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About Michelle 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.

You are here: Experts > Business > Small Business Information > Business Debt > Client won't pay

Business Debt - Client won't pay

Expert: Michelle Dunn - 10/23/2009

Question
I have a client who paid me half the fee in a timely way. But the second half, $5,000, is now several months late. I have a signed Letter of Agreement from her. I even offered for her to pay in installments. I have called, emailed.. Each time she says, I'm sending you a check this week, but it doesn't happen. She lives in a different state (I am in NJ, she is in Indiana). What do I do now?

Answer
Jennifer,

Go to the post office and get one of the red, white and blue priority mail flat rate envelopes. Type up a collection notice to the customer, very short & to the point, telling her the balance due, what date you must receive this payment by and what you plan to do if you don't have the payment by that date. Be very specific by listing the amount, the exact date and what you will do. Things you can do would be take her to court, report the debt to her credit report or to the Better Business Bureau, or place her with a collection agency. Send the envelope with delivery confirmation.

This works 97% of the time. If she ignores this letter and still doesn't pay you, let me know and I will help further.

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