This collection agency is preparing for our second year of celebration and participation in the Collector’s Challenge Month. The event is an Association of Credit and Collection professional’s initiative and takes place the entire month of April. Collector’s Challenge Month provides an opportunity for APR employees in our Michigan, Massachusetts and North Carolina offices to get involved in the important work of the ACA International Education Foundation along with others in the credit and collection industry. It is an enjoyable way for APR team members to participate in activities that benefit our company, industry and consumers and which also promote financial literacy and education.

APR is pleased to support the mission of the ACA International Education Foundation, which increases financial literacy through the United States and supports research, job training and educational programs in the areas of credit and collections. Since its inception in 1995, the Foundation acts as the philanthropic arm of ACA International and has fulfilled their mission through several major initiatives that APR participates in such as: Ask Doctor Debt and National Credit Education Week.

I was thrilled to see APR employees make such a strong debut in the 2009 Collector’s Challenge Month. We had great times and great success raising nearly $2,300 for the campaign and helped generate awareness of the Foundation’s programs. This year we look to surpass our 2009 donation through fundraisers such as: paying for dress down days in the workplace for up to one month, can and bottle drives, in-house food donations and weekly raffle tickets where APR employees may win gift cards, casual day coupons, time off coupons and other items.

I am proud of the fact that this collection agency is an avid supporter of charitable events and programs that give consumers tools to achieve brighter financial futures. Fiscally minded consumers help build better working and living environments and strong communities. APR is thrilled to have employees who eagerly support our daily mission as well as our charitable efforts; they are truly the key to our success. 

APR looks forward to another strong showing in the 2010 Collector’s Challenge month and is proud to participate in an event that helps provide financial literacy through free electronic Community Education Kits, the Receivables Management Training Program which gives persons with disabilities access to employment in the accounts receivables field and the Personal Financial Management Web Course that provides a free online management training program as a public service to consumers.

I recently spent some time at New England Grows, one of the largest trade shows for landscaping and lawn care professionals. Over the three-day show, myself and our team spoke with a number of business owners and others about how they deal with slow payers or even worse, people that don’t pay.

We pride ourselves here by being a collection agency that knows their business cold. With account professionals that are well versed in the lawn care industry and a number of major industry endorsements such as PLANET, we’re well positioned to help these professionals keep their heads above water and keep their cash flow as current as possible.

Many of the issues we hear from lawn care and landscaping professionals are about the time spent dealing with their receivables, the cost associated with using a traditional collection agency and the fear of alienating their customers if they send their account to a collection agency.

We believe we’ve solved these issues here at APR. Watch my interview with Andy and Mike, two of the professionals we have on staff here that deal everyday with lawn care and landscaping professionals.

The dedication and professionalism of APR’s staff is one of many things that makes us different and also makes us a successful collection agency. To honor our employees, APR created the Good Corporate Citizen Award this past year which the winner was nominated by fellow employees. The award is meant to recognize those who embody the core qualities we stand for: work ethics, integrity and positive attitude. 

We started this award because our people set us apart from many others in this industry and we really want to show everyone who comes in contact with our company that we have other goals than just doing business as usual. We also want to show people that we have an exceptional group of professionals working here and taking charge of their own destiny by making great things happen for the company and for themselves. In short, this award is American Profit Recovery.

The first winner of the Good Corporate Citizen Award was Ashley McCullough from APR’s Farmington Hills, Michigan office. Ashley’s work ethic, integrity and core qualities demonstrate corporate social responsibility and also help make APR a great place to work.

When I spoke with Ashley about receiving the award she stated, “I was quite surprised and honored to receive the award and speechless to say the least, which is almost impossible coming from me! I really wouldn’t be able to do my job without everyone within the company. It made me feel quite good knowing that I was voted on amongst my peers and it makes me realize that I am making a difference at the office and outside the office. I am honored to be the first person to receive this award and I am looking forward to seeing who, in the coming years will also receive this amazing award.”

Michelle Riviello added about Ashley “Ashley enthusiastically participates in company activities and her personality adds fun to the activity which makes her stand out. During employee week she wore Hawaiian clothes from head to toe, not to win any award but just to help create a fun and enjoyable workplace. She is also an avid supporter of APR’s charitable efforts. For the past two years in a row she has participated in the Making Strides Walk to help raise money and awareness for breast cancer.It’s a pleasure to have Ashley on our team and we wish her an even more successful 2010. In my opinion, Ashley is what APR is all about.”

You can’t ask for an employee who exemplifies what APR stands for more than Ashley.  We are honored and thankful to have her as such an important part of our team. 

Ashley, Thanks for all you do and are!

Most of the East Coast is BURIED in snow and as I look out my office window, my car is slowly disappearing under a pile of white fluff … yet every few minutes I still hear this perky voice saying “It’s a great day at American Profit Recovery; How can I help you?”  And she sincerely means it.

Many of you have asked who is behind that voice … what is she “on” perhaps … how much caffeine has she had anyway?!?!  We’ve heard it all.  And I’m here to tell you that that voice on the phone is that perky and happy and pleasant 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year.

Meet our Receptionist and Administrative Assistant, Caitlin Smith!

Caitlin answering the phone in MA

Caitlin was a referral of a former employee and is getting ready to celebrate her 2 year anniversary as the voice of APR this Friday, February 12.  Take a minute and wish her a Happy Anniversary and continue to share your feedback on her perky attitude and excellent customer service.  She makes me smile every time I hear her answer the phone … we hope she has the same effect on you.

Thinking every day is a Great Day … just one more way American Profit Recovery shows we’re different!

I am writing from one of my favorite trade shows of the year … New England Grows.  Why is it one of my favorites?  Well #1, its local (in Boston) so I get to go home to my own bed less than a mile away tonight and #2, its a chance to meet with new prospects and see lots of familiar faces.

Managing our Customer Service Team and working with our Outside Sales Department I am lucky enough to hear compliments on our service and our employees often … but nothing beats face to face.  A client walks up and my first question asked is “Who is your rep?”  Generally followed by “How are things working out for you?”  I have heard nothing but great reviews of our people and our service and its a reminder of why I love what I do so much.

“That Manon is great – I just refered someone else to her.”  “Wow … I can’t believe we paid you $500 and you collected $21K …” 

Quite the variety of compliments!  And vendors … Right now I am flanked by a booth of a local grower full of bushes and trees and a spraying truck on the other side of me … you should see the expressions when someone sees a collection agency mixed in the middle of that!  The best part – not only can we help those landscapers who walk by our booth, but that Nursery and that Equipment company - we could help them too.  The possibilities here are endless which again makes me thankful I do what I do.

If  you work in the lawn care industry and have the oppotrunity to attend this show we hope you stop by and see us.  This year its booth 2311 … we’re not hard to find.  We’re the only collection agency here and let me tell you, I’m glad we are.

At American Profit Recovery we strive to be different from traditional collection agencies through all our efforts and actions. While we do aim to help our clients retrieve payments owed to their business, we also make every effort to help consumers understand how debt affects them. When the Doctor Debt program http://www.americanprofit.net/consumeradvice.htm  was launched last April, APR was happy to embrace the program which is designed to help consumers find answers to credit and debt questions on-line and free of charge.

The Doctor Debt program, spearheaded by the ACA International Education Foundation gives collection agencies the opportunity to educate consumers about the best methods to resolve their current debt and how to stay out of debt in the years ahead. Struggling with debt makes many feel overwhelmed, like they are drowning however, with good advice and solutions consumers can better navigate the waters. APR feels that by leading people to the proper information, they can make better decisions in the future.

The Doctor Debt program has experienced great success in the short time it has been around. In less that one year, the program has led to over 125 interviews, reached more than 25 million consumers and received an estimated $1 million in free advertising and publicity. APR looks forward to contributing to the success of the Doctor Debt program in 2010 and the years ahead as it is a program that helps reshape attitudes and perceptions of those in the collections industry. Just as we try to help businesses resolve debt, not just collect it at APR we are also here to help guide consumers to a number of tips to help them make better informed decisions.

We made a company-wide commitment last year to treat both customers and consumers with respect at all times and to support programs such as these. See our commitment below.

Like many businesses seeking help for any number of issues, you should always make sure you’ve done what you can internally before seeking professional help. We believe that’s the case when hiring a collection agency. There are many things you can do in regards to internal accounts receivables procedures before you call in a collection agency such as American Profit Recovery.

I equate this to calling a computer repair person when your computer will not boot up. They may ask you a series of questions such as, is it plugged in? Or, is your modem plugged in? Now many of us may find those questions insulting, but there are simple things that sometimes get overlooked in a business such as sound billing procedures. Do you bill on a regular basis? Do you let late paying customers go too long on their outstanding invoices? Do you get angry with late-paying accounts or do you try to work out a resolution?

My video here with Matt explains some of the very simple things a business can do to beef up their internal procedures for billing and also soften the collection process with their customers. In fact, a solid accounts receivables program internally coupled with a third-party collection agency for more stubborn accounts can make a dramatic improvement on cash flow.

As the old saying goes…desperate times call for desperate measures. We see this everyday as a collection agency. Yet, sometimes desperation can have a positive end result. The downturn in the economy has been devastating for many people in a multitude of different ways. However, a recent survey we recently saw has shown how tough economic times have had a very positive effect on Generation Y, especially when it comes to managing personal debt. Witnessing people like their own parents, neighbors and friends loose their homes, experience financial ruin and become overwhelmed with debt has caused Generation Y to look very closely at their own finances. In an effort to tighten their monetary belts, Generation Y has placed their school, credit card and mortgage debts under a microscope. They have a much more responsible attitude and approach to settling and managing debt than previous generations that might occasionally get a communication from a collection agency.

A more fiscal mind has caused Generation Y to take a much more conservative approach to their future. They are more likely to carefully weigh their employment choices, financial decisions and expenditures. A sign of the times is how Generation Y is less likely to job hop and look for the best salary coupled with benefits over pursing a career that may be their passion. These choices not only help them make more money but also help them pay down credit card debts and mortgages. Many are placing importance on settling outstanding debt over saving money for retirement.

Proper money management and budgeting may make Generation Y the most fiscally responsible generation we have seen for several decades. Also, tools like online accounts accessed from computers and personal cell phones give access to real-time balances and help weigh decisions when it comes to making large purchases. Although the economic crisis has been devastating to many, it has had a few positive results and may provide for a more stable economic future through better management of personal debt.

Debt recovery can be a harrowing and slippery slope which can cause business owners and operators to feel overwhelmed. APR is proud to step in at challenging times to help companies with their accounts receivables process in an ethical and diplomatic manner.

We are grateful to have three successful organizations recently acknowledge us for our assistance to them and their members. This support deepens our desire to be different from traditional collection agencies and solidifies our commitment to build a stronger financial future for businesses and the member organizations that represent and advocate for them.

We are always pleased to see successful results in a company’s accounts receivables practices and to hear positive reviews from business owners and operators following our work together. Recently, APR was honored with three different company endorsements: CLIP, More Floods and Lawn Doctor.

APR works with clients in almost every industry to increase their profitability through our proven system, which includes a low-cost fee structure, customer-driven technology and diplomatic early intervention. Partnering or endorsing American Profit Recovery is a smart business decision for a member organization for a number of reasons.

-Add Value to the member’s investment in your organization

-Provide members with a low-cost alternative to debt collection and accounts receivables

-Results; that’s really the bottom line; RESULTS…

See what our own Matt Moskowitz has to say about organizations that partner with APR and why it’s a smart move.

At American Profit Recovery we are always looking to be different and we work diligently each day to change the negative images and attitudes associated with collection agencies. We realize people fall on hard times and treating them with respect and dignity when they are struggling produces the best results for everyone. We built APR on this foundation so we were pleased to participate in the ‘Collector’s Pledge’ program spearheaded by the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals this past June. APR was one of the early adopters of this pledge as it is a natural fit with our company mission. We are proud to report that all of our 61 employees have taken the ‘Collector’s Pledge’ making a commitment to treat all consumers with the respect and dignity they deserve while we assist them in resolving their debts in a diplomatic manner.

In a time when consumers are trying to navigate a challenging economy, APR is delighted that ACA is taking steps to change the public image of the credit and collection industry. Although 2009 was a difficult financial year for many, it was successful in the collection industry with numerous members across the country taking the ‘Collector’s Pledge’ to help consumers get on the right fiscal track in a courteous and respectful manner. The ‘Pledge’ reinforces collector’s dedication to doing the right thing and treating people well during a difficult time in their lives. It keeps those in the collection industry from being viewed as bad guys.

At APR we take the ‘Collector’s Pledge’ to heart and are grateful our employees make a voluntary, personal commitment to treat our customers with dignity and respect in every aspect of their work. We are proud to have contributed to the success this program experienced in 2009 and we will continue to keep the program successful in 2010 and beyond by treating consumers well and helping them resolve their debt.

See the video below that was seen on CNN’s I Report:

American Profit Recovery is a collection agency unlike traditional collection agencies. We strive daily to change the negative perceptions and stereotypes associated with those in the debt recovery industry. In addition to helping businesses of all sizes in many diverse industries become more profitable, we aim to make a difference in people’s lives and their communities through charitable endeavors.

In October, APR employees demonstrated their support of the American Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. APR staff participated in a number of industry trades shows and donated five percent of the proceeds from all new orders and reorders to the organization. Also, a generous amount of APR employees along with their friends and family members ‘strutted their stuff’ in the Making Strides Walk. Due to the dedication and participation of APR employees, the company entered three teams in their base states of Michigan, Massachusetts and North Carolina in the event.

Our Totals are in! Showing their dedication to ACS at work and at play enabled APR employees to donate nearly $12,000 to breast cancer research. The five percent promotion in October raised over $7,000 and individual donations from employees, family and friends to the Making Strides Walk almost topped $4,000. APR staff also raised close to an additional $2,000 by paying for the opportunity to dress casual during the month of September.

APR’s proven methods of debt recovery make us unique and help us excel as a company by recovering overdue funds for businesses in varied industries. However, APR employees are the key to our success by exhibiting professionalism, diplomacy and dedication at work and in their personal lives. Their participation and support in APR’s daily efforts as well as charitable endeavors like the Making Strides Walk are the reason we are unique from other collection agencies in the industry.

As you know by now, we pride ourselves on being different. Yes we’re a collection agency but we work very hard to take a serious issue of unpaid debt for clients and turn it into a positive with our approach, and through the great team we’ve assembled. One thing we’ve tried very hard to do in the past two years is to not only shed light on how different we are but shed a little light on the positive aspect of this business and the good it does for many trying to improve cash flow.

As you’ve seen here, we’ve embarked on a number of educational videos that help businesses with tips for improving cash flow, laws around collections and other solid advice. Filming these videos is rewarding, sometimes challenging and always fun.

We thought you’d like to see what we mean by challenging and fun: See those fun moments below and have a great holiday season.

It causes me great concern that some lenders did not live up to their moral and fiduciary responsibilities when they irresponsibly advised borrowers to take on loans they could not afford. What worries me even more is that while America’s economy is in the process of recovering from such a major fiscal crisis, some “financial advisors” are presenting home owners with reasons to bail out of their contractual obligations to pay their mortgages. While “advisors” make walking away from a mortgage and renting until property values return sound easy, in reality it’s not smart advice.

This article below takes a position of advising people to think about walking away from their financial responsibilities; http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/HomeFinancing/weston-should-you-walk-away-from-your-home.aspx

Some lenders presented borrowers with an opportunity that truly was too good to be true and did not consider the long term effects of their actions. In turn, many who had no business taking on huge mortgages and other financial responsibilities are also a big part of the economic problems we are experiencing now. As a collection agency, we see this every day; people who did not know when it was time to stop spending.

We have now seen the result of those events with the damage done to the economy. If homeowners follow the advice to abandon their ethical obligation to pay their mortgage, it will likely only deepen the financial chasm this country is experiencing and may make it impossible to recover from such a fiasco. The ‘American Dream’ of owning a home is a privilege and with this privilege comes a moral obligation to lenders, ourselves, our families and our communities. The unethical act of actively defaulting on a loan can drive down property value, increase crime and bring more crises to neighborhoods and the economy.

There is no doubt what some lenders did was wrong but two wrongs do not make things right and in this case, would create a disaster. Americans who remain moral and take on the responsibility of paying their mortgage and other bills are also taking back control of the country’s economy by helping it get on the right financial track in the present and for the future.

I recently had a chance to talk with one of our partners, Matt Moskowitz about debt collection during the holidays. With our challenging economy taking center stage lately and an economy depending on a great retail rebound, many have asked us what we advise people to do when it comes to collecting bad debt during the holiday season.

Matt suggests a number of things but all are procedures we would ordinarily advise a business to do anyway. Procedures such as staying on track, diplomacy and an increased desire to be a little flexible were some of Matt’s tips. We like to think we are a reputable collection agency that always sticks to these values. These are ways that have helped this collection agency be as successful as we have been.

See my short interview with Matt as he tells us what a business should do during the holiday season to keep the cash flow coming in.

Tomorrow morning employees from our MI branch will drop off hundreds of dollars worth of clothing, household items, toys and wrapping supplies that were purchased by our employees and through donations made by our employees for our first annual Adopt-A-Family donation! 

At the suggestion of one of our wonderful Outside Sales reps, Justy Ragnoli, our Managers and Executive team worked to pull off this 1st time project!  Check out some of our employees readying the donations in MI below! 

Ryan, Ashley, Justy, Krista and Keith preparing the gifts!

I’ll enjoy my weekend much more knowing 5 little children will be warmer this winter thanks to APR’s generosity!  Can’t wait to do the same in MA!  Check back for updates on that soon!