Delinquent Account.  Past Due.  Bad Debt Reserve.  Write off.

These terms make credit controllers and financial directors shudder.  But with the recession and the relaxed attitude of some debtors to timely payment, they are encountered too frequently.There are hundreds of collection agencies that can help.Some are "letter services" that require a fixed payment for a series of letters.  These services are often "guaranteed" — if a set doesn't work, you get another set.  Hardened debtors have seen all of these letters before, and they know there's usually nothing that happens if the letters are ignored.  Some letters even threaten to add the debtor to a largely non-existent credit register.Other agencies hire inexperienced collectors to telephone debtors and threaten them.  Some debts might be collected that way, but the creditor's reputation is sullied — and studies show that debtors tell an average of 17 other people about their bad experiences.Still other agencies are quick to bring in the solicitors and involve the Courts.  It's all very expensive, and can actually slow down the collection process.Storm is different.Storm is a debt collection agency — but because we're wholly-owned by solicitors we are also a law firm recognised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.  Our pre-litigation services are priced on a "no collection, no fee" basis.  We will accept any number of debts of any size and will send solicitors' letters and have our experienced, trained collectors make contact with the debtor.  Our collectors have all had "life's experiences" and they know that in some cases a simple, tough line will be required, whereas in other cases —particularly where the client wants to preserve its relationship with the debtor — a more complex approach will be appropriate.  In either case the collector will work with the debtor to establish realistic and binding plans to pay the debt as quickly as possible.We are linked to one of the country's largest credit reporting agencies so have the ability to learn more about debtors to separate the "can't pay" from the "won't pay."  We can report defaults to the agency so that the debtor can encounter difficulties in obtaining new credit cards, a mortgage, or other finance.  A powerful incentive to pay the debt.We use Enterprise-level collection software, and retain a complete audit trail of all of our activities.  Debtors can make payment in any High Street bank, post office, or by debit or credit card by telephone or via the internet.If litigation is necessary, we will move to a fixed fee basis of charging.  But, crucially, this is not a case of an agency instructing a firm of solicitors.  With Storm it's totally seamless because it's all handled within the same organisation.  Our solicitors are linked directly to the same software as the collectors — there is no delay as files are transferred from one office to another.