What We Need To Get Started

After you have retained us to be your collection firm, have selected your preferred method of payment and tendered your cost and expense deposit, we will need certain information and documents to get started.

If your case is based on a contract, we need a copy of that contract and evidence of breach. A contract need not be a written document. An implied contract can be established by acceptance of goods or services, a prior course of dealing, or in Quantum Meruit or quasi-contract. Under this theory, even where there is no express or implied contract, you may be entitled to the reasonable value of your goods or services for purposes of preventing the debtor's unjust enrichment.
To start a new case, we request the relevant documents that support your claim. For example, if the collection is on a promissory note, of course a copy of the note is required, together with a past payment history. If the collection is for goods or services sold and unpaid, we request a copy of any contract or agreement and the statement or account information. If there is a credit application, engagement letter, purchase order or similar document, you should put that with the package. We frequently request copies of the invoices or billings and delivery receipts (if any for goods). Basically you should plan to send anything you think would be relevant to the proof that the debtor got your money, goods, services or otherwise owes you the money. Where there is no documentation supporting the transaction(s), we may ask for sworn statements (affidavits) describing the facts supporting the claim. We will be glad to draft affidavits for you when necessary.

If your claim is based on an unsatisfied judgment, we will want copies of all related court paperwork - Including the judgment obtained as a result of your lawsuit.

We also like to receive a brief statement of what happened. This can be a simple handwritten note or paragraph that describes the facts and explains the debt. Nothing formal is required but the best descriptions supplement and amplify the documents.

We also like to receive any information available about the debtor. We like to know where they are, who they are, any other names used, current addresses and phone numbers, social security numbers of individuals (if known-used to retrieve credit reports). For businesses we like to know details like who the principals are, where they live, what the nature of the business is and if there are any disputes about the debt.

Any past information, such as previous checks, correspondence, telephone logs, prior dealings, other vendors, etc are helpful. Of course we also need information about you so we can properly identify you in any legal documents. Your correct full name, address, phone, fax and pertinent facts about you are necessary. If you are a business, we will need the correct entity status (corporation and state of incorporation or if partnership, the state and general partners).

In beginning your collection, we formulate a collection plan for each case and try to construct a profile of each debtor and identify their areas of vulnerability. The information you provide and our investigation form the backbone of our collection plan and any assistance you can provide increases the speed and efficiency of handling your case.