Lafayette invoices don’t die — they just get “lagniappe’d” into next month
Lafayette runs on rhythm: crews bouncing between I-10 and I-49, students and staff circling UL Lafayette, events filling the Cajundome, and vendors threading through the Oil Center and down Johnston Street.
When a balance goes overdue here, it’s rarely a screaming dispute. It’s a soft drift. “Send it again.” “We’re waiting on approvals.” “After the next draw.” Velvet Hammer is built for that kind of drift — firm enough to stop it, gentle enough to keep your reputation clean.
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 lets you stay profitable (and sane)
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Fixed-fee: $15 per account (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 and possible. Involvement of a collection agency significantly improves recovery rate — and the earlier you assign, the better recovery results are delivered using our most amicable strategies. Most importantly: let your employees do the core work they were hired for, rather than making them do collections which they obviously do not enjoy.
Red flag box: 3 Lafayette pitfalls that quietly crush recoveries
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“Festival schedule” excuses: friendly debtors who always pay “right after the weekend,” then vanish when the calendar flips.
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Medical confusion masquerading as refusal: patients mix up insurance, statements, and responsibility — silence looks like defiance but often isn’t.
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Contractor paperwork gaps: missing sign-offs or change orders become the perfect hiding place for nonpayment.
The Velvet Hammer principle: you collect more by staying human
Debt collection isn’t a debate club. Arguing makes people defensive. Defensive people delay. Delay lowers what you recover.
We recover more by working with the debtor rather than arguing against them, because cooperation gives them the will to pay you first — before they pay the next vendor who’s yelling louder.
Here’s what “diplomatic” looks like in practice:
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We start with agreement, not accusation: what was delivered, what was accepted, what’s undisputed.
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We offer choices that feel doable: pay in full, split it, or set a short plan with dates.
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We keep tone respectful and steady so you don’t trigger review-bomb risk or relationship damage.
And before we push harder, we do a litigation scrub. Some accounts are simply riskier than they look. The point is protecting you from chasing the wrong debtor the wrong way.
A note from the reconciliation team
We’re not trying to “win.” We’re trying to close the loop. In Lafayette, people care about how they’re treated — even when they’re behind. When we stay calm, factual, and consistent, most debtors don’t fight. They pick an option. They pay. It’s remarkable how often dignity speeds up cash flow.
The verification layer that removes excuses fast
A lot of overdue balances aren’t “bad debt.” They’re “bad contact info,” “wrong address,” or “nobody owns it.” Our Account Reconciliation Concierges run the basics that make a debtor’s story collapse into a decision:
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Address checks using USPS (fewer dead letters, fewer wrong-location loops)
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Skip tracing (updated phone/email/address when the debtor “moved”)
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Bankruptcy check (avoid wasted effort and reduce risk)
After that, we use measured outreach: calls plus written follow-ups, and email/text when appropriate and possible — so the debtor has a clear, easy path to resolution.
Two recent recovery results (reputation-safe)
Medical recovery (specialty clinic balance) — $8,540 recovered
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Step 1: We reconciled the ledger and clarified patient responsibility versus insurance confusion.
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Step 2: Respectful outreach offered two options: a quick resolution window or a compact payment plan.
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Step 3: Debtor chose the plan; payments posted on schedule and the account closed without complaints.
Business recovery (B2B services invoice) — $13,260 recovered
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Step 1: We rebuilt the documentation trail (scope, dates, invoice delivery, prior commitments) to remove “we didn’t approve this” as a stall.
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Step 2: Mediation call focused on closure: confirm acceptance → pick a pay date → confirm payment method.
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Step 3: Debtor paid via two-part ACH; relationship stayed intact.
Two fast $5K–$15K mini-scenarios
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$5,680 dental balance: Debtor kept saying, “We never got the final statement.” USPS address verification + clean one-page recap + respectful follow-up (including text where appropriate). Paid within days.
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$14,910 restoration invoice: Debtor hid behind “insurance is still processing.” We separated undisputed charges, collected a partial payment immediately, then closed the remainder on a short written schedule.
Industries we serve across Lafayette and Acadiana
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Healthcare & Medical: 100% HIPAA-compliant recovery for hospitals and specialty clinics — discreet, patient-respectful outreach.
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Colleges & Universities: tuition fee recovery, housing balances, and bursar accounts — firm results while preserving student relationships and institutional reputation (important around UL Lafayette’s orbit).
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Dental: dental practices, orthodontics, and specialty dentistry — reputation-safe communications that protect referrals.
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Restoration, pool, contractors: storm repair, remediation, pool builds, and project work — documentation-led mediation that ends “one more month.”
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K-12 Private & Charter Schools: unpaid enrollment fees and textbook costs — sensitive outreach tailored to family dynamics.
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Accountants & CPA Firms: recovery of professional service fees — we understand net-30 cycles and keep the tone professional.
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Banks & Credit Unions: delinquent consumer loans, overdrawn accounts, and deficiency balances — structured recovery with escalation options where permitted after judgment, including use of strong garnishment tools.
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Construction & Trades: HVAC, electrical, and general contractors — change-order clarity plus payment timelines.
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B2B Commercial, Restoration, Waste Management: recurring invoices and route-based billing — steady follow-through without scorched-earth tactics.
Reputation guardrails: no rogue calls, no surprises
Calls are recorded and randomly reviewed to prevent rogue collectors and reduce review-bomb risk. Velvet Hammer is controlled pressure — always.
Practical laws snapshot for Louisiana (not legal advice)
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Louisiana timing matters: some claims, including open accounts, can face a three-year prescription window — waiting can shrink your options.
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FDCPA + CFPB Debt Collection Rule (Reg F): sets boundaries for consumer-debt communications, required validation information, and limits on certain contact practices.
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FCRA: governs how consumer report information is accessed and handled for permissible purposes.
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TCPA: impacts calling and texting rules, especially automated outreach; consent matters.
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Federal wage garnishment limits: caps apply to how much disposable earnings can be garnished where available.
FAQs
Do you handle accounts tied to Lafayette’s event economy (Cajundome weekends, seasonal rushes, vendor spikes)?
Yes. Those debts often need fast contact verification and a short, written recap that turns “we’re slammed” into a real payment date.
Can you use email or text to reach the debtor?
When appropriate and possible, yes — it often improves response while keeping things documented and calm.
When should I place an overdue Lafayette account?
Early. If the story keeps changing, it’s already drifting. Earlier placement improves recovery odds and keeps the resolution amicable.
Close it like a good gumbo: steady heat, clean finish
If your receivables are simmering too long, we’ll help you bring them to a respectful close — with verification, diplomacy, and firm commitments that protect your name.