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.

Why You Should Have Tighter Controls on New Customers

Are you worried about customer loyalty?

When you first extend credit, your new customer knows they’re being monitored. For that reason, in most cases they’ll pay the first few invoices on time. After that point, some customers decide that they can relax and pay less promptly because they’ve already earned your respect and are no longer under the microscope, and their payments may start slowing.

In order to collect on a debt, you need to be able to identify exactly who your debtor is – such as a partnership, a corporation, or a limited liability company. This is not always easy! This process can be long and complicated, especially if your debtor is using multiple names and/or locations.

Learn more in our latest article.

Hire a Michigan Commercial Collections Attorney Today!

To protect your creditors’ rights, contact an experienced attorney for commercial collections in Michigan at (248) 645-2440 or via contact form 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.

Four Ways to Implement Tighter Controls on New Customers

Are you finding it challenging to get new customers to pay on-time?

To protect yourself, you may choose to adopt some of the following controls:

1. Put the customer on a short leash, such as a 15-day watch list, so you detect a slowdown in payments almost immediately.
2. Be ready to turn off the credit faucet: no credit if no payment.
3. Hold up further deliveries of your goods or services until the customer pays his late invoices.
4. Get additional assurance of payment, such as liens, guarantees, and promissory notes.

Learn more in our latest article.

Hire a Michigan Commercial Collections Attorney Today!

To protect your creditors’ rights, contact an experienced attorney for commercial collections in Michigan at (248) 645-2440 or via contact form 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.

Monitoring a Payment Plan

Have you set up a payment plan with a debtor?

When your debtor is short of cash and can’t pay off the entire debt at once, setting up a payment plan makes a lot of sense. But after you have the payment plan in hand, how do you keep the payments coming in?

After you set up a plan where the debtor is to pay off the account in installments, you should closely monitor the account, watching for any sign that the debtor is falling behind again. After the payment plan is implemented, remind the debtor that you expect all installments to be paid on time. 

But what do you do if the debtor misses a payment? Once again, the account is delinquent, and you certainly don’t want to go back to square one. As long as you actually intend to file a lawsuit if the debt isn’t paid, this is the time to threaten litigation.

Read more in our latest article.

Need a collection company that operates in Michigan?

You’re in the right place!

Your money is our #1 priority. If your or your debtor live in Michigan, our collection company can help! Take the pressure and frustration off your plate by contacting the Mullers at (248) 645-2440 or by submitting a contact form.

Effective Reminders for Debtors on Payment Plans

How can you make sure your debtor doesn’t fall behind on a payment plan? 

After you set up a plan where the debtor is to pay off the account in installments, you should closely monitor the account, watching for any sign that the debtor is falling behind again. After the payment plan is implemented, remind the debtor that you expect all installments to be paid on time. 

Here’s how you can remind your debtor effectively:

• Send statements to the debtor in advance of each payment due date. Restate the due date, amount due, and remaining balance.
• Place reminder phone calls/emails. Remind the debtor that you expect all installments to be paid on time.

Read more in our latest article.

Need a collection company that operates in Michigan?

You’re in the right place!

Your money is our #1 priority. If your or your debtor live in Michigan, our collection company can help! Take the pressure and frustration off your plate by contacting the Mullers at (248) 645-2440 or by submitting a contact form.

Staying Professional when Calling Debtors

What’s appropriate to say to a debtor when trying to collect?

When you’re trying to collect money, positive comments and professionalism can go a long way. Particularly for consumer debts, you need to be careful about legal restrictions on when and how you make contact. For example:

• 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.

The FDCPA and other consumer laws limit the times of day for collections calls, limit the number of times a call may be placed, restrict the people who can be contacted about a debt, restrict what you can do if you’re asked not to call again, and the list goes on. Mistakes can get you sued.

Get more tips for calling debtors in our latest article.

Learn More from a Trusted Michigan Debt Collection Expert

Have questions about Michigan debt collection, or ready to file a claim? Reach out to the Mullers at (248) 645-2440 or submit a contact form here. If you need a second opinion, check out reviews from our clients!

Contacting Debtors via Phone

What’s the best way to get ahold of a debtor?

Although many technologies exist for instant communication, the telephone is still one of the best. A phone call gives you direct and instant communication with no gaps in time. If you reach the desired person on the other end, they can’t complain about missing messages or e-mails. 

Used properly, the telephone can get you paid in many instances where other forms of communication may not. It’s not just a matter of timing. The manner in which you represent yourself and your company can make a big difference in whether your collection call succeeds or fails.

Perfecting Your Telephone Voice

Develop a “telephone voice” that is a bit slower, lower, and louder than your normal voice. This isn’t to be exaggerated. Your telephone voice helps you pace the conversation while allowing your debtor to clearly hear every word you say.

Getting the Correct Person on the Line

The person who answers the phone may not be the person you want to speak with. Use your credit application or other information from your credit file to ask for a specific person who you know has the authority to pay you. When you’ve reached the point of making collection calls, you only want to speak with a person you know to have the actual authority to write a check and put it in the mail right now. After the right person is on the phone, give your name and the name of your business and make a specific request for money.

Get more tips for calling debtors in our latest article.

Learn More from a Trusted Michigan Debt Collection Expert

Have questions about Michigan debt collection, or ready to file a claim? Reach out to the Mullers at (248) 645-2440 or submit a contact form here. If you need a second opinion, check out reviews from our clients!

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.

Miscommunication Could Be The Reason For Late Payments

Do you have a good relationship with your customers?

Do you have a clear payment policy?

Have you considered that there may be a miscommunication as to what day payments are due?

According to Zlien.com, a website that allows businesses to send and file documents for liens, “47% of suppliers are paid late by their best and biggest customers.” Zlien suggests that some suppliers offer discounts for companies that pay early, but large companies with cash on hand don’t need those financial bonuses like small companies do. Is this the case for your business? Are you frustrated by having to take out small business loans in order to make ends meet?

We’ve been a successful Michigan collection firm for 55 years. This is possible because our experienced attorneys work very hard to get results for you! Not only do we listen to our clients, but we use time-tested tactics to collect the money owed to you.

Need help coming up with a strategy that will help payments come in on time? At Muller, Muller, Richmond, Harms, & Myers, P.C. we can help you strategize and come up with a plan for your business that will help you recover overdue payments.

Attorney For Debt Collection in Michigan: Get Started Today!

Our attorneys know how to get results for our clients and they are dedicated to getting a satisfactory outcome. Contact our firm for debt collection in Michigan today at (248) 645-2440, or fill out our contact form for a free no obligation consultation.

Prevent Fraud Debt Payments Today!

As a collection company in Michigan, we’ve seen every possible scam there is that people use to try to avoid actually paying off their debt.

•    Pay in large sums with a fake cashiers check
•    Offer a wire transfer that turns out to be a scam
•    Pay by putting balance on a fraudulent credit card

Don’t ignore a red flag! If a large payment offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t be fooled by what seems to be an over-generous payment. If you’re not sure how to tell whether an offer is genuine, contact our collection company in Michigan today to help you sort out fraud payments.

For over 55 years, we’ve tracked down overdue accounts, winning many settlements for our clients along the way. Don’t let the stress of trying to contact and get results from a debtor weigh you down any longer! Let our team of experienced debt collection attorneys do the hard work for you. You work hard for your clients/customers on a regular basis, and deserve to be compensated for your services. If you are not getting your invoices paid, it’s time to get an attorney involved.

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 company 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.