigan Collection Companies

Are you in Michigan and anxious about hiring collection companies?

You don’t have to worry about unethical or unprofessional behavior occurring with the Muller Law Firm. If you need a second opinion, check out reviews from our happy clients. To get started or ask a question, call (248) 645-2440 or submit a contact form here. We look forward to hearing from you!

Working with a Collector: How Your Business is Responsible

Did you know that when you work with a collector, your business takes responsibility for their
behavior?

When you hire collection professionals and include them on your collection team, you assume responsibility for the professionals to be, indeed, professional and ethical in their services. But at the same time, you give up some of your control—perhaps a lot of your control—over the collection.

Beyond the possibility that your collector’s misdeeds may frustrate your ability to collect a debt or trigger a counterclaim, their actions are being taken in your name. The type of service you use to collect your debts will reflect on your business, and every time you place a claim with an outside collector, you put the reputation of your company on the line.

By nature, the collections business is adversarial. Debtors don’t like to pay debts, and nobody likes to be confronted with aggressive collection efforts. Not all collectors act ethically or legally, and those problem solver-type news segments love to showcase abusive collection tactics. Your company doesn’t want to find itself at the center of adverse publicity as a result of debt collection gone haywire.

Read more about this in our latest article.

Have Confidence with Michigan Collection Companies

Are you in Michigan and anxious about hiring collection companies?

You don’t have to worry about unethical or unprofessional behavior occurring with the Muller Law Firm. If you need a second opinion, check out reviews from our happy clients. To get started or ask a question, call (248) 645-2440 or submit a contact form here. We look forward to hearing from you!

The Importance of Customer Details

Why is it important to know your customer in detail?

When you extend credit, the type of legal entity you’re extending credit to is key to determining how much credit to grant. From a collection standpoint, there’s a huge difference between lending to an individual, sole proprietorship, corporation, or limited liability company. Many business entities, including corporations, provide a significant shield against collections, allowing their owners or shareholders to avoid any personal responsibility for their unpaid debts.

When you evaluate credit applicants, always require a formal credit application. The information your customer provides on its application makes it clear who the applicant is and the nature of the legal entity involved, which, along with other vital information from the credit application, allows you to properly evaluate the prospect. If the customer refuses to take the time to fill out your credit application from, your credit policy should require you or your designee to contact the customer by phone or in person to obtain that information. You can complete the application form yourself and then have the customer verify, sign, and return the form or acknowledge its accuracy in writing. Even an email acknowledgement is fine.

Learn More with Michigan Collection Services

Don’t be afraid to talk to a collections lawyer! The Muller Law Firm can answer questions about any part of the collections process. If you need help with debt collections located in Michigan, call (248) 645-2440 or submit a contact form here.

Know Before You Lend

What does your credit lending process look like?

Before extending credit, you should know what type of legal “entity” your customer has chosen. Identifying your customer is just as important as knowing how long the customer has been in business, how much credit they’re requesting, who they’re purchasing from (“trade references”), and who they’re banking with. Generally speaking, with the notable exception of sole proprietorships (where the business and owner are one and the same), a legal entity may:

1. Have separate assets owned in its name
2. Sue and be sued in its own entity name
3. Insulate its owners from personal liability (except for the general partners of a regular or limited partnership)

Find out the differences in the legal entities you’re selling to so you avoid any misunderstandings as to who owes you the payment. Then make sure you’re extending credit to an entity you actually want to have credit terms.

Learn More with Michigan Collection Services

Don’t be afraid to talk to a collections lawyer! The Muller Law Firm can answer questions about any part of the collections process. If you need help with debt collections located in Michigan, call (248) 645-2440 or submit a contact form here.

What is a Personal Guaranty?

Are your customers asking for an extension of credit?

Are they less than trustworthy?

In the credit industry, when an applicant asks for an extension of credit that isn’t justified based on their net worth, rejection is imminent. One way to extend credit to applicants who fall into this category is to request that the customer obtain a guaranty of payment from either a person or another company. You can incorporate a guaranty into your credit application, or it may be a separate document.

Guaranties come in two forms: guaranty of payment and guaranty of collection or performance. With a guaranty of payment, you can collect payment from the guarantor without first trying to collect from the primary debtor. 

With a guaranty of collection or performance, you must first attempt (and fail) to collect from the primary debtor before you can collect from the guarantor.

You always want a guaranty of payment to collect as quickly as possible.

Learn what to expect from a guaranty on our website!

Collect with One of the Best Collection Companies in Michigan

Looking for other ways to collect?

Muller Law Firm will handle your case with the professional attention it deserves! 

Contact one of the best collection companies in Michigan today at (248)645-2440 for an immediate resolution to your collection matters.

Save Yourself from Collection Headaches by Adjusting Your Billing System

What steps can you take to avoid collection?

Add notetaking to your billing system. Keeping detailed notes on your customer’s accounts can keep you on top of any changes and can provide a paper trail that you can use as evidence if the customer tries to argue their account status or amount due.

• Document changes to amount due. Track any adjustments to the amount your customer owes with credit and debit memos.
• Use change orders to document your customer’s authorization for any modification of its orders.
• Send a statement of account as a monthly reminder to your customer that they owe you money.

Learn other ways to keep your billing system efficient.

Experienced Collection Companies in Birmingham, Michigan 

Have you implemented these items into your billing system, but are still having problems with debtors?

Muller, Muller, Richmond & Harms P.C. can help. If you’re a business owner, you should be spending your time conducting business rather than chasing down debts. Contact one of the most experienced collection companies in Michigan today at (248) 645-2440 for an immediate resolution to your collection matters. Let the experts worry about your collections, so you have more time to focus on growing your business.

Increase the Effectiveness of Your Billing System

Do you have frequent problems with your customers becoming debtors?

How can you prevent this?

Setting up an effective billing system now can save you from collection headaches later. An effective billing system can help remind your debtor of payment, leave a paper trail, and potentially prevent customers from taking advantage of you.

Add these items to your billing system:

• Use a credit application so your customer agrees to basic terms upfront.
• Obtain a purchase order number or form from your customer so your customer can’t refute at a later point and time that they ordered the goods or services from your company.
• Invoice promptly to reinforce that your customer ordered the goods, you shipped them, and you expect payment for them.
• Keep copies of delivery documents if applicable, so you can show that the ordered items were delivered.

See what else you can add to your billing system.

Experienced Collection Companies in Birmingham, Michigan 

Have you implemented these items into your billing system, but are still having problems with debtors?

Muller, Muller, Richmond & Harms P.C. can help. If you’re a business owner, you should be spending your time conducting business rather than chasing down debts. Contact one of the most experienced collection companies in Michigan today at (248) 645-2440 for an immediate resolution to your collection matters. Let the experts worry about your collections, so you have more time to focus on growing your business.

Is Your Deal Legal?

Is your deal legal? Did you have a legal document drawn up? Are you in the habit of making deals without a signed contract? That’s probably a bad idea. 

When you’ve made an oral agreement, it’s good practice to follow it up with something in writing. Even a quick email stating something like: “This confirms our understanding that you’ll pay $3,000 for 500 widgets.”

Learn more here!

Collection Companies in Michigan Fight for Your Creditors’ Rights!

If you’re a business owner, you should be spending your time conducting business rather than chasing down debts. Contact an experienced collection company in Michigan today at (248) 645-2440 for a resolution to your collection matters. Let the experts worry so you have more time to focus on growing your business.

Get it in Writing!

Your handshake deal is legal, so why does everybody tell you to “get it in writing?” That “if it isn’t written, it doesn’t exist”? The two main reasons are:

Memories fade: You may have a very clear understanding of your agreement at the time you shake hands or hang up the phone, but what will your memory be like in six months? What will your customer’s memory be? You may both, in good faith, have different recollections of your deal. How do you decide who’s right?

People lie: When your debtor denies that a contract existed, tries to change its terms, or misrepresents the negotiated price, you have no document that establishes the truth.

Call Experienced Collection Company in Michigan Now!

If you’re a business owner, you may decide that having a debt collection law firm work on your unpaid invoices is your best choice. That’s an area we specialize in, and we’re happy to discuss your options.

Our attorneys know how to get results for our clients and they’re dedicated to getting a satisfactory outcome. Contact our collection company in Michigan today at (248) 645-2440 for a free no obligation consultation.

Don’t Wait Too Long to Collect!

Should you write off the debt instead of turning it over?

Have you waited too long to collect?

Is there still time to file a claim?

According to Michigan debt collection laws, “for most collection actions, there is a specific period of time during which a creditor may pursue the collection of a debt. In Michigan, the filing of a breach of contract and/or open account action, for default of a credit card agreement, for example, must be done within the 6-year Statute of Limitations. MCL §600.5807(8). The relevant date for determining when the six-year Statute of Limitations begins to run is the date of the last activity on the account, whether it be a purchase or a payment made.”

Call Experienced Collection Companies in Michigan Today!

If you’re a business owner, you may decide that having a debt collection law firm work on your unpaid invoices is your best choice. That’s an area we specialize in, and we’re happy to discuss your options.

Our attorneys know how to get results for our clients and they’re dedicated to getting a satisfactory outcome. Contact our collection companies in Michigan today at (248) 645-2440 for a free no obligation consultation.

Should you write off the debt instead of turning it over?

Why should you pay $100 to collect $50? Good question. It doesn’t make sense to overspend when collecting accounts receivable. The costs of collection should never exceed the receivable’s full value. 

If your case goes into litigation, you incur collection costs in addition to the fee payable to your collections professional. Learn more here!

File for Debt Collection in Michigan Today!

If you’re a business owner, you may decide that having a debt collection law firm work on your unpaid invoices is your best choice. That’s an area we specialize in, and we’re happy to discuss your options.

If you run out of time to file a lawsuit before the statute of limitations runs, you may lose your legal rights to recover your receivable. To protect your creditors’ rights, contact one of the most experienced collection companies in Michigan today at (248) 645-2440 for an effective resolution to your collection matters. Let the experts worry about your collections, so you have more time to focus on growing your business.

"When Should I Seek Collection Advice?"

Seeking legal advice?

When is the right time?

Need help developing a collection strategy?

If you encounter unusual facts, or legal issues and aren’t sure about your next step, consult with a collection company in Michigan to avoid making an uncomfortable situation worse. In most cases, a professional can clarify the issues and confirm your next steps to get you back on track to collection.

Learn more here!

Collection Company in Michigan: Get started Today!

If you’re a business owner, you may decide that having a debt collection law firm work on your unpaid invoices is your best choice. That’s an area we specialize in, and we’re happy to discuss your options.

Our attorneys know how to get results for our clients and they’re dedicated to getting a satisfactory outcome. Contact our attorneys for debt collection today at (248) 645-2440 for a free no obligation consultation.

Is it Time to Seek Legal Advice?

Having a hard time collecting on your judgment?

Need help developing your collection strategy?

Are you not sure if you need to seek legal advice from a professional?

Despite your best efforts, not every negotiation will be successful. If your attempts to reach a reasonable resolution are refused by your debtor, you need to consider a different approach to move the process forward to getting paid.

Learn more here!

Call Experienced Collection Company in Michigan Now!

If you’re a business owner, you may decide that having a debt collection law firm work on your unpaid invoices is your best choice. That’s an area we specialize in, and we’re happy to discuss your options.

Our attorneys know how to get results for our clients and they’re dedicated to getting a satisfactory outcome. Contact our attorneys at our experienced collection company in Michigan today at (248) 645-2440 for a free no obligation consultation.

Find Out What’s Missing in Your Past Due Letter!

Are you having trouble getting results from your past due letter?

Are you consistently being pro-active about reminding your customers when payments are due, but getting nowhere?

We can help you! Not only do we listen to our clients, but we do our best to employ time-tested tactics to enforce collections.

From experience, we’ve found that these are the most important things to include in your past due letters:

1.    A copy of the invoice
2.    Use formal language to signify your serious intention
3.    Remind them about late fees
4.    Explain payment options
5.    Follow up soon with a phone call
6.    Re-send at the 45-50 days past due mark

If you’re still having problems making progress with your accounts receivables, we can help you get on the right track! For over 55 years, our debt collectors in Michigan have tracked down overdue accounts, winning many settlements for our clients along the way.

The First Step

If you want to use debt collection services, your first step is easy. Fill out the information form on our “Contact Us” page, or give us a call at 248-645-2440, to ask questions and figure out your next steps with a debt collector in Michigan. We offer a free consultation and strategy meeting, no fees unless you win! Don’t let the money owed to you go away – get started today! We look forward to hearing from you.

Successfully Resolve a Delinquent Account With 4 Easy Tips!

Are you having trouble resolving a delinquent account?

Collections can be tricky unless you know how to handle them properly. If you’d like to try handling delinquent accounts on your own before hiring collection services in Michigan, try these steps:

1.    Find out who handles the billing and contact them directly.
2.    Send them a personal email.
3.    Emphasize how many days past due the payment is.
4.    Offer them flexible payment options.

If you’re still having problems resolving your delinquent accounts after trying these tips, check with us ... we provide expert collection services in Michigan.

For over 55 years, our attorneys collecting debt in Michigan have tracked down overdue accounts, winning many settlements for our clients along the way. We handle your case with the professional attention it deserves and we’re well prepared to use all our reasonable options to collect your overdue debts. With offices in Birmingham and Grand Rapids, we handle claims against debtors located throughout Michigan, even if you’re located out of state.

The First Step

Contact one of the most experienced debt collection companies in Michigan today at (248) 645-2440 for a resolution to your collection matters. We offer a free initial consultation and strategy meeting. There are no fees due unless we recover for you! 

What Makes a Good Collection Firm?

What are you looking for in a collection firm in Michigan?

Reputation?

Big Settlements?

Experience?

Award-winning?

What’s most important to you is also important to us! Being a family business means more than being related, it means that every one of our cases gets dedicated, personal attention, whether your claim is big or small.

Our attorneys are top rated by AV Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent, and Super Lawyers, and they truly care about your case. Our staff is always available for a free initial strategy meeting to build a relationship with you and figure out what you need.

Michigan Debt Collection Attorneys Fight for Your Creditors’ Rights!

If you’re a business owner, you should be spending your time conducting business rather than chasing down debts. Contact our experienced collection firm in Michigan today at (248) 645-2440 for an immediate resolution to your collection matters. Let the experts worry about your collections, so you have more time to focus on growing your business.

Student Loan Debt Collection Companies in Michigan

Are you a private lender for student loans?

Are you having a difficult time tracking down your debtors?

Are you researching debt collection companies in Michigan that are willing to take on your cases?
We can help you! Don’t let the stress of trying to contact and get results from your a debtors weigh you down any longer!

For over 55 years, our attorneys for debt collection in Michigan have tracked down overdue accounts, winning many settlements for our clients along the way. We handle your case with the professional attention it deserves and we’re well prepared to use all our reasonable options to collect your overdue debts. With offices in Birmingham and Grand Rapids, we handle claims against debtors located in Michigan, even if you are located out of state.

The First Step 

Contact one of the most experienced debt collection companies in Michigan today at (248) 645-2440 for a resolution to your collection matters. We offer a free initial consultation and strategy meeting. There are no fees due unless we recover for you!

7 Tips for Making Collection Calls

Do collection calls have you frustrated?

The Michigan debt collection attorneys at Muller Law Firm have successfully represented and handled collection matters for more than 50 years. Our attorneys know how to get results for our clients. We have the people, technology and resources to track down even some of the most difficult accounts!

If you’re not ready to give up yet and still hung up on trying to make the collection calls yourself, Entrepreneur Magazine suggests “a few tips that will help you get your collection calls done quickly and efficiently.

1.    Schedule a regular time or day each week to make collection calls.
2.    Have all account information on hand.
3.    Leave messages, but do not reveal that the call is about an unpaid bill.
4.    Get the debtor to acknowledge the debt by asking if there was a question about the charge.
5.    Offer to take a credit card over the phone for payment.
6.    Ask when they will pay -- and wait for an answer.
7.    Let them know you are documenting whatever commitment they make about a payment on their account.”

Do these things sound doable? Give them a try!* If at the end of the day you’re worn out from people slamming the phone down on you, call the Michigan debt collection attorneys at Muller Law Firm.

We understand that financial management is one of the biggest necessities and stressors of a business owner. We’re here to help make sure you recover more of what is rightfully owed to you. Call Mike Muller today at (248) 645-2440 for a free no obligation consultation.

*Keep in mind that there may be legal restrictions on how you pursue debts. Be sure you know the law before attempting to pursue a debt yourself. This page is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal advice.