As the volume of exports from foreign countries to the United Stated grows, so does the need for better understanding by the international creditor of the laws of the United States pertaining to credit control, debt collection, and litigation procedures.

Credit Control

In the United States there is far greater access to credit information relating to individuals and businesses that is generally available in many other countries. In the United Stated sophisticated computerized databases of credit information are operated by various reporting agencies which allow credit grantors to determine at the outset whether or not an individual or business represents a good credit risk. These same databases also provide a variety of information which is helpful in maintaining credit records and in determining whether to place a case for collection and/or litigation.

Collection Agencies

There are numerous debt collection agencies operating in the United Stated – some are nationwide agencies with offices in several different cities, and, in some cases, foreign countries. Agencies may limit the scope of their operations to individual cities or states and some may be industry specific. The sheer physical size of the United States, with a population in excess of 260 million, results in a wide variety and great number of collection agencies.

The activities of collection agencies in the United States are governed by Federal and State law, and they normally restrict their collection efforts against debtors to telephone and written correspondence. When a collection agency determines that court action might result in successful recovery, the collection agency will usually recommend referral of the case to an attorney.

Attorneys

Lawyers in the United States are known as attorneys. Attorneys are not generally licensed to appear before courts of more than one state. It is normal, therefore, to refer cases to an attorney located in the county or city in the state where the debtor is located.

Fees and Costs

In the United States, most collection agencies handle debt collection cases on a contingency fee basis, where the fee is normally a specified percentage agreed to between the collection agency and the credit grantors and is payable from whatever funds are recovered from the debtor. Contingency fee structures vary.

The attorney who receives a case from a collection agency or a forwarding law firm, referred through a law list, will generally handle it on a contingent fee basis. If suit is filed, in addition to the base contingent fee, the attorney is usually entitled to a suit fee which may be wholly contingent, partially contingent, or non-contingent. Court costs vary by jurisdiction and payment is the responsibility of the credit grantor.

Law Lists

The mechanism for locating competent attorneys for referral of collect cases is through Law Lists. There are several in the United States offering nationwide coverage.

Commercial law lists are selective directories of attorneys interested in and competent to handle debt collection and insolvency cases. Cases referred to an attorney through a law list are protected against defalcation by a one million dollar fidelity bond. Law Lists also provide dispute resolution services between listees, debt collectors, and credit grantors.

Litigation System

The legal system operating in the United States is based on English Common Law. This is an adversarial system, distinct from the civil law system that applies in many other countries. Each state, as well as the federal government, has its own court system and individual laws.

Enforceability of Foreign Judgements

While basic principles of comity (i.e., courteous recognition of another country’s law) apply between the United States and most other countries, a final foreign judgement is not automatically enforceable in the United States. In a U.S. court, the foreign judgement acts only as prima facie evidence of the existence of the debt. Most international creditors will have to bring a court action to prove debt in the United States and will not be able to simply register or otherwise enforce the foreign judgement.

Statute of Limitations

In the United States the laws of each state specify when a creditor must file an action for recovery of a debt. These statutes vary between states.

Litigation Procedures

The following is a general outline of litigation procedures:

1. Generally all actions are begun by filing a Summons and Complaint which names the parties, recites the facts of the cause of action and states the amount owed. In U.S. Dollars. A few states permit the filing in foreign currency.
2. These documents are then served upon the defendant in accordance with local laws.
3. All proceedings are in English and all documents files with the court should be in English.
4. If the defendant fails to file a responsive pleading, the plaintiff may obtain judgement by default for the amount of the debt plus interest and costs, in accordance with local and/or contractual provisions.
5. Normally each party will be responsible for its own attorney’s fees unless State Law or contractual provisions provide otherwise.

Enforcing the Judgement

The basic method for enforcing the judgement in the United States are:

• Seizure and sale of personal property, bank accounts, or receivables owed to the judgement debtor or third parties.
• Seizure and sale of real property.

Foreign Exchange

International creditors should note that when cases are settled out of court, consideration should be given to the rate of exchange to ensure that the U.S. dollar amount obtained from the debtor is equivalent to the actual amount of the debt in the currecy of the credit grantors country.

When a judgement is obtained in an action filed in U.S. dollars, state law will be used to determine the exchange rate of the amount actually payable by the judgement debtor. Because the exchange rate may be determined as of the date of the contract, the filing date of the action, the judgement date, or the payment date of the judgement it may vary! A few states in the U.S. have enacted the Uniform Foreign Claims Act to deal with the conversion from U.S. dollars to local currency.

Commercial Law League of America

The CLLA is a unified organization of litigation and bankruptcy lawyers, collection agencies, and law lists. The organization operates on a national basis throughout the United States. The league provides a network of individuals and entities who offer a full range of debt collection and insolvency services.