Muskegon is built around movement: cranes and cargo on Muskegon Lake, cars rolling off US-31, summer crowds filling Pere Marquette Beach, and a ferry schedule that doesn’t wait for anyone. But overdue invoices don’t move on a timetable. They drift. They soak up cash. They turn your front office, PMs, and billing team into reluctant collectors—exactly the work they were not hired to do.
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 the pressure off you
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Fixed-fee $15 (client keeps 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 lead with amicable strategies. Let your employees do core work (care, projects, service, delivery), not collections.
The Ferry Boarding Pass approach: make payment “easy-on, easy-off”
In Muskegon, the Lake Express works because it removes friction: clear times, clear lanes, clear rules. We apply that same thinking to collections. Debtors rarely pay faster because you argue louder. They pay faster when the steps are simple and the outcome is predictable.
Your Account Reconciliation Concierges create a payment lane that feels straightforward:
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We confirm the right contact (decision-maker, not the person who forwards emails).
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We tighten the “manifest” (what’s owed, why it’s owed, what proof exists).
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We offer two clean options with dates—then we follow through calmly.
Red flag box: 3 Muskegon collection pitfalls that quietly drain cash
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“It’s in AP” with no date. In a PO-heavy world, “in the queue” becomes a permanent habitat unless someone pins down a commitment.
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Tourism-season delays. “After the summer rush” turns into “after the holidays,” then it’s spring again. Time doesn’t heal invoices—it hardens them.
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Turning it personal. The moment a debtor feels shamed or cornered, they stop responding. Silence is expensive.
A note from the reconciliation team
We’re not trying to “win” a phone call. We’re trying to close a file. Muskegon is a reputation town—people talk at the arena, at school events, at the beach, and across supplier networks. So we stay respectful. We stay specific. And we stay consistent until the account resolves. That’s Velvet Hammer: firm results, reputation-safe, empathetic execution.
Two recent recovery results (reputation-safe, realistic)
Medical recovery — $9,820 resolved without patient backlash
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Step 1: USPS address check + bankruptcy check. The file was drifting because statements weren’t landing after a move.
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Step 2: Concierge outreach focused on clarity: what insurance handled, what remained, and two options (short plan vs. discounted payoff window).
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Step 3: Patient chose autopay on a structured plan. Balance closed calmly—no heated exchanges, no complaint trail.
Business recovery — $15,140 recovered while preserving the relationship
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Step 1: We rebuilt the documentation pack (approval trail, completion confirmation, invoice timeline) and verified the correct payables owner.
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Step 2: Mediation call with one firm due date and two choices: pay-in-full by deadline or a short plan tied to their receivables cycle.
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Step 3: Partial payment arrived quickly; the remainder cleared via ACH on schedule.
Two $5K–$15K recovery mini-scenarios (fast, concrete)
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$6,460 dental/ortho balance: Patient paused treatment and stopped answering. We used respectful reminders (including email/text where appropriate), offered two plan options, and closed the account with a two-payment resolution.
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$13,260 contractor/trades invoice: A scope tweak created “confusion” and delay. We aligned approvals, confirmed acceptance, and secured a two-step plan with firm dates.
Why cooperation wins more than confrontation
Debtors rank bills. They pay the creditor who feels easiest and safest to finish first. If you argue, you create resistance. Resistance creates avoidance. Avoidance kills recovery.
Velvet Hammer keeps you “first-to-pay” by balancing both sides:
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Firm enough to secure payment (deadlines, documentation, structured options).
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Soft enough to protect your 5-star online reputation (no reckless pressure, no shaming language).
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We also perform a litigation scrub to protect you from collecting debt from riskier people or situations that can boomerang.
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And quality is enforced: calls are recorded and randomly reviewed to prevent rogue collectors and reduce review-bomb risk.
Industries we serve (tailored to Muskegon’s mix)
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Healthcare & Medical: 100% HIPAA-compliant recovery for hospitals and specialty clinics, built to preserve patient relationships (including major hospital networks in the area).
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Colleges & Universities: Specializing in tuition fee recovery, housing balances, and bursar accounts. We balance firm collection tactics with the need to preserve student relationships and institutional reputation (including students connected to Muskegon Community College).
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Dental: Dental practices, orthodontics, specialty care—reputation-safe outreach that still closes balances.
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Restoration, pool, contractors: Restoration claims, pool projects, and contractor billing disputes handled diplomatically and documented tightly.
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K-12 Private & Charter Schools: Managing unpaid enrollment fees and textbook costs with a sensitive, diplomatic approach that respects families.
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Accountants & CPA Firms: Recovery of professional service fees. We understand the net-30 billing cycle and use professional mediation to ensure you get paid without damaging client rapport.
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Banks & Credit Unions: Expert handling of 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: Revenue recovery for HVAC, electrical, and general contractors—keep crews producing, not chasing.
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B2B Commercial / Restoration / Waste Management: Structured follow-up, clean documentation, and escalation only when it’s the smart move.
Practical laws & rules that shape collections (not legal advice)
Collections are guided by federal rules like the FDCPA and CFPB Regulation F (communications and prohibitions on harassment, false statements, and unfair practices), plus Michigan’s Regulation of Collection Practices (Act 70 of 1981). Operationally, we also do USPS address checks, skip tracing, and bankruptcy checks. Credit reporting can be used if you choose and if permitted, with accuracy and dispute handling handled properly under the FCRA.
FAQs
We do business along US-31 and keep hearing “AP is behind.” Can you deal with that?
Yes. We turn vague backlog into a commitment: a date, a method, and a next step if it slips.
Will this hurt our reputation in a tight community?
Velvet Hammer is built to prevent that. Calls are recorded and randomly reviewed, and the tone stays respectful while the timeline stays firm.
Can you start amicable and only escalate if needed?
That’s the model. Calm first, structured next, firmer later—always documented.
If your receivables feel like they’re stuck offshore, let’s bring them into dock—cleanly, calmly, and with follow-through.