When a credit grantor is selling a sole proprietor, partnership, small corporate entity, or has obtained a personal guarantee, you should consider obtaining a consumer report on the owner(s) of that business. Although, the Fair Credit Reporting (FCRA) permits the use of a “consumer credit report” with a permissible purpose, it is recommended that you include the authority to obtain an individual report within the body of the application or as a separate document. If the personal guarantee is part of your credit application there should be a clear delineation from where the credit application ends and the personal guaranty begins. The signature line for the personal guaranty should be separately signed without a designation of title.… Read the rest

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Jamilex Gotay, editorial associate, NACM National

2023 is here, and there is still time to make New Year’s Resolutions, consider making workplace productivity a priority. 2022 was riddled with stories of workplace burnout and fatigue. Luckily, we’ve found a few tips to turn that around and get you moving in the right direction.

1. Learn To Say “No”
   Start saying “no” to habits that waste precious time—whether that’s scrolling through social media or doing favors for others, prioritize your time to get your work done. If you don’t have time to answer someone right away, send over a voice note or the FAQs page or “simply respond slower so they have the chance to find the answer for themselves,” reads a Forbes article.

Since its inception, the CMI has been a startlingly accurate economic predictor, proving its worth most notably during the recession.

The CMI is created from a monthly survey of U.S. credit and collections professionals. The survey asks participants to rate whether factors in their monthly business cycle—such as sales, new credit applications, accounts placed for collections, dollar amount beyond terms—are higher than, lower than, or same as the previous month. The results reflect the entire cycle of commercial business transactions, providing an accurate, predictive benchmarking tool.

CMI reports are released to the media the last business day of each month. View the latest report. If your business extends credit to other commercial businesses and you are located in the 50 US states and US territories, we encourage you to participate in the survey.… Read the rest

Written By: Scott Blakeley, Esq.

As inflation reaches a 40-year high, the Federal Reserve has made combatting inflation a top priority. Multiple interest rate increases are intended to tame inflation. However, companies of all sizes are facing financial challenges as the result of inflation and the attendant high-interest rates, including inflated costs for raw material and increased borrowing costs. The Fed estimates the interest rate will rise at least another percentage or more before they evaluate the impact of the hikes.

In light of inflation and increased interest rates, customers, whether national accounts to small and mid-sized, are pressing credit teams for trade concessions, whether in the form of cash givebacks, terms pushback and change in payment form.… Read the rest

The fall season has been packed with member interactions, activities, festivities, and planning! What a great experience getting back out with our member companies, visiting with credit individuals, and enjoying the personal interaction. I’ve missed the in-person opportunities and am inspired by getting to work around those who bring a passion for occupational excellence to their chosen profession. You all are Rock Stars! Associations are the cornerstone for personal and professional growth, and naturally, a credit professional looks to NACM Commercial Services as the industry’s leading expert in all things credit related. Knowledge is the key to a brighter future and NACM CS has provided a magnitude of opportunities to sharpen credit skills in 2022. I hope you’ve taken advantage of some of the offerings this year.… Read the rest

Jamilex Gotay, editorial associate, NACM National

As inflation continues to wreak havoc on the global economy, the labor market is showing signs of cooling. According to the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), the count of job openings plummeted by 1.1 million vacancies in August, the sharpest drop since 2020. The unemployment rate fell 3.5% in September, hitting a 50-year low, according to Wells Fargo.

“The JOLTS plunge will come as welcome news to the FOMC,” per Wells Fargo. “Fed Chair Powell has frequently cited the high number of openings relative to the number of unemployed workers as indicative of a labor market that is too tight. August’s plunge in openings is a sign that tighter monetary policy is starting to slow hiring, and possibly the inflation pressures stemming from rapid wage growth.… Read the rest