Petoskey looks effortless on the surface—clean sidewalks in the Gaslight District, sunsets over Little Traverse Bay, and that steady flow of visitors up US-31. But behind the charm is a real-world rhythm: clinics, contractors, school offices, and B2B vendors trying to keep cash moving. When invoices go late, the work doesn’t disappear. It lands on your staff—front desk, office manager, project lead—people hired to build, serve, and solve… not chase.
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.
Need a Collection Agency? Contact us
Pricing that doesn’t punish you for taking action
-
Fixed-fee $15 (client keeps 100% of what’s collected)
-
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 using our most amicable strategies. Let your employees do the core work they were hired for, rather than collections work they obviously do not enjoy. If you want a clean, reputation-safe handoff,
The Petoskey Stone mindset: polish the facts, not the volume
A Petoskey stone doesn’t reveal its pattern by force. It reveals it through polishing—steady, careful, methodical. Debt recovery works the same way. Yelling, arguing, or flooding someone with messages doesn’t create clarity. It creates avoidance.
Your Account Reconciliation Concierges use Velvet Hammer: firm enough to secure payment, respectful enough to protect your five-star reputation. We “polish” the file so the debtor has fewer places to hide:
-
What’s owed (exact amount and dates)
-
Why it’s owed (scope/authorization)
-
Proof it was delivered/earned
-
Two payment options with deadlines
Red flag box: 3 Petoskey collection pitfalls that silently drain cash
-
“Up North timing” becomes permanent timing. Seasonal businesses and second-home schedules can turn “after the weekend” into “after the season.”
-
The wrong contact loop. You keep emailing the nicest person in the building—who has no authority to pay you.
-
Documentation scattered like beach stones. A missing approval email or change order becomes a convenient “dispute.”
A note from the reconciliation team
We don’t try to win debates. We try to finish accounts. In a community where people cross paths—at North Central Michigan College events, downtown dinners, or in the same clinic waiting room—tone matters. We stay calm. We stay direct. We stay consistent. That’s how you collect without creating enemies.
Two recent recovery results (reputation-safe, realistic)
Medical recovery — $8,930 resolved without patient backlash
-
Step 1: USPS address check and a bankruptcy check. Statements weren’t landing after a move, so the balance aged for the wrong reason.
-
Step 2: Concierge outreach focused on clarity: what insurance addressed, what remained, and two options (short plan vs. payoff window).
-
Step 3: Patient chose autopay on a structured plan. The account closed smoothly—no escalated tone, no complaint trail.
Business recovery — $15,220 recovered while preserving the relationship
-
Step 1: We rebuilt the documentation pack (authorization trail, completion confirmation, invoice timeline) and identified the actual decision-maker in payables.
-
Step 2: Mediation call: one firm due date and two choices—pay-in-full by deadline or a short plan tied to their receivables cycle.
-
Step 3: Partial payment landed quickly; the remainder cleared via ACH on schedule.
Two $5K–$15K mini-scenarios (fast, concrete)
-
$6,370 dental/ortho balance: Patient paused treatment and stopped responding. We used respectful reminders (including email/text where appropriate), offered two plan options, and closed the balance with a two-payment resolution.
-
$13,740 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 cooperative mediation wins more than confrontation
Debtors rank bills. They pay the creditor who feels easiest to finish first. If you argue, they dig in. If you shame them, they disappear. If you give them respectful structure, you become the “first-to-pay” account.
Velvet Hammer delivers that structure:
-
Firm enough to secure payment (deadlines, documentation, clear next steps).
-
Soft enough to protect your online reputation (respectful wording, no reckless pressure).
-
We run a litigation scrub to protect you from collecting debt from riskier people or situations that can boomerang.
-
Calls are recorded and randomly reviewed to prevent rogue collectors and reduce review-bomb risk.
Industries we serve in Petoskey and the Little Traverse region
-
Healthcare & Medical: 100% HIPAA-compliant recovery for hospitals and specialty clinics, designed to preserve patient relationships (including regional care hubs like McLaren Northern Michigan).
-
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 North Central Michigan College).
-
Dental: Dental practices, orthodontics, and specialty clinics—reputation-safe outreach that still closes balances.
-
Restoration, pool, contractors: Restoration work, pool projects, and contractor disputes handled diplomatically, with documentation-first follow-through.
-
K-12 Private & Charter Schools: Managing unpaid enrollment fees and textbook costs with a sensitive approach tailored for families and community reputation.
-
Accountants & CPA Firms: Recovery of professional service fees. We understand the net-30 billing cycle and use professional mediation to avoid client blowback.
-
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.
-
Construction & Trades: Revenue recovery for HVAC, electrical, and general contractors—keep crews producing, not chasing.
-
B2B Commercial / Restoration / Waste Management: Structured follow-up, clean files, and escalation only when it’s the smartest move.
Practical laws & rules that shape collections (not legal advice)
Collections are guided by federal rules like the FDCPA and CFPB Regulation F (covering communications and prohibiting harassment, deception, and unfair practices), plus Michigan’s Regulation of Collection Practices (Act 70 of 1981). Operationally, we also use 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 handled properly under the FCRA.
FAQs
We’re dealing with seasonal customers and second-home schedules—should we wait?
No. Early assignment improves outcomes. Waiting turns “payable” into “forgettable.”
Can you handle accounts where the debtor keeps saying “resend it” or “we’re reviewing”?
Yes. We convert stalls into commitments: a date, a method, and a next step if it slips.
Will this hurt our reputation in a small, connected community?
Velvet Hammer is designed to prevent that. Calls are recorded and randomly reviewed, and the tone stays respectful while the timeline stays firm.
When your receivables feel like they’re drifting out past the bay, bring them back with structure—not noise.