|
Collections Department Information
Mission Statement
The Collections Department is dedicated to
provide efficient recovery of bad debts owed to
our clients and keeping them informed and educated
in our progress to its successful conclusion.
About
Us
Lacy Katzen LLP was founded in 1950 as a general
practice firm. Today, the Collections Department is
the largest at the firm.
Our database contains over 100,000 cases for collection
from diverse clients including national retail
chains, financial institutions, debt buyers, national
collection agencies and local and regional businesses.
The Collections Department consists of two partners
who exclusively practice in Debtor/Creditor Law. Our
staff consists of a Supervisor who is responsible for
the daily operation of the Department and a support
staff including Skip Tracers, Paralegal Collectors, Accounting
employees and Clerical workers. In addition, the
Collections Department is supported by an
Information/Technology staff located on site along
with a Special Projects Manager, Independent Consultant
and 25 other attorneys at the firm who can assist at
any time. Attorney services which enhance our Department
include commercial litigators, bankruptcy staff which
can file Proofs of Claims and Objections to Discharge
and an Estate staff who can file claims in Surrogate’s
Court.
Back
to Collections and Creditors' Rights
Our
Proactive Approach to Collections
Lacy Katzen staff and equipment are organized
in such a manner as to handle any increase in
volume of placements. Our Paralegal Collectors are
strategically assigned cases so any increase in
volume will be spread over all Paralegal Collectors. On
several prior occasions, Lacy Katzen took on new
clients with thousands of placements forwarded in a
short period of time. Since the Collections
Department takes pride in its work and the excellent
results achieved, we “gear up” to absorb
new placements. In the event we determine additional
personnel are needed to handle such volume, Lacy Katzen
is committed to adding personnel when required.
Lacy Katzen has the well-deserved reputation
of diligently and aggressively pursuing a debtor
and the enforcement of money judgments. We go
beyond typical enforcement proceedings when necessary.
If an income or property execution results in
no recovery, other enforcement proceedings are
routinely pursued. These include, but are not
limited to, subpoenas, interrogatories, contempt
proceedings, installment payment motions and bankruptcy
objections where warranted. No file will ever
be closed until all avenues of the legal process
are exhausted. Lacy Katzen will take a proactive approach on
every file referred from a client.
Back
to Collections and Creditors' Rights
Skip
Tracers
Our Skip Tracers use the best technology to locate
debtors and/or assets. They are able to access
credit reports, court records including property
ownership, motor vehicle records and also use
various search engines on their computer to better
evaluate a debtor’s financial condition
in evaluating a placement. We constantly monitor
for new and innovative ways of skip tracing and
are always implementing the best technology on the
market for methods of achieving maximum results.
Back
to Collections and Creditors' Rights
Paralegal Collectors
Each Paralegal Collector is strategically assigned a portion of the workload
to divide the work evenly. Each day, the Paralegal Collectors
receive a “tickler report”
with those cases which must be worked on. For
the most part, this involves telephone follow-up
with debtors who are on a payment schedule and
have not made their payments. When a payment is
made as agreed, the case is “tickled”
to the next date and followed accordingly. If
a debtor promises a payment, the Paralegal Collector follows
the promise by advancing the file to the appropriate
date. Any payment agreement is backed up by signed
Stipulations whereby if a default occurs, then
we can proceed with an automatic Judgment and
enforce it by various legal remedies.
In addition, each Paralegal Collector contacts the client
in the event a debtor makes a settlement proposal.
These requests are also diaried so each case is
worked on in a timely manner.
The Supervisor is given a daily report of cases
on each Paralegal Collector’s “tickler”
in order to monitor and control the number of
matters each person is handling. The report would
indicate the original amount of the claim, the
status of each case, the date last tickled and
the date the case was received by Lacy Katzen.
This helps us prioritize the cases and ensure
quality management.
On files where we obtain Judgments, our Paralegal Collectors
work closely with County Sheriffs and local marshals
to issue income and property executions. Where necessary,
the Paralegal Collectors will issue Retraining Notices to
banks to locate debtor’s accounts. In the
event an account is jointly owned, the Paralegal Collector
will give their files to the supervising attorney
to handle turnover proceedings.
Finally, our Paralegal Collectors are trained to conduct
asset depositions. Lacy Katzen and its staff make sure each
file is handled promptly, efficiently and to the fullest
extent of the law to make sure all assets are located.
Back
to Collections and Creditors' Rights
Area
of Coverage
Lacy Katzen handles placements throughout New
York State. Lacy Katzen is fully familiar with
all Court rules and procedures and has the ability
to enter judgments including all interest and
attorney fees, if appropriate, in an efficient
and timely manner.
Back
to Collections and Creditors' Rights
Computer
Support System and Reporting
The Collections Department was the first in the
area to develop its own state-of-the-art,
custom designed collection software program to
provide a full range of information services for
our clients. We continue to be dedicated to using
the most efficient collection software available.
We have enhanced our system by use of Collect
Max by JS Technologies, Inc. We have adopted the
use of Collect Max to make sure our clients’
requests are obtained. Lacy Katzen has the ability
to provide a full range of informational services
including analysis reports, status summaries,
invoicing and custom reporting.
Our system also provides a way for our clients
to review placements on our system, email questions
and be able to monitor the placement progress
from the beginning steps through Judgment and
to a successful conclusion. Client satisfaction
is a priority at Lacy Katzen.
Back
to Collections and Creditors' Rights
Fair
Debt Collection Regulations
All staff members are fully familiar with the provisions
of the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices
Act. Each person has received personal instructions
on the restrictions and requirements set forth
in these laws. In the many years we have done
collection work, no debtor has complained to a
client we were verbally abusive, threatening,
or acted in any inappropriate manner regarding
the collection of a debt.
Back
to Collections and Creditors' Rights
Investment
in Technology
Lacy Katzen is committed in the use of technology to
enhance our ability to better service our clients.
Profits are reinvested into the Collections Department
by acquiring new and innovative computer hardware and
software support systems.
Back
to Collections and Creditors' Rights
Contingent
Rates
Lacy Katzen contingent rates are negotiable with
the client.
We will work with a client to establish a rate
which is fair and reasonable for both the client and
Lacy Katzen. In addition, we can handle any matter on an
hourly basis if the client desires.
Back
to Collections and Creditors' Rights
Court
Filing Fees
The court filing fees in New York State, including
service of process and post judgment enforcement
proceedings, range from approximately $125.00
to $500.00 depending on the size of the claim
and the location of the debtor. Lacy Katzen has
the ability to advance these fees on clients’
behalf and bill accordingly or request an advance
from the client directly and wait for the funds
before commencing suit. Upon recovery, these costs
are returned dollar for dollar before the contingency
rates are applied resulting in no out-of-pocket loss
for the client if recovery is made.
Back
to Collections and Creditors' Rights
Conclusion
Lacy Katzen is a leader in the collection industry.
We are results oriented and generate substantial
revenue for our clients. Lacy Katzen invests a
substantial amount of money in cutting edge technology
resulting in our ability to produce the best possible
outcome for all of our clients. Our professional
staff is experienced in every aspect of the collection
process.
Back
to Collections and Creditors' Rights
Lacy Katzen LLP
Attorneys at Law
The Granite Building
130 East Main Street, Second Floor
Rochester, New York 14604
Phone: 585.454.5650;
Fax: 585.269.3077;
General E-mail: atty@lacykatzen.com
|
