Business Debt/owed money

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Expert: - 6/12/2008


Question
i have a window treatment business, around 2 weeks ago i delivered and installed window treatments that were custom ordered. the person who ordered them was not the one i delivered them to, it was the persons  fathers residence. i left without receiving balance which is almost $1700 dollars because the daughter didn't leave the balance, the parents were nice people so i didn't mind, i was told that the daughter would take care of the balance.it has been almost 2 weeks now, i spoke to the daughter at least 4 times and she always gives an excuse why the check wasn't received by me. she signed the purchase order and gave me a deposit at time of purchase. i don't have her address but i have her telephone number. what would my next step be if she still makes excuses and doesn't pay.

Answer
Sal,
I would call her and tell her you will be stopping by the residence where you delivered the curtains to pick up the check on a certain day at a certain time. Then do that.
I would also work on getting her mailing address, maybe off the check she gave you for the deposit. Then send her a certified letter demanding payment, and if both of these things do not get you paid, file with small claims court right away.
Good luck!

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Michelle Dunn

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As one of the Top 5 Women in Collections, one of the Top 50 Collection Professionals, and winner of the 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 24 years, started and ran my own collection agency for 8 years, and maintain my 12 year old 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 New York Book Festival Award. I am a repeat contributor to the Wall Street Journal, and have been featured on NPR, CNN, 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 17 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 24 years experience in debt collection, I started and ran my own collection agency for 8 years and I am the founder & owner of my Credit & Collections Association that I founded in 1998. www.credit-and-collections.com

Organizations
My Credit & Collections Association, I was also a member of the American Collectors Association and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce for 11 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.

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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 17 books in my collecting money series and one for Entrepreneur Press called the Ultimate Credit and Collections Handbook. My newest book is being published by John Wiley & Sons in May titled, The Guide to Getting Paid, how to weed out bad paying customers, collect on past due balances and avoid bad debt. This book is also being sold to many colleges as a text book.

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 twice as well as having been selected as one of Collection Advisor's Top 50 Collection Professionals by my peers.

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