Thursday, May 15, 2025
What is a Receivership?
Friday, May 2, 2025
Where to Find Bankruptcy Records
Struggling to Collect Debt in Michigan?
Saturday, February 15, 2025
Writing a Demand Letter
Take Care of Debtor Communication with Michigan Debt Collection Services
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Intro to Communicating with Debtors
Take Care of Debtor Communication with Michigan Debt Collection Services
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Entering a Contract with Your Collector
Need Debt Collection Help in Michigan?
Sunday, December 1, 2024
The Basics of Contingency Fees
- When and how amounts recovered are to be remitted: For example, your agreement may require that payments by check be remitted when the debtor’s check clears the bank, or, for a certified check, immediately upon receipt. If the service is collecting multiple accounts, you may choose to schedule payments of remittances (e.g. biweekly or monthly) rather than separate payments for each remittance.
- Costs chargeable to you: If the debt collector charges costs in addition to the contingency fee, the contract should describe what costs may be charged and provide a proper accounting to you. For cases that go to court, expect to pay certain litigation costs like filing fees, deposition fees, and subpoena and witness fees.
- How remittances will be paid: Will your service pay you by electronic transfer, or by ordinary checks delivered by mail or overnight courier?
Need Debt Collection Help in Michigan?
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Staying Professional when Calling Debtors
- Don’t say you’re going to sue the debtor if you don’t actually intend to file a lawsuit if you don’t receive payment.
- Don’t talk to third parties about the debtor’s account.
- Don’t threaten or harass a debtor.
- Don’t try to collect debts directly from a debtor who has just filed bankruptcy (see last month’s article).
- Don’t threaten debtors with criminal charges if they don’t pay the debt.
- Don’t contact debtors directly if you know they’re represented by a lawyer in relation to the debt you’re collecting.
Learn More from a Trusted Michigan Debt Collection Expert
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Contacting Debtors via Phone
Learn More from a Trusted Michigan Debt Collection Expert
Friday, January 13, 2023
When to Hire Debt Collection Professionals
What kind of debt collection professional should you hire?
What should you expect from them?
Before you hire a professional, you must determine what services you need. Professionals come in all shapes and sizes, and they offer a laundry list of services to assist your credit and collection operations.
Here are some services debt collection professionals can provide:
Billing Services and Early-In Collection Services – These services help you at the beginning of the credit process, from the time you provide your goods or services, long before any delinquencies occur. Why hire a professional so early? You may prefer to use an outside service instead of hiring and managing your own credit personnel, or you may prefer to maintain a small, in-house staff while the outside company provides the backup you need as your workload ebbs and flows.
Skip Tracing – It’s becoming easier for people and even businesses to move around without leaving much evidence as to where they’ve gone. Phone numbers may remain the same, regardless of where the debtor is located. When your debtors disappear, professionals can often find them and their assets.
Learn other services collection professionals can provide!
Looking for Debt Collection in Michigan?
Since 1961, our top-rated lawyers have been dedicated to debt collection in Michigan! At Muller, Muller, Richmond, & Harms, P.C., our debt collectors specialize in pre-suit collection, litigation, and judgement enforcement.
Let our experts handle all the work for you! 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. Don’t let the money owed to you go away – get started today! We look forward to hearing from you!
Monday, January 2, 2023
How Can Debt Collectors Help?
Are your customers becoming debtors?
Is it time you got help with debt collection in Michigan?
Collection law firms are ready and willing to help you with billing, tracking down debtors that have gone missing, finding assets, and other credit and collection needs. Whether you have a problem with a small number of accounts or most or all of your accounts receivable, you can find professionals capable of serving your needs.
Learn how debt collectors can help!
Looking for Debt Collection in Michigan?
Since 1961, our top-rated lawyers have been dedicated to debt collection in Michigan! At Muller, Muller, Richmond, & Harms, P.C., our debt collectors specialize in pre-suit collection, litigation, and judgement enforcement.
Let our experts handle all the work for you! 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. Don’t let the money owed to you go away – get started today! We look forward to hearing from you!
Friday, April 15, 2022
How to Listen to Your Debtor and Create Solutions
Is your debtor coming up with excuses?
You’ll hear all sorts of reasons why a customer hasn’t paid, including illness, injury to a key employee, a sudden downturn of business, and the debtor’s inability to collect their own receivables. In your collection calls, take the role of the problem solver and even make polite suggestions, such as: “I understand you’ve had some serious challenges, and I’ll work with you as much as I can. Can we arrange for at least half of this outstanding bill to be paid today with the remaining half in 30 days?” Your willingness to sympathize or bend the rules a bit in some, but not all, occasions can result in payment.
Whatever the reason for nonpayment, check your notes. If the debtor has used similar excuses in the past, but you didn’t get paid promptly, you need to reconsider your extension of credit. Remind your customer: “I’ve heard that one before, we worked through it, and you still didn’t meet your commitment of payment.”
Hopefully the dispute is minor and can be resolved quickly in the first telephone call, so the entire bill can then be paid. Whatever the dispute, if it applies to only a portion of the debt, seek a commitment for payment of the undisputed amount before concluding the conversation.
Learn how to manage a phone call with your debtor.
Debt Collections in Michigan: We Fight for Your Creditors’ Rights!
Have you tried these call tactics and are still struggling with nonpayment?
Don’t let the stress of trying to contact and get results from a debtor weigh you down any longer! Contact our experienced collection firm to speak with an attorney about debt collections in Michigan today at (248) 645-2440 for an immediate resolution to your collection matters. We look forward to hearing from you!
Friday, April 1, 2022
Commons Problems You May Encounter with Debtors
Are calls with your debtors difficult?
Do you find it hard to reach a resolution with slow payors or no payors?
During collection calls, you need to maintain control over the conversation, but simultaneously listen carefully to what the debtor is saying. If the debtor is asking for more time, you should remain firm while encouraging prompt payment.
If the debtor raises a dispute, you need to pay close attention and make careful notes of the exact nature of their complaints. Try to hone in on the specifics of the dispute and figure out how you can address them.
Be prepared for the unexpected. Common problems include:
- Surprise on their end: You’re speaking with a representative of the debtor who isn’t familiar with the fact that the account is past due. Find out if you can speak to someone else, or offer to send over a statement of account or other helpful documents.
- Lack of documentation: Sometimes what can sound like stalling or a poor excuse turns out to be bad record keeping, and the person paying the bills lacks key documents. Getting paid may be as simple as providing your billing address or furnishing another copy of the statement or invoice.
See more common problems.
Debt Collections in Michigan: We Fight for Your Creditors’ Rights!
Have you tried these call tactics and are still struggling with nonpayment?
Don’t let the stress of trying to contact and get results from a debtor weigh you down any longer! Contact our experienced collection firm to speak with an attorney about debt collections in Michigan today at (248) 645-2440 for an immediate resolution to your collection matters. We look forward to hearing from you!
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
How to Successfully Seize Your Debtor’s Assets
If you know about your debtor’s assets, like inventory, equipment, vehicles, watercraft, or other personal or real property, you can ask the court to issue a writ to attach property, sometimes referred to as a writ of execution or a writ to seize property.
We can help you form a successful debt collection strategy for seizing your debtor’s property. Most states require that you use writs to attach property against personal property first and real property second. Certain types of property are exempt from execution. For example, a home owned by both a husband and wife would typically prevent attachment unless your judgment is against both of them.
Learn more about the process of seizing assets!
Take the First Step! Contact an Attorney for Debt Recovery in Michigan Today!
If you need the help of an attorney for debt collection in Michigan 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. 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.
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
How Does the Process Work for Seizing Assets?
- The officer contacts the debtor to see if the judgment can be paid without the need of a levy on assets, or the officer levies on assets to impress upon the debtor the importance of paying the judgment.
- If the officer levies on the debtor’s assets, the assets are transported to another location for safe storage for a minimum of ten days. If many items are seized, such as the inventory of a business, the officer must inventory them and organize them for sale.
- During the time the items are in storage, the debtor may redeem the assets by paying the full judgement, plus expenses and accumulated interest.
- If the debtor fails to redeem the assets, the levied items are sold at a public auction.
- The levied items are sold, and the officer pays all costs and expenses associated with the proceeds from the sale.
Take the First Step! Contact an Attorney for Debt Recovery in Michigan Today!
Monday, February 1, 2021
Simple Steps to Minimize the Impact of NSF Checks
Did you receive a check that bounced?
Were there nonsufficient funds?
How can you minimize the impact of nonsufficient fund checks?
With a few simple steps you can minimize the incidence and impact of NSF checks and the associated “bad check” fee from your bank. Follow these rules:
- Deposit checks as soon as they arrive
- Anticipate NSF checks
- Know your customer
Learn more here!
Take the First Step! Contact an Attorney for Debt Recovery in Michigan Today!
If you need the help of an attorney for debt collection in Michigan 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. 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.
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
Serving the Suit on a Hiding Defendant
If your process server can’t find the defendant, do you have to get the documents served in order to move forward?
There is another way! Find out here!
Take the First Step! Contact an Attorney for Debt Recovery in Michigan Today!
If you need the help of an attorney for debt collection in Michigan 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. 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.
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Determining When to Garnish and How
When should I start garnishing by debtor’s wages?
Which accounts should I garnish?
How do you figure out what to garnish?
Contact a debt collection attorney today to help you answer all your questions. If you need help with your debt collection strategy, we can help you develop and strategize a plan to get what you’re owed.
We Specialize in Debt Collection in Michigan!
At Muller, Muller, Richmond, & Harms, P.C., our attorneys specialize in debt collection in Michigan. We can help you build a strategy customized to fit your business needs. We want to ensure you receive the best possible outcome in pursuing your case.
Since 1961, our top-rated lawyers have been dedicated to professionally and aggressively pursuing the money you’re owed in a straightforward, ethical manner. With offices in Birmingham and Grand Rapids, we handle claims against debtors located in Michigan, even if you are located out of state or out of the country.
Call us at 248-645-2440 for a free initial consultation and strategy meeting!
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
Is Garnishing the Best Course of Action?
Timing is everything! You should try to time the service of a garnishment to maximize your chances of recovering money.
Learn more here!
Debt Collection in Michigan: Get Started Today!
When you hire one of our attorneys to take your debt collection in Michigan case, we’ll ease your stress by developing a strategy that works best for your unique needs. An in-depth analysis and investigation of the facts will help us determine your options. Call us at 248-645-2440 for a free initial consultation and strategy meeting!
Friday, August 14, 2020
What are some steps for collecting a debt from the deceased's estate?

Get Started Today!
Saturday, August 1, 2020
Can I File a Claim Against the Deceased Debtor’s Estate?
Take the First Step! Contact an Attorney for Debt Collection in Michigan Today!
If you need the help of an attorney for debt collection in Michigan 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. 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.