Traverse City has two gears: calm and slammed. One minute you’re breathing in bay air near Clinch Park, the next you’re wedged in Grandview Parkway traffic because everyone decided “right now” is the moment to do business. Past-due accounts behave the same way—quiet for weeks, then suddenly urgent when payroll, vendors, and patient supplies hit at once. And guess who gets stuck managing that stress? Your staff—the same people hired to run operations, not chase 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.
Need a Collection Agency? Contact us
Simple pricing, fast handoff
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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 use our most amicable strategies. Let your employees do core work they were hired for, rather than collections work they obviously do not enjoy.
Think like Cherry Capital Airport: clear lanes, fewer delays
At Cherry Capital Airport, flights don’t take off because someone argues with the runway. They take off because the process is clear—who’s next, what’s required, and what happens if you miss the window.
That’s how our Account Reconciliation Concierges approach overdue accounts. We don’t “pressure harder.” We remove ambiguity:
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Confirm who can authorize payment (not the friendly inbox that forwards everything).
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Tighten the paper trail (scope, approvals, delivery proof, timeline).
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Present two realistic options with dates—and stick to them.
The tone stays respectful. The timeline stays real. That’s Velvet Hammer.
Red flag box: 3 Traverse City collection pitfalls businesses repeat
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Seasonality excuses that never end. “After the summer rush” becomes “after the holidays,” then it’s cherry season again. Time doesn’t heal invoices—it hardens them.
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Tourism-town politeness. You don’t want bad vibes on Front Street, so you wait. Waiting teaches the debtor that your terms are flexible.
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The “mini-dispute” trap. One tiny question (“Was that change approved?”) becomes an all-purpose stall unless you anchor the facts.
Why you recover more by working with the debtor (not arguing)
Debtors rank bills. They pay the creditor who feels easiest to finish first. Arguing turns payment into a fight; fights create avoidance; avoidance kills recovery.
Velvet Hammer is diplomatic on purpose:
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Firm enough to secure payment (documentation, deadlines, clear next steps).
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Soft enough to protect your 5-star online reputation (no reckless pressure, no unnecessary heat).
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We also do a litigation scrub to protect you from collecting debt from riskier people or situations that can boomerang.
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And we keep quality tight: calls are recorded and randomly reviewed to prevent rogue collectors and reduce review-bomb risk.
Recent recovery results
Medical recovery — $9,110 resolved without patient backlash
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Step 1: USPS address check + bankruptcy check. The account was aging because statements weren’t reaching the correct address after a move.
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Step 2: Concierge outreach focused on clarity: what insurance addressed, what remained, and two options (short plan vs. payoff window).
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Step 3: Patient chose autopay on a structured plan. Balance closed smoothly—no escalation, no complaints.
Business recovery — $14,860 recovered while preserving the relationship
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Step 1: We rebuilt the documentation pack (authorization trail, completion confirmation, invoice timeline) and identified the real payables decision-maker.
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Step 2: Mediation call: one firm due date and two choices—pay in full by deadline or a short plan aligned to their receivables cycle.
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Step 3: Partial payment landed quickly; the remainder cleared via ACH on schedule.
Two $5K–$15K mini-scenarios (fast, concrete)
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$6,740 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.
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$13,980 contractor/trades invoice: A scope tweak created “confusion” and delay. We aligned approvals, confirmed acceptance, and secured a two-step plan with firm dates.
A note from the reconciliation team
We live in the details so you don’t have to. Give us what you have—invoice, notes, approvals, contact history—and we’ll turn it into a clean, calm resolution track. In a place as connected as Traverse City (from Munson Medical Center corridors to small vendors who serve the same properties every season), reputation isn’t abstract. It’s operational. We collect with that reality in mind.
Industries we serve across Traverse City and the bay corridor
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Healthcare & Medical: 100% HIPAA-compliant recovery for hospitals and specialty clinics, designed to preserve patient relationships (including major regional care hubs).
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Colleges & Universities: Tuition fee recovery, housing balances, and bursar accounts—firm collection that protects student relationships and institutional reputation (including community college and partner-program learners).
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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, with documentation-first follow-through.
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K-12 Private & Charter Schools: Unpaid enrollment fees and textbook costs—sensitive outreach designed for families and community reputation.
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Accountants & CPA Firms: Recovery of professional service fees. We understand the net-30 cycle and use professional mediation to avoid client blowback.
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Banks & Credit Unions: Delinquent consumer loans, overdrawn accounts, and deficiency balances. We use lawful remedies where appropriate on higher-risk portfolios.
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Construction & Trades: HVAC, electrical, and general contractors—keep crews producing, not chasing checks.
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B2B Commercial / Restoration / Waste Management: Structured follow-up, clean files, and escalation only when it’s the smartest move.
FAQs
We serve seasonal customers near the bay and Old Mission Peninsula—should we just wait it out?
No. Early assignment improves outcomes. Waiting turns “payable” into “forgettable,” especially when the debtor’s calendar is built around seasons.
Can you help when the debtor keeps saying “resend it” or “it’s in AP”?
Yes. We convert vague delays into commitments: a date, a payment method, and a next step if it slips.
Do you handle accounts tied to US-31 / M-72 supplier routes and multi-site service calls?
Yes. Those accounts need clean documentation and the right decision-maker. We streamline both.
Practical laws & rules that shape collections (not legal advice)
Collections are guided by federal rules like the FDCPA and CFPB Regulation F (boundaries on communications and prohibitions on 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 under the FCRA.
When you’re ready to stop letting overdue accounts drift like a kayak with no paddle on Grand Traverse Bay, we’ll build the lane and bring it in—calmly, firmly, and reputation-safe.