Hancock is a small city with a big hinge: the lift bridge goes up, the waterway flows through, and daily life moves between two downtowns like clockwork. But unpaid invoices don’t move unless someone builds a path for them. When receivables stall, your cash flow gets trapped—right when you need it for payroll, supplies, equipment, and the next job. And then your best people end up doing the awkward work they weren’t hired for: collections.
Nexa provides a reputation-safe approach, equipped with all 50-state collections license, offering free credit reporting, free litigation, free bankruptcy scrubs, and zero onboarding fees. Secure – SOC 2 Type II & HIPAA compliant. Over 2,000 online reviews rate us 4.85 out of 5.
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Pricing that doesn’t punish you for trying
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Fixed-fee $15 (you keep 100% of what’s collected)
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Contingency 20%–40% (no recovery, no fee)
We may also send email and text when appropriate. Involvement of a collection agency significantly improves recovery rate—the earlier you assign, the better the recovery—especially when the approach stays amicable. Want your team focused on patient care, projects, billing, and service instead of chasing checks?
The Lift Bridge principle: you don’t need pressure—you need timing
In Hancock, everyone understands the lift bridge: it’s not “drama,” it’s a controlled mechanism. Debt recovery works best the same way. When you apply too much force, too early, you create backlash. When you apply structure at the right time—clear options, clear deadlines, clean documentation—you get movement without wreckage.
Our partners, your Account Reconciliation Concierges, use the Velvet Hammer style: firm enough to get paid, respectful enough to protect your 5-star reputation. We’re not here to argue with people. We’re here to make paying you the easiest adult decision they make all week.
Red flag box: 3 Hancock collection mistakes that cost real money
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Bridge-to-bridge “I’ll do it tomorrow” syndrome. Debtors keep promising payment “after the next shift / next check / next deposit.” Without a plan, it becomes an endless loop.
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Letting documentation live in five places. A missing approval email or change note gives debtors an exit ramp.
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Turning a bill into a battle. If they feel attacked, they stop responding. Silence is the most expensive outcome.
Why cooperative mediation wins (and arguing loses)
People don’t pay the creditor who yells the loudest. They pay the creditor who feels most manageable. When you work with the debtor—without becoming a pushover—you give them the will to pay you first, not last.
Here’s how Velvet Hammer creates that “first-to-pay” positioning:
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We lead with options (pay-in-full deadline, short plan, settlement window) instead of lectures.
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We keep the tone calm and specific, so the debtor doesn’t feel cornered or embarrassed.
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We do a litigation scrub to avoid pushing accounts that look riskier or likely to escalate the wrong way.
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Calls are recorded and randomly reviewed to prevent rogue collectors and reduce review-bomb risk.
A note from the reconciliation team
We’re not trying to “win” a conversation—we’re trying to close a file. In a community where word travels fast from Quincy Street to the campus side of the bridge, professionalism matters. We’ll be direct, but never reckless. We’ll be polite, but never vague. And we’ll document the path so your account doesn’t depend on someone’s mood.
Two recent recovery results (reputation-safe, realistic)
Medical recovery — $9,140 patient balance resolved without conflict
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Step 1: USPS address check + bankruptcy check. Statements weren’t landing because the patient moved and the file wasn’t updated.
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Step 2: Concierge call focused on clarity (what insurance covered vs. what remained) and two plan options with firm dates.
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Step 3: Patient chose a structured plan with autopay. Balance closed out—no hostility, no complaints, no online fallout.
Business recovery — $13,920 B2B invoice recovered and relationship preserved
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Step 1: We rebuilt the paper trail (authorization, completion notes, invoice timeline) and identified the true payables decision-maker.
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Step 2: Mediation call with a single deadline and two choices: pay-in-full by date or a short plan tied to their receivables cycle.
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Step 3: Partial payment arrived quickly; the remainder cleared through ACH on schedule.
Two fast $5K–$15K recovery mini-scenarios
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$6,870 dental/ortho balance: Patient ghosted after a treatment schedule change. We used a respectful email/text sequence (when appropriate) offering two payment paths. They selected a two-payment resolution and closed the account.
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$12,480 contractor/trades invoice: A scope tweak created “confusion” and delay. We aligned documentation, confirmed acceptance, and secured a two-step plan with clear due dates.
Industries we serve around Hancock
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Healthcare & Medical: 100% HIPAA-compliant recovery for hospitals and specialty clinics, built to preserve patient relationships (including care networks tied to UP Health System – Portage).
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Colleges & Universities: Tuition fee recovery, housing balances, and bursar accounts—firm collection that respects student relationships (including the broader campus community across the bridge).
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Dental: Dental practices, orthodontics, and specialty offices—reputation-safe outreach that still gets results.
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Restoration, pool, contractors: Diplomatic handling for water/fire restoration, pool projects, and general contracting disputes.
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K-12 Private & Charter Schools: Unpaid enrollment fees and textbook costs, managed with a sensitive approach for families.
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Accountants & CPA Firms: Recovery of professional service fees with a net-30 mindset and professional mediation.
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Banks & Credit Unions: Delinquent consumer loans, overdrawn accounts, and deficiency balances. We utilize aggressive garnishment laws to secure repayment on high-risk portfolios.
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Construction & Trades: HVAC, electrical, and general contractors—keep crews building, not chasing.
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B2B Commercial / Restoration / Waste Management: Consistent follow-up, documentation discipline, and escalation only when it makes sense.
Practical rules that shape the process (not legal advice)
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FDCPA and CFPB Regulation F guide how consumer debt communications happen—timing, conduct, and limits.
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Michigan’s Regulation of Collection Practices restricts abusive collection conduct at the state level.
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FCRA applies if credit reporting is used—and that’s only if you choose and if permitted, with accuracy and dispute handling done properly.
Operationally, we also do USPS address checks, skip tracing, and bankruptcy checks before leaning in, so you don’t waste time pushing the wrong person or the wrong situation.
FAQs
Does this work for accounts tied to seasonal work and travel through the Keweenaw?
Yes. We set structured options and dates that don’t depend on “catch me later” promises.
Can you start soft and escalate only if needed?
That’s exactly Velvet Hammer: calm first, structured next, firmer later—always controlled and documented.
We invoice customers along US-41/M-26—do you deal with “AP backlog” excuses?
All the time. We turn “backlog” into a commitment: a date, a method, and a consequence if it slips.
Ready to stop carrying past-due balances like dead weight?
Your business should feel like the bridge: engineered, controlled, and moving. Hand the follow-up to professionals, recover more, and keep your staff doing the work that actually grows the business.