Lawyers Representing Creditors and Debtors
in Shelby County Collections Cases
The relationship between small businesses and their customers is crucial. Businesses rely on their clients for a steady source of income, and customers rely on businesses to provide a useful service or product. Both parties expect to be treated with honesty, integrity, and respect, but unfortunately, trust can erode in situations in which a client fails to pay for a product or service that a business has provided.
At Douglass & Runger, Attorneys at Law, our business lawyers have significant experience with collections cases involving Memphis small businesses, and we represent both creditors and debtors to help you resolve situations involving outstanding debt. We are committed to helping you protect your financial situation and eliminate unnecessary burdens.
At Douglass & Runger, Attorneys at Law, our business lawyers have significant experience with collections cases involving Memphis small businesses, and we represent both creditors and debtors to help you resolve situations involving outstanding debt. We are committed to helping you protect your financial situation and eliminate unnecessary burdens.
Helping Local Memphis, TN Businesses Collect Debts
If you are a small business owner, a client who repeatedly fails or refuses to pay a debt can cause you financial hardship, especially when the debt is related to a product or service in which you have invested significant time and resources, or when the client represents a large account that your business relies on. Working with a collections attorney can help you take the necessary steps to obtain the payment owed to you as efficiently as possible.
Not every collection case requires the direct involvement of an attorney, and sometimes it is best to give your clients the opportunity to settle a debt before pursuing legal action. We can advise you on a protocol for initiating the collections process yourself in a way that allows you to maintain relationships with clients and avoid violating laws that protect consumers from collections harassment.
If your efforts to collect from clients prove unsuccessful, we can step in to take more forceful action. We can start by contacting the debtors in writing, which lets them know that you have enlisted the services of an attorney and are prepared to take legal action. If they still fail to pay, we can file a lawsuit and represent you in court to pursue payment. In some cases, debtors attempt to avoid paying by hiding assets, but we will work to uncover them so that you and the court have a full understanding of their ability to pay. When the defendant does not have sufficient assets on hand to cover the debt, we can pursue an arrangement that involves payment plans, settlement, income garnishment, or liquidation of assets.
Not every collection case requires the direct involvement of an attorney, and sometimes it is best to give your clients the opportunity to settle a debt before pursuing legal action. We can advise you on a protocol for initiating the collections process yourself in a way that allows you to maintain relationships with clients and avoid violating laws that protect consumers from collections harassment.
If your efforts to collect from clients prove unsuccessful, we can step in to take more forceful action. We can start by contacting the debtors in writing, which lets them know that you have enlisted the services of an attorney and are prepared to take legal action. If they still fail to pay, we can file a lawsuit and represent you in court to pursue payment. In some cases, debtors attempt to avoid paying by hiding assets, but we will work to uncover them so that you and the court have a full understanding of their ability to pay. When the defendant does not have sufficient assets on hand to cover the debt, we can pursue an arrangement that involves payment plans, settlement, income garnishment, or liquidation of assets.
At Douglass & Runger, we have achieved successful outcomes in collections cases for a variety of small businesses including:
- Construction contractors
- Certified Public Accountants
- HVAC and other home services companies
- In-home healthcare providers
- Other service providers
Defending Shelby County Debtors
While we believe that it is important for customers to fulfill payment obligations they have agreed to, we also know that debtors sometimes fail to pay not because of malicious intent, but because of their own financial struggles. We also understand that creditors sometimes go too far in their collections efforts, engaging in threats, harassment, or claims for more than what you owe. If you are being harassed by a debt collector, we can help you protect the rights guaranteed to you in the Tennessee Collection Service Act and the federal Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. We can help you contest a creditor’s claims and free yourself from unwarranted obligations, and we may be able to pursue payment for damages related to a creditor’s unlawful behavior.
If you are struggling with a legitimate debt, we can also help you work with the creditor to arrange a fair payment plan or advise you as to whether bankruptcy may be your best option to achieve more far-reaching relief from debt.
If you are struggling with a legitimate debt, we can also help you work with the creditor to arrange a fair payment plan or advise you as to whether bankruptcy may be your best option to achieve more far-reaching relief from debt.
Contact a Memphis Debt
Collection Attorney
Our top priority in a debt collection case is to ensure that you and your business are treated fairly and that you attain an outcome that allows you to move forward with financial stability and the ability to continue to grow your business. Contact us at 901-388-5805.We serve small businesses and individuals throughout Shelby County and the Memphis area, including Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland, and Millington.