Plano, Texas Debt Collector Featured in D CEO Magazine

Plano, TX — What do businesses do when their best customers owe them money? Increasingly, they’re turning to commercial debt collectors like Jerry Curtis.

That’s one of the reasons that D CEO Magazine just named Curtis with Burt & Associates in Plano, Texas as someone "You Need to Know." The magazine says the reason he’s become so popular in a down economy is:

"When someone owes your company money, Curtis is the man to get the cash flowing into accounts receivable. In these financially complicated times, Curtis’ business strategy is simple: If you owe the dough, he’ll listen to you, work with you, and get it paid. Lately he’s found this motto to be more effective than ever; the company’s 2008 revenue reached just over $182 million."

"His main goal is to maintain positive relations between his Fortune 500 clients and their customers. In the current economy, he says, keeping customers around–even if they owe money–is all-important. And, since employees have too much on their minds these days to even think about collecting debt, Curtis is happy to lend a helping hand."

"When it comes down to it, Curtis says, people just want to tell their stories. They know they owe the money, but they’re often afraid to confront the fact. Once you get them talking, he says, the rest is easy."

"After growing up on a 500-acre farm just north of Dallas, Curtis began collecting debt part-time while studying business at the University of North Texas. Now, nearly 40 years later, he runs his 55-employee, Plano-based commercial debt company with the same philosophy he had back then–people appreciate honesty."

The recession has been great for the debt collection business. The Commercial Collection Agency Association says a record $14.3 billion in business accounts nationwide were placed in collection in 2008, a 23.2 percent increase from $11.6 billion in 2007.

According to the Commercial Collection Agency Association, which Burt & Associates is a member of, business bankruptcy filings are up 41.6 % compared to June 2007. This means that business accounts will be harder & harder to collect on, as more businesses struggle in this economical climate.

"It’s a real honor to be recognized by a magazine like D CEO," says Curtis. "A lot of business owners read the magazine and they’re all facing the same problem. Customers that they’ve known for years are suddenly two or three months behind on their bills. That puts businesses in a real bind. They need to collect the money, but they don’t want to upset a good customer. That’s why a lot of new business is coming our way. No one really wants to make the phone call that needs to be made."

Jerry Curtis has redesigned the company website to make it more customer friendly. To get a first hand look at the new Burt & Associates Web site, visit http://www.burtcollect.com. You can also contact Jerry Curtis at 1-877-740-7839 for more information about their commercial collection services.