CHICAGO, IL – A new concept of business to business collections has been developed resulting from two major developments in the business community. First, the ability to instantly communicate and transmit information, via the internet, anywhere in the world. Secondly, the large number of small and mid-size companies that are expanding their markets and increasing their market share throughout the US and around the world.
Mr. Les Kirschbaum, an industry leader for over 25 years, and specialist in the commercial receivable industry, saw a definite need for efficiency in the traditional business to business receivable process. His research and past experience showed that once an experienced, local collection attorney was involved on a past due receivable, the collectibility improved dramatically. According to Mr. Kirschbaum, debtors respond much quicker to local collection attorneys than to traditional collection agencies. Local attorneys have many additional tools available to them. They have easy access to information about businesses in their community. In addition, they have access to public record information such as past suits, judgments and liens and they can initiate legal proceedings quickly, if necessary. In addition, local attorneys can make personal site visits which can develop crucial information about debtors.
In response to that need, Mr. Kirschbaum set up an international attorney network in 2002 that created a more efficient and profitable receivable process. His new venture, ANI International (ANI) has strategic relationships with a network of over 300 attorneys, specializing in commercial receivables, in all 50 states and over 50 countries worldwide. Now, businesses can forward their receivables (domestic and international) directly to ANI which utilizes its local attorney affiliates to handle the collection proceedings.
Mr. Kirschbaum’s clients deal with an experienced Executive Account Manager at ANI, instead of having to communicate directly with numerous collection agencies and different attorneys around the country and around the world. They can access the ANI website to place accounts and communicate directly with their account manager. In addition, the website access allows clients to monitor their accounts and see the history and detailed notes from the attorney. For example, ABC Company has numerous outstanding invoices from a customer in St. Louis, MO. ABC Company goes to the ANI website and enters the details regarding the invoices. The ANI account manager reviews the accounts and assigns them to one of their local attorneys for immediate action. From that point on, all communication and notes are maintained in a secure database, accessible to all parties through the ANI website. This online access facilitates critical decision making and speeds resolution.
“We’ve eliminated a step in the traditional way of handling receivables and increased the collection percentage for our clients. Attorneys are much more effective at resolving issues and recovering payments than traditional collection agencies, especially earlier in the collection process,” said Mr. Kirschbaum. It’s a win-win situation and there are many benefits: user friendly process, online access, single point of contact, speedier resolution and higher collection percentage.
Les J. Kirschbaum, President and CEO of ANI International, is an industry leader in the commercial receivable industry. Prior to ANI, Les founded Mid-Continent Agencies, Inc. (MCA) and was President/CEO for 25 years. During that time, MCA grew to be the 3rd largest and one of the most respected commercial receivable management firms with domestic and international offices.
An active industry leader, Mr. Kirschbaum served on the Board of Governors of the Commercial Law League of America (CLLA) from 1991-1994 and as Chairman of the Commercial Collection Agency Section (CCAS) from 1988-1990. MCA merged into Compass International Services in 1999 and shortly thereafter was purchased by the NCO Group.
Mr. Kirschbaum is a frequent speaker at seminars, executive groups, multi-cultural conferences, trade organizations and international credit groups. In addition, he is a frequent contributor to industry trade publications and national and international business publications.
