Manistee is the kind of place where directions are nautical and practical: “down River Street,” “over the US-31 bridge,” “out toward the pier,” “past the Riverwalk.” Business works the same way—straight lines, clear routes. But when invoices go past due, the route disappears. Cash gets stuck between “we’ll get to it” and “try again next week,” and your staff ends up doing the one job nobody enjoys: chasing payments.
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 keeps your options open
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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 recovery results are delivered, especially when we use our most amicable strategies. Let your employees do the core work they were hired for, not collections. If you want to hand it off cleanly,
The Lighthouse Rule: guide payment, don’t chase it
Manistee’s pierhead lights exist for a reason—boats don’t “argue” with the lake. They follow a signal and move with intention. Debt recovery is similar. Most debtors don’t pay faster because you get louder; they pay faster when you make the path obvious and the consequences predictable.
That’s where our Account Reconciliation Concierges come in. We don’t posture. We orchestrate:
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Clarify what’s owed and why it’s owed (tight paperwork, not long speeches).
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Confirm we’re speaking to the right person (decision-maker, not the “message taker”).
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Offer structured options with dates. Then follow through.
Red flag box: 3 Manistee collection pitfalls we see all the time
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River Street “friendly delays.” In a small-town economy, you don’t want conflict—so you wait. Waiting quietly teaches the debtor that time is free.
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Tourism-season excuses. “We’ll settle after the busy weeks” becomes a never-ending calendar.
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Missing proof. No clear approval, no delivery confirmation, no clean scope notes? Debtors grab the gap and turn it into a stall.
Two recent recovery results (realistic, reputation-safe)
Medical recovery — $8,260 resolved without patient blowback
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Step 1: USPS address check + bankruptcy check. The statements were going to an outdated address, and the account was drifting for the wrong reason.
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Step 2: Concierge outreach focused on clarity: what insurance handled, what remained, and two payment options (short plan vs. discounted payoff window).
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Step 3: Patient chose a three-part plan with autopay. Account closed smoothly—no heated calls, no complaints.
Business recovery — $14,940 recovered with the relationship intact
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Step 1: Documentation pack rebuilt (authorization trail, completion confirmation, invoice timeline). We also identified the actual payables decision-maker—not the person who always says “next week.”
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Step 2: Mediation call: one firm due date and two choices—pay in full by deadline or a short structured plan tied to their receivables cycle.
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Step 3: Partial payment arrived quickly; the remainder cleared via ACH on schedule.
Why cooperation beats arguing (and helps you get paid first)
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: debtors rank creditors. They pay the one who feels easiest to finish—not the one who feels most hostile. If you argue, you create resistance. Resistance creates silence. Silence kills recovery.
The Velvet Hammer approach is designed to put you at the top of their list:
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Firm enough to secure payment (deadlines, structure, documentation).
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Soft enough to protect your 5-star reputation (respectful tone, no reckless pressure).
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We also perform a litigation scrub so you’re not pushed into riskier situations that can boomerang.
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And quality is controlled: calls are recorded and randomly reviewed to prevent rogue collectors and reduce review-bomb risk.
A note from the reconciliation team
We work like the Riverwalk: steady, consistent, and built for follow-through. We don’t need drama to get results. We need your invoice details, your best contact info, and your preferred outcome. Then we do the uncomfortable part with professionalism—so your team can get back to serving customers, managing projects, and running the operation.
Two fast $5K–$15K recovery examples
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$5,740 dental/ortho balance: Patient fell behind after a treatment plan adjustment and stopped answering calls. We used respectful reminders (including email/text where appropriate), offered two plan options, and closed the balance with a two-payment resolution.
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$12,680 contractor/trades invoice: A scope change wasn’t clearly reflected on the final invoice, so the customer claimed “dispute.” We aligned approvals, confirmed acceptance, and secured a two-step plan with firm dates.
Industries we serve in and around Manistee
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Healthcare & Medical: 100% HIPAA-compliant recovery for hospitals and specialty clinics, designed to preserve patient relationships (including care networks tied to local hospital services).
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Colleges & Universities: Tuition fee recovery, housing balances, and bursar accounts—firm collection that protects student relationships and institutional reputation.
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Dental: Dental practices, orthodontics, specialty care—reputation-safe outreach that still closes balances.
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Restoration, pool, contractors: Water/fire restoration, pool installs and service, contractor billing disputes handled diplomatically and documented tightly.
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K-12 Private & Charter Schools: Unpaid enrollment fees and textbook costs—sensitive approach built for families and community reputation.
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Accountants & CPA Firms: Recovery of professional service fees. We understand net-30 reality and use professional mediation to avoid client blowback.
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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 producing, not chasing.
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B2B Commercial / Restoration / Waste Management: Consistent follow-up, clean documentation, and escalation only when it’s the smartest move.
Practical rules that shape outreach (not legal advice)
Collections are shaped by federal rules like the FDCPA and CFPB Regulation F (communications and prohibited conduct), plus Michigan’s rules that restrict abusive collection practices. We also support operational safeguards: USPS address checks, skip tracing, and bankruptcy checks to reduce wasted effort and risk. Credit reporting can be used if you choose and if permitted, with accuracy and dispute handling done properly under the FCRA.
FAQs (Manistee-real, not generic)
We’re busy on River Street and along the Riverwalk season—should we wait until things slow down?
No. Early assignment improves outcomes. Waiting turns “payable” into “forgettable.”
Can you help when the debtor keeps saying “it’s in AP” or “we’re waiting on approval”?
Yes. We convert vague delays into commitments: a date, a method, and a next step if it slips.
Will outreach hurt our reputation in a small town?
Velvet Hammer is built to prevent that. Calls are recorded and randomly reviewed, and the tone stays respectful while the timeline stays firm.
Bring cash flow back to shore
If your receivables feel like they’re drifting between the river and the lake with no current, it’s time to add structure. Hand off the follow-up, recover more, and keep your staff focused on the work that actually grows the business.