Our Vision: To Build Relationships by Saying What We Do and Doing What We Say with Honesty, Sincerity, Integrity and Pride

Butler Robbins & White (BRW) headquartered in Fort Lauderdale Florida, is considered one of the most progressive and innovative  global revenue recovery firms throughout the world. The company was established  in 1981 with one purpose; to set the highest standards for the best possible results in all areas that we do business.

It is not possible to match the advantage a collection agency has that is part of the credit reporting industry, the legal community and nationally and internationally recognized.  We operate on a proprietary and state of the art software system, which offers worldwide coverage and information acquisition.  We also work with TransUnion, Lexis Nexus and Experian, enabling us to access on a direct basis any credit report, asset verification and credit profile in the world!

BRW began with the core purpose of assisting businesses in recovering and managing the outstanding accounts receivable.  BRW has realized an increased demand from our clients for more comprehensive services designed to (a) reduce costs, (b) increase operational efficiency and cash flow and (c) reduce bad debt write-off and days outstanding.  Through investments in technology, staff education and highly selective recruiting, BRW has been able to offer an improved level of services that our clients demand.

We comply not only with the letter of the law, but the intent of the law as well.  Our core vision statement is clear and simple.  We understand it is your business and reputation and we will endeavor to act as if it was ours.  This core philosophy has enabled BRW to become the partner of choice for thousand of clients thorough the United States and Internationally.

Key Benefits of Butler Robbins & White

1. BRW offers a full line of collection services with availability throughout the United States and Internationally.  As one of the most progressive collection agencies in the country, our collection service receives hundreds of millions in bad debt placement annually.
2. Along with our computer system, we also offer other on-line services like skip tracing, credit report access, scoring to determine collectability and power dialing capabilities.  Also, we collect on a contingency basis so that our customers pay nothing until the debts are collected.
3. With industry-specific strategies and services, BRW provides results that improve the bottom line through accelerated cash flow, lower operating costs, reduced bad debt expense and improved customer retention.
4. Our client-oriented receivables personnel and support staff have been carefully selected for collection experience, proper attitudes and values and are thoroughly trained and supervised to ensure that they are constantly maintaining your good public image.
5. All staff is monitored on a daily basis.  Compliance is achieved by quality control testing to ensure we are following all state laws in regards to debt collection.  In addition, this office monitors the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA, PL 95-109), which is Federal legislation governing debt collection.
6. BRW has carefully developed services that meet clients specific needs.  These programs are flexible in design and are unique for each customer.  Careful analysis and due diligence is conducted for each client prior to recommending a specific service to address their needs.
7. BRW has assembled a service portfolio that provides any client with the opportunity to custom design revenue enhancement, backlog reduction and collection programs to suit their specifications.
8. All BRW services are designed to accomplish the following five objectives:

• Increased cash flow
• Reduced days in accounts receivable
• Reduced bad debts
• Reduced collection cost
• Enhanced customer relations

Our Culture Dictates our Work Ethics

1. Partner with your clients and co-workers
2. Show them mutual respect
3. Produce exceptional profits and client performance
4. Project pride, honesty and integrity
5. Work hard for what you earn
6. Pertinence & Flexibility
7. Lead by Example
8. Continually Improve the process
9. Share the vision

Operational Strategy

BRW offers a comprehensive selection of services for clients throughout the country and internationally.  All of BRW’s services are customized to meet the client’s goals and needs.  No two clients are established with the same program or system requirements.  This is accomplished with the attention that is provided to each client during the accounts enrollment phase.  Understanding the clients business and requirements enables BRW to effectively work as an extension of our client’s office.

Trade Associations

• The International Association of Commercial Collectors (IACC)
• The American Collectors Association (ACA)
• National Association of Women in Business (NAWBO)
• Rotary Club of Miami
• Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Trustees
• Developers and Builders Alliance (DBA)

Services and Benefits

BRW service and client support is our main priority.  The reports that are available are designed to accommodate every accounting format.  We will customize our programs to meet your needs.  BRW’s standard operating procedure incorporates a unique policy that is “inception to completion”.  Our clients will always have the same person to speak with.

Collection and Outsourcing Services

BRW’s success is based on track record of experience in delivering results by partnering with clients to provide customized services to meet unique requirements.  Our  services programs include:

• Contingency Collections
• Extended Business Office Services
• Pre-Collection Programs
• Payment Monitoring Programs / Special Projects
• Receivable Management Consulting
• Consulting Services
• Skip Tracing / Location Service
• Corporate Collections
• Business to Business Collections
• Consumer Collections
• Asset Recovery
• Financial Investigation

Benefits of Butler Robbins & White

BRW has carefully developed services that meet client specific requirements.  These programs are flexible in design and are unique for each customer.  BRW has assembled a service portfolio that provides any client with the opportunity to custom design revenue enhancement, backlog reduction and collection programs to suit their specifications.  Our programs can be used individually or in a combination to best suit your individual requirements.

Contingency Collections

BRW provides professional collection services that result in a high recovery of delinquent accounts.  A persistent and flexible approach is always used when collecting your accounts.

Key features and benefits of Contingency Collections

• Global agency with years of collection and billing experience
• Collections enhanced by an innovative and positive approach
• Performance driven staff with results based on commitment to effectiveness
• Powerful on site collection tools
• Collection resources
  • Skip Trace / Location department
  • Online capability
  • Credit reporting

Insurance and binding, Licensing and Trust Accounting

At BRW, all accounts and relevant confidential information remain secure.  BRW’s character is backed by extensive insurance and bonding coverage.  Full professional licensing, when available by individual state and client trust accounting all contribute to BRW’s client security.

Insurance and Bonding

BRW’s strength is backed not only by its achievements, but also by numerous insurance and bonding policies.  The coverage is outlined below

General Liability Coverage

Errors and Omissions

Employee Bond

Licensing

BRW complies with all states’ consumer protection and sales practice laws and individual licensing in those states requiring licenses.

Trust Accounting

Clients should have a vested interest in how a collection agency handles their money.  They should be particularly interested in how accurately an agency keeps its clients’ money separated from its own.  Mingling funds is not only a risky business practice, but the Code of Ethics of the American Collectors Association stresses an agency’s ethical responsibility for maintaining strict separation between its funds and those of its clients.

BRW enforces this separation by depositing all the money it collects on behalf of a client into a separate Trust Account set up and maintained for clients.  The client’s money is never mingled with BRW’s general operating funds or other accounts.

Funds can be sent by check, wire, ACH or certified deposit to the client’s account.

System Information

BRW’s office operates in a fully automated environment.  Significant capital investments have been made to ensure that we operate with the latest technology that is used to increase recovery and reduce costs.

Data Transfer Capabilities

BRW accepts account assignments from clients using the following methods:

• E-mail
• Facsimile
• Electronic Transfer
• Mail

Collection Staff

Professional personnel are essential in BRW’s success.  The office is staffed with highly trained employees dedicated to provide our clients with recovery results that are well above industry standards.  Their understanding of the client’s industry along with collection expertise and customer services skills means a high net return for BRW’s clients.

Training of Collectors

BRW provides standardized training for its employees on an on-going basis.  Each employee receives a procedure manual on the first day.  This manual includes everything from computer training to skip tracing and consumer motivation.  Once the collector is thoroughly schooled in all of our legal, ethical and procedural standards the employee is constantly monitored and coached until he/she becomes a true professional.

The employee will also observe experienced collectors and administrative people at their job.  Prior to handling accounts, all representatives must pass a test covering the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Ongoing training for employees is provided by monthly department staff meetings to discuss actual situations and make recommendations for improvement of operation procedure.  Professional seminars are also conducted on site for positive attitude maintenance.

Quality Assurance Evaluation Procedures

BRW’s Managers and Supervisors place a heavy emphasis on regular evaluation of employees in continuous feedback regarding their performance.  An objective quality assurance evaluation has been developed and is conducted by Supervisors overseeing the operations on a weekly basis.

Through constant trainging, monitoring and testing, BRW’s employees are kept abreast of the laws and reminded of their responsibility for operating within them.

Client Services

BRW takes great pride in the quality of its internal and external client representatives.  We are available at a moment’s notice to furnish collection reports or other information concerning your accounts.  BRW will assign a person to be your direct contact for every facet of our operation and is available to answer questions that may arise.  Standards have been established to assure that client concerns are addressed the same day they are received whenever possible.

Collection Notices and Frequency of Mailings

Our collection system allows us the flexibility to customize our collection services based on individual client specifications.  In general, within twenty-four hours of receipt of accounts, the first notice is generated by our software system and sent to the consumer informing them that their outstanding debt has been placed with BRW for collection.  All debtor mailings are sent first-class, address correction requested.  Collection notices, as with all debtor communications, are in full compliance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Account Assignment and Collection Contact

The same day the accounts are placed with our office, an acknowledgement report of all new accounts placed for collection will be made available to the client.  Within forty-eight hours of account placement an initial phone contact is attempted to notify the individual of the account status. (Section 809 FDCPA)

Payment Arrangements and Broken Promises

In the initial contact with a debtor, the collector will attempt to collect the balance in full.  If the entire balance can not be attained, the collector will work with the debtor to make the best arrangements to liquidate the account as quickly as possible.  If the initial contact is unsuccessful, collectors are expected to make telephone contacts every two weeks on each account handled.

Payments are posted to the debtor’s account on a daily basis.  This allows the collector to know if a promise has been broken by the end of the day.  If the payment has not been received in the office or a smaller payment has been made, a broken promise letter is automatically generated.  This same day, the collector will attempt to call the debtor regarding the payment.

Any overpayments by a debtor will be refunded after careful research and verification.  Payments received directly at the client’s office are transmitted to BRW on a regular basis.  These may be reported by fax, mail, email or phone.

Remittance reports and checks will be mailed or delivered to the client on a monthly basis.

Cancellations

Agency initiated cancellations are limited to bankruptcies, write-off balances due to contractual agreements and write-offs due to settlements with attorneys.  However, no account is settled unless authorization is obtained from the client.  BRW does not subcontract any work.

The client may, per their discretion, request that an account placed in error with BRW be cancelled and returned within 24 hours of placement.  BRW will return said accounts by whatever means requested by the client.  There will be no fees assessed for canceled and returned accounts placed in error.  Fees will be charged for accounts removed prior to placement to avoid payment to BRW.

Suit Criteria

Following the thorough investigation of an account, from verifying employment to conducting a complete on-line asset search, the collector either determines an account uncollectible or recommends legal action.  If an account is believed to be collectible through legal means, a Legal Authorization form is sent to the client requesting written approval to forward the account to an attorney.

Collectors recommending accounts for placement with an attorney are not limited to any time frame in doing so.  The placement of accounts with an attorney will vary from state to state and customized to meet the client’s policies.

Attorneys use Small Claims, County and Federal Courts to obtain wage assignments, judgments, execution and levy and trials, if necessary.

Skip Tracing and Credit Reporting

One of the most important aspects of an effective collection process is the ability to locate a customer and initiate contact.  BRW has a staff with many years experience in skip tracing and determination of judgment eligibility.  These representatives will use all available means of obtaining location information, including but not limited to neighbors, landlords and employers.  In addition, BRW will use credit file information to obtain location information.  Our affiliation with Lexus-Nexus and national databases allows our account specialists to obtain the latest credit reports and location information instantaneously.  BRW uses an assortment of products, which will return location information from a submitted Social Security Number/Address/Prior Address.  All of these products are available on-line.  With these tools at its disposal, BRW is well positioned to skip trace thoroughly and successfully.

According to the applicable state’s criteria, if a client requests, BRW will place an adverse credit notation with the major credit repositories.  This becomes effective when an individual applies for credit and this adverse appears on the credit report.  In these cases, the potential credit grantor will usually require that this adverse indication be cleared before credit is issued.

Collection Reports

BRW’s software provides a comprehensive reporting system.  There are numerous system-generated reports that are available on a daily, monthly or quarterly basis.

• Acknowledgments – Provides confirmation of all new placements.  This report can be automatically generated on the same day as the placements are entered.  This report can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed.

• Status Report – Designed to inform you of the status of your accounts.  This report shows the name, date placed, amount placed, balance, account number and status.

Client References

Will be provided upon request and would be industry specific.

Three Essential Steps to Getting Paid on Exports

Whenever you sell on credit, having a sound credit and collection policy, and executing it properly, is essential.  Doing business internationally generally increases the stakes and raises the risks.  Therefore, when developing a policy for international sales, it is important to recognize that certain distinctions exist between domestic and international trade.  There are real differences in legal systems, business practices and mindsets to be considered.  Your credit and collection policy for international sales should be adjusted to reflect these differences.  It should not mirror the policy you have in place for domestic sales.

Whether domestic or international, a sound credit and collection policy involves:

• Knowing who you are selling to. That is, doing your due diligence on your prospective buyer.

• Knowing how to sell, This involves getting the right supporting documents for the sale.

• Keeping a close eye on your money and acting quickly when there is a potential risk.  This is especially important when dealing with international sales.

Doing Your Due Diligence

Whenever there’s a potential customer at your door, you have to make sure that the prospect has a good probability of paying.  Requesting financial information from the prospect is just the beginning.  You need to go beyond that by getting a current credit report from a reliable source in the prospect’s jurisdiction.  An attorney or a credit reporting agency can easily obtain information regarding the prospect’s assets and the legal situation of his company, as well as any lawsuits filed against him.  Your Prospect should be evaluated based on:

1. Personality: Does the prospect put forth characteristics of integrity, honesty and moral responsibility?  Do you trust him/her personally?
2. Capital: Are you comfortable with the financial position of the prospect’s business and how well it is doing?  Does he/she have additional or sufficient assets to secure the debt?
3. Capacity: Is the prospect really a good and competent businessperson?  Is he/she knowledgeable?  Does his/her experience give you the confidence necessary to allow him/her to influence your cash flow by extending credit to him?

Documenting the Sale Properly

Making sure the debtor has money to pay his account is only the first step.  Should it become necessary to file suit in order to collect, you need to be prepared with the proper documents if you are to succeed.

There are three essential things that need to be probed in court during a collection case: 1) the debtor’s offer to buy goods; 2) the seller’s acceptance and performance; and 3) terms and conditions of the sale.  You can easily probe this with proper documents and give yourself an edge in court, by using and requesting the following items from the debtor as a matter of policy:

1. Credit Application: The credit application with financial information alone will not be effective in court.  You should include the terms of sale, a personal guarantee, and even a special pledge (available in Mexico) to create a security interest in the goods you are selling.
2. Purchase Orders: You should request written purchase orders from all buyers.  These can be sent via fax and should include the authorized person’s full name and signature.
3. Delivery Receipts: You should request signed receipts upon delivery.  These can be your own packing slips or bills of lading.  They have to include the full name and signature of the individual receiving the goods on behalf of the buyer.

If you want to add security to your transactions, request from the buyer a promissory note per shipment for that specific amount.  If you are selling above $100,000.00 USD, get collateral from your buyer to properly guarantee the debt.