The / submenu provides the main user interface for processing cases. The menu looks like this:
| Daily |
| Automatic |
| Payment In |
| Direct Pay |
| Return In |
| Bad Check |
| Call/Letter |
| History |
| Finder |
The / selection automatically processes interest, letters, phone calls, and disputes, in that order. This is automatically called when you run / with the `Daily' command from /.
The / selection is used to perform piecemeal automatic processing of calls, letters, interest, skipped debtors, and disputes. Additional automatic processing options can be customized by request.
| Calls |
| Cleanup |
| Disputes |
| Interest |
| Letters |
| Skips |
///// is used to make pending calls to debtors whose level of debt warrant a telephone call, and who have not responded to written requests or have failed to make promised payments on time. In this selection, all of the cases are examined to find cases with pending dates of today or earlier and status codes of `NewCall', `PayCall'. For each such case, the user is provided with the option of listing the case history and then put into the call scripting system. Each screen of the call scripting system provides a debtor information and an optional menu selection or prompt for information. It then records what happened and places the user into the debtor menu to modify scripted decisions as desired.
///// is used to remove any non-standard information from the collectors stored on-line. This is particularly useful when performing a product update, sine the new `standard' form of tiny expert may have changed from version to version. Since collectors are tiny experts, they replicate any information placed in them along with the normal collection information as they evolve. This engine can also be used when non-standard information placed in collectors is to be removed.
///// is used to remind the user of unsettled disputes and track what the user has done to resolve them. It first offers the option of reviewing case history, then allows the debtor record to be updated, and then asks for a comment on how the dispute was resolved.
///// is used to accumulate interest on debts. This adds interest to the balance and updates pending interest dates to reflect any changes.
///// is used to handle automatic letters. This creates and prints any letters pending as of today and updates pending dates and status codes to reflect any changes.
///// is used to remind the user of unresolved skips. A `skip' is a case where a debtor cannot be located at the last known address and telephone number. In these cases, it is incumbent on the user to locate the debtor or decide how to process the debt further.
All automatic processing options and other operations that search the database can be interrupted by pressing /.
The /// selection is used when a payment is received. After displaying the case information, it prompts for a payment amount (which is defaulted to the regular payment amount from the debtor's file), sends an appropriate letter to the debtor reflecting the receipt of payment, resets the `Next Contact' and `Status' values for the debtor to reflect the payment, and returns to the / menu.
The / selection is the same as a / selection except that the payment is assumed to be to the original creditor instead of to the collection agency. In the case of a small business collecting its own bills, there is no difference between these. When an agency collects money for another party, sends collected funds to the original creditor, and keeps fees on collections performed, commissions on direct payments are subtracted from payments due to the original creditor.
The / selection is essentially the same, except that it is used to report the return of merchandise. The return value is then subtracted from the amount due, and appropriate action is taken with the resulting account information.
The / selection is essentially the same, except that it is used to report a check which bounced for insufficient funds. The return value is then added to the amount due, and appropriate action is taken with the resulting account information.
The / selection is used when a call comes in from the debtor or a letter not containing a payment or return arrives. This selection activates a phone script that tells the user what to say, presents selections for debtor responses, helps negotiate for payment amounts and arrival dates, and records the results of the conversation.
The / selection displays the history of activities on the current debtor. If no debtor is currently active, a debtor number is prompted. After examining debtor information, the case history is shown with one line per event. If multiple pages exist, / goes from page to page. When the last page is displayed, / returns to the / menu.
The / selection is identical to that of the / menu, and is provided here for convenience.