05-21-2015 - The Essentials Of Collections Law - Houston, TX

Secrets of Collection Laws Revealed

• The areas of the FDCPA that trip up even veteran collectors
• Fair Credit Reporting Act issues that can – and will – affect the way you work
• Easily-broken HIPAA regs that can get you hauled into court
• How to write a waiver that protects your company from Truth In Lending Laws and unauthorized credit card debits
• What"s your company"s civil liability under the FDCPA? You better know!
• Real-world examples of well-known companies who violated federal collection laws and the consequences they faced

Protecting Yourself and Your Company"s Bottom Line

• Bad check laws that every A/R and sales pro in your company should know
• What you can quickly (and legally) do to get your money when a customer writes you a bad check
• Should you ever accept a post-dated check? Find out here
• Using Promissory Notes to get your money sooner rather than later (or never at all)
• Minimizing your company"s risk from fraud
• Using a "mini-Miranda" warning to protect yourself and your company 
• in court

Legally Respect a Debtor"s Bankruptcy and Still Get Your Money

• An overview of consumer vs. commercial bankruptcy and the differences between Chapter 7, 11 and 13
• Sobering bankruptcy statistics that are helping to change the face of the collection industry
• A step-by-step guide to protecting your company"s interests during a debtor"s bankruptcy
• What you need to know about bankruptcy and your reclamation rights
• The critical difference between "I don"t have any money" and "I"m bankrupt"
• How a personal guarantee as small as one paragraph in a commercial credit application can ensure you get your money if the company goes bankrupt
• Who should sign a personal guarantee for a company – and who shouldn"t

Taking the �Next Step� in Collections

• How to determine when enough is enough and get tough with your debtors
• The pros and cons of collection agencies
• What to look for in a collection agency so YOU don"t end up getting burned
• How a $15 letter could save you hundreds of dollars in legal fees
• When to get your lawyers involved – and what you should expect them to do for YOUR money
• Legal hurdles you"ll have to jump over to get out-of-town debtors to pay

Protecting Your Company in Court

• The first step you MUST take when you find out your company is being sued
• How to build a foolproof paper trail that your lawyers will love
• The Top 3 legal defenses that protect you when you"re sued
• When it"s the last straw: Taking your debtors to court
• Is your lawyer protecting your best interests? A simple checklist will let 
• you know

SPECIAL BONUS - 10 Most Common Collections Mistakes
Every day accounts receivable professionals commit common mistakes such as using legal words and terminology in letters and conversations or charging interest and not complying with the requirements of the Federal Truth-in-Lending Act. This special section sheds light on the top 10 most common mistakes made every day in the collections world.

When you attend this seminar, we let you in on all 10 errors A/R professionals unknowingly commit. Your trainer will walk you through each mistake offering valuable tips on how to steer clear of them and still collect the money you are owed. You can prevent expensive prosecution and fines when you learn what mistakes to avoid in the collections process.