AboutMichelle Dunn Expertise As one of the Top 5 Women in Collections, one of the Top 50 Collection Professionals of 2007, and winner of the 2007 Business Excellence award, I can answer any questions about debt, debt collection, improving business credit, creating a credit policy, enforcing a credit policy and collecting on past due accounts. I can also answer questions in regards to starting a debt collection agency since I have been a bill collector for over 21 years, started and ran my own collection agency for 8 years, and maintain my 11 year old American Credit & Collections Association for members of the credit & debt collection industry. I am also the author of the popular and award winning book "Starting a Collection Agency, how to make money collecting money" now on it's 3rd edition. This book has won a the Writers Digest self published award as well as the 2007 New York Book Festival Award.
I am a repeat contributor to the Wall Street Journal, and have been featured on NPR as well as many other national radio and television programs. I have also been featured in national publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Smart Money, MSNBC and much more. I have 12 published books to my name and am an accomplished speaker and consultant. I currently write 9 columns for newspapers, magazines and online portals worldwide.
Experience I have over 21 years experience in debt collection, I started and ran my own collection agency for 8 years and I am the Executive Director of my American Credit & Collections Association that I founded in 1998. www.credit-and-collections.com
Organizations The American Credit & Collections Association LLC, I was also a member of the American Collectors Association and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce for 9 years. I am a member of many writing groups as well as my local Women Inspiring Women chapter. I am a member of Know More Media as an expert for their blog on business credit.
Publications Business NH Magazine, Smart Money Magazine, MSNBC, CNN, Forbes.com, The Wall Street Journal, Home Business Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine and website, many books, newspapers and television programs as well.
Education/Credentials I have written 12 books in my collecting money series and one for Entrepreneur Press called the Ultimate Credit and Collections Handbook.
Awards and Honors My book Starting a Collection Agency, how to make money collecting money won an award from Writers Digest and the 2007 New York Book Festival in the "How to" category. I have won 2 awards from Dun & Bradstreet and Governor Jean Shaheen. I was nominated as one of the Top 5 Women in Collections in 2007 as well as having been selected as one of Collection Advisor's Top 50 Collection Professionals for 2007.
The Truth be Known wrote at 2008-05-12 01:15:34
I am a collector for a Nationwide agency. First you should place yourself in the position that you owe this debt. 2nd Make a Plan, based on the reality of your financial position and then present that to the agency. 3rd the agency will not allow, on first contact, anything but working for balance in full however if you are truly in hardship, can demonstrate reasons why the balance in full can not be paid, other than verbal statements from you, it must be physical and provable hardship, then a settlement can be accomplished.
4th If your company, has the assets and financials to pay in full, then be aware that the courts, are everyday hearing cases of breach of contract. Not attempting to pay your bills is a complete breach of your signed and committed to agreement with AmEX. Once in court, a judgement will be rendered on AmEx behalf. Once a judgement is on record, your business's ability to find low interest credit will become impossible.
5th Take the position of paying month to month, getting a loan from various sources or get an attorney. It will cost you less to settle on your own however you must decide this on your own.
6th Once a court judgement is rendered, then attachment to property, garnishment of wages and various other forms of court order "Writs" can and will be enforced by law.
