Give me a quick overview of bumchecks.com.
Who are some of NorthStar's clients?
What is NorthStar's collection rate?
What happens after we sign-up?
Is NorthStar's check recovery service really free?
Would we need to "stamp" all the checks we accept?
Does NorthStar require businesses to verify that certain information is on the checks they accept?
Do small business owners qualify for free bad check recovery?
What about existing checks? Can these be collected?
What happens to the checks we submit?
Is a "demo account" available for corporate clients?
Are consolidated returns available for corporate clients?
How long will NorthStar work to collect bad checks?
Does NorthStar buy bad checks? Is a "check guarantee service" available?
How would we terminate NorthStar's check recovery service?
Why use NorthStar for our check recovery service?
My name is Brad Price. I am a senior account representative for NorthStar Technologies, a nation-wide collection agency that specializes in bad check collection. Bumchecks.com is my personal web to make contact with businesses or organizations such as yours that need a free check recovery service or accounts receivables collection.
Can NorthStar process bad business checks? Our corporation needs a commercial check recovery service.
Yes. NorthStar can process your bounced checks whether they are written by an individual or on a business account. Unlike companies that restrict their collections to RCK (electronic) check recovery, NorthStar has and utilizes the full spectrum of collection tools. It specializes in recovering all types of bad checks.
What is NorthStar's collection rate?
Multiple factors affect the collection percentage: the speed at which checks are submitted, the dollar amount (a $50 check is usually easier to collect than one for $50,000), and even the geographical area of the check writer.
An honest check recovery service will tell you collection percentages are
affected to a certain degree by location (collection rates for places like the
Midwest are usually better than large cities). If a
collection service is using the Midwest to claim a 90% collection rate, but
your checks come from a large city on the west coast where their rate is
only 75%, do not expect to get what was advertised.
NorthStar's check collection percentage usually exceeds its competitors for
all types of returned checks (most NSF checks can be collected in 1-60 days). Its
proven success is partly due to the fact
that it does everything a typical check recovery service does PLUS it has
and utilizes the resources of a nation-wide and "in-house" collection
agency.
What happens after we sign-up?
NorthStar and I both contact you. You will receive a nice welcome packet from NorthStar's corporate office and I will contact you by phone or e-mail to help you process existing and future bad checks.
Is NorthStar's check recovery service really free?
Yes. NorthStar uses the state bad check fee, a cost paid by bad check writers, to make its check recovery service completely free.
How does NorthStar collect bad checks?
NSF checks are submitted to a proven process including these steps: collection letters, electronically drafting the check writer's account for funds (RCK check collection), and reporting bad check writers to the National Check Network (NCN)
. NCN reporting is yet another free service and it prohibits bad check writers from passing checks at nearly 200,000 merchants, including Walmart®.If this 60 day process does not work, or checks are marked "stop payment or "closed account," NorthStar will aggressively work to collect them for 18 months using a variety of powerful collection tools such as collection phone calls, District Attorney intervention, credit bureau reporting, etc. The check recovery process is explained here.
What if NorthStar cannot collect a check?
In these cases
NorthStar absorbs ALL the collection costs. Even in the
phase 2 recovery process where very extensive and expensive
collection techniques are used, there are still no collection fees to businesses.
Phase 2 checks are processed as a no-fees contingency split.
Do we buy or use any special equipment?
No.
Do we need to "stamp" all the checks we receive?
No. NorthStar provides free "disclosure" stickers for businesses (they even offer free laminated stickers if you need this feature). Post these stickers at your point of sale so customers know you use NorthStar for your returned check collection service.
Does NorthStar require businesses to verify that certain information is on the checks they accept?
No, but
having the driver's
license information on checks is very helpful.
Do small business owners qualify for
free bad check recovery?
Yes. With NorthStar there are no minimums for free bad check collection.
We take checks by phone. Can NorthStar still process our returned items? Can we still have RCK check recovery?
NorthStar can process checks accepted over the phone and RCK check recovery
is still permissible under certain conditions. Please
contact me if you take checks by phone.
What about existing checks? Can these be collected?
Existing checks are accepted and the
collection efforts are free. Anyone in the collections
industry will tell you an important ingredient in collecting
accounts is speed (submit accounts as fast as
possible). Such is also true for bad checks (the older
checks are the more difficult they
become to collect). Since NorthStar's service is free, I
recommend submitting checks up to 24 months old.
What happens to the checks we submit for collection?
NorthStar
makes an image of every check you
submit (front
and
back),
and you may print these at any time for free. If
you wish to have your checks returned, this service is available
for a nominal fee.
Is a "demo account" available
for corporate clients?
Are consolidated returns available for corporate clients?
Yes.
Reduce your bank fees to approximately $1.00 per check and still
receive the extra 25% of the bad check fee
on NSF checks.
How long will NorthStar work to collect our bad checks?
If NorthStar cannot collect a NSF check in a
period of about 60 days, it will work for 6, 12, of 18 months more if you so desire (this choice is made in the sign-up
process and is also free).
Our business is in a small community
and we want to control what checks we submit for collection.
Is this possible?
Yes. You may either let your bank submit checks automatically with a brief bank form from NorthStar or
personally select and send in the checks you choose for collection.
Does NorthStar buy bad checks?
Is a "check guarantee service" available?
NorthStar does not buy or guarantee checks.
Most businesses are better served by outsourcing bad check
collection to a check recovery service like NorthStar.
Unless your business typically accepts checks valued at $500.00
or more, a
check guarantee service is usually a bad deal for
businesses.
How would we terminate NorthStar's check
recovery service?
Give NorthStar a 30 day written notice.
There are no termination fees. NorthStar can offer some
special services to corporations and these unique arrangements
typically involve a year-long contract.
How do we sign up?
Use the fast and free on-line process!
If you are hesitant to use the Internet to sign-up, I still
offer their old style "paper
agreement" method (it is longer, but it works just
as well).
Why use NorthStar for our
returned check
recovery service?
You receive all the benefits offered by other
check collection services, plus 25% of the bad check fee on NSF
checks at absolutely no cost. NorthStar also provides one of the finest check
reporting systems available for free. NorthStar even offers
free check collection for stop payment and closed account
checks.
Do most small businesses
need a NSF check recovery service?
Yes, and NorthStar’s free returned check management service is an ideal solution for any U.S. business. NorthStar wants to meet its clients' needs, and it is usually a "good fit" for these industries that need a check recovery service: large corporations, accounting and insurance firms, grocery stores, c-stores, dental offices, boat marinas, heating and air conditioning contractors, department stores, martial arts clinics, shoe stores, massage therapy services, direct mail businesses, medical offices and hospitals, amusement parks, antique dealers, landlords, dry cleaners, school PTA organizations and school corporations, electrical companies, utility services, motels and hotels, sporting good stores, racing and motorcycle shops, movie theaters, moving companies, storage companies, auctioneers and auction houses, museums, audiologist offices, auto repair shops, fabric shops, hair and nail salons, tanning salons, newspapers, magazine and book publishers, tax preparation offices, night clubs, restaurants, bait shops, bed and breakfasts, non-profit companies, florists, nurseries, appliance repair shops, bicycle shops, gift shops, golf shops, bowling alleys, bridal shops, towing services, pawn shops, carpet cleaners, health clubs, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, pest control services, home health care services, pharmacies, home party consultants, car wash businesses, catering services, cellular phone services, child care services, plumbing contractors, chiropractors, printers, veterinarians and veterinarian hospitals, psychologists, video stores, cleaning services, clothing stores, jewelers, waste management services, radio stations, kennels, computer services, ISP hosting services, concrete companies, stone and gravel companies, rental services, resorts, libraries, counselors and counseling services, limousine services, zoos and coffee shops. Even a Chamber of Commerce can benefit from NorthStar’s free NSF check recovery service.