Memo

To:       All Clients

From:   Law Office of Kathryn A. Meloni, Esq., P.C.

Re:       Billing and Collections Procedures

Date:   February 2012

Please be advised that this memo is in effect for ALL of my clients.  This is not being sent to any specific client or clients.

Your retainer agreement clearly states that, unless other payment arrangements have been made, your bill is due in full within ten (10) days of the date of invoice.

My current hourly rate is $290.00 per hour.

We do accept the following credit cards under the following conditions:

1. We accept Visa, Master Card, and Discover;

2. Due to the high cost of credit card transactions, we will only accept these credit cards for:
            a. retainers if the client pays the cost incurred by our office (4.1% average)
            b. payment in full of balances due; or
            c. payments made toward balances where the payment is at least $400.00

I have been extremely patient and considerate in allowing payment plans.  If you need a payment plan to be set up, please feel free to contact the office immediately.  If you have already made specific arrangements (set up a specific payment plan with my office), please comply with it.  Failure to comply with a payment plan will void said plan and make the bill due in full immediately.  Payment plans for retainers are available but no work will be done until the retainer is paid in full.

Failure to make a sufficient payment on your bill (consistent with your payment plan), and/or to make any payment on your bill for a period of at least thirty (30) days, will automatically result in interest being charged on your account.  The interest rate that I have charged on accounts is only 1%/month; this is far less than most creditors charge.  Once interest is being charged, it will not be remitted.  Failure to make a payment on your bill, after interest is already being charged, will result in the case being sent to a collection agency.  Therefore, it is extremely important for you to comply with the agreed-upon plan and/or contact my office if there is any problem with your payment.

Once a case is sent to collections, the account will incur additional fees, interest and costs. If payment is still not made and further action is needed, the case is automatically sent to the second phase of collections and will result in a lawsuit being filed against you for the balance due in full, plus costs, interest and attorney fees (for the attorneys representing the collection agency).  Once a case is sent to collections, I no longer have the power to negotiate a deal with you.

The reason I am sending all of my clients this memo and the attached rates and office policies is because I am having difficulty in having clients pay their bills.  This is a set policy and the matter will be completely out of my control if regular monthly payments are not received.  Due to the large amount of overhead and operating expenses, this business can not operate without regular and routine payments.  I can not continue to work on files on which payment is not being made. 

Thank you for your anticipated cooperation with this matter.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the office. 

Thank you.