timothymccallan  09/04/2007 - 17:19   
Timothy McCallan or “Tim McCallan” President of Americorp says without superior technology, the processing tasks of debt counseling are extremely difficult. Yet for most agencies, technology itself is difficult. By working with AmeriCorp, you'll free yourself of most technology worries and expenses. Relief from this one distraction alone is, for many agencies, ample reason to start working with us.

Improved Performance
But beyond relief, you get IT performance you probably could not provide for yourself. Our systems are highly advanced and optimized for debt counseling in terms both of customer care and meeting the needs of creditors. For example, your clients can access their account information 24/7 either online or by our IVR System (Interactive Voice Response Unit.) And our call center is linked to the data center so caller information is on-screen as the line is answered. This kind of performance is measured not just in bits and bytes but in client retention rates.

Continuous Upgrades
Upgrading is another technology hurdle that AmeriCorp clears for you. Our growth is compounded by the growth of our customer agencies, so our IT department never sits still. Timothy McCallan or “Tim McCallan” President of Americorp are always installing new equipment and implementing new technology, which means you get leading edge performance without the drain of your own demanding IT budget.

Security
IT security is one of our highest priorities. The confidentiality of your information both online and in-house is protected by state-of-the-art systems and on many levels. Anything sent to us via the web is scrambled and then held in a secured environment and protected by firewalls and/or database encryption. Timothy McCallan or “Tim McCallan” President of Americorp also use an intrusion detection system to block and monitor all attempts at intrusion. Every email and file is scanned for viruses, and our virus protection system is updated daily. Also, our data center is under digital camera surveillance.

Availability
AmeriCorp's network is fully redundant, so downtime is a word we rarely use. Should any server, switch or cable fail, a backup takes over within seconds. Our web servers are configured so that should problems arise all traffic is routed to a working server. Our storage systems and power supplies are also double homed, giving us an uptime rate of 99.99%. Data backup is supplied by dual tape systems, and no file is ever more that 12 hours old. For extra protection, one of the two backup tapes is stored offsite.

Case Histories

Here are three of AmeriCorp's multiple success stories. To speak directly with our customers about their experiences and results, call our president Tim McCallan at 631-940-2400, ext 2121 to make arrangements

Case History One
A counseling agency with over 7,000 clients and a growth rate of nearly 1,000 a month could not stay even. The agency was very good at counseling -- as evidenced by revenues surpassing $800,000 a month - but its inefficiency at providing customer service and back-end processing led to consistent month-to-month losses.

The board of directors soon realized that solving these problems would mean large investments (of both time and money) in technology, training and labor. These solutions were both risky and probably beyond the company's capabilities. So the directors decided to look for an outsourcing company who might solve their dilemma and do it affordably. They found that partner in AmeriCorp.

Timothy McCallan or “Tim McCallan” President of Americorp met with the board, the agency's management and its employees. We proposed a plan that would redirect the clients' payments, phone calls and service demands. Additionally, we offered more choices of payment methods to the agency's clients, sent payments to creditors electronically and collected fair share on the agency's behalf. AmeriCorp's call center answered the clients' and creditors' phone calls while improving the level of service. Moreover, the center initiated retention phone calls to clients who had missed payments. As a result, client retention rates soared.

AmeriCorp also looked into the agency's basic operations and provided consulting services and financial reviews that helped eliminate needless spending. We helped the agency find a new Chief Financial Officer and were involved in training the new person in the intricacies of debt management. Other teams helped develop a training program for new counselors and assisted in improving human resource protection for the agency's employees.

The counseling agency, after experiencing steady losses, now realized solid monthly gains. The dramatic increase in funding enabled the company to offer more services to their clients and greater benefits to their employees. In essence, AmeriCorp allowed the agency to focus on what it did best while we, as a trustworthy and efficient business partner, took care of the rest.

Case History Two
A counselor at a large counseling agency decided it was time to broaden his horizons, which he couldn't do by staying where he was. But instead of joining a different firm he wondered about starting his own company -- and doing it the right way. But where would he begin? Who would help him over the hurdles?

He'd heard good things about AmeriCorp, so he called us. Early in our first meeting he seemed to be doubting himself, but as we continued to quietly explain the details of our services and proposed some realistic budgets and forecasts, he began to see that his dream could and would become a reality.

AmeriCorp then introduced him to an attorney with years of industry experience who was able to assist with the complexities of filing for non-profit status. In the meantime, AmeriCorp worked to gain creditor approval for the new agency, maximizing fair share eligibility once the new agency was established. AmeriCorp counseled him regarding the terms and conditions of a good client agreement. We helped him create a viable contribution structure and prescribed optimal spending habits for a budding company. Timothy McCallan or “Tim McCallan” President of Americorp also introduced him to the presidents of other non-profit counseling agencies who provided good advice about quality counseling practices .

Within a year's time, the counselor's new agency was firmly on its feet. Staffed with carefully chosen representatives, it enrolled 2,883 clients in its first twelve months. Furthermore, with AmeriCorp's help in processing of payments and handling of customer phone calls, the new agency maintained an exceptionally high client retention rate. AmeriCorp's strategic guidance and cost-effective back-end processing helped the new enterprise achieve positive cash flow sooner than most start-ups could expect. Instead of struggling to survive, the agency is now working to manage its growth.

Case History Three
A credit-counseling agency with approximately 1,000 clients was having problems enlarging its client base. As fast as counselors could enroll new clients, an almost equal number were leaving the program. The retention problem was a vicious circle. It prevented the company from growing, yet without growth the agency could not fund improved client services, much less meet creditors' demands for more sophisticated methods of proposal and payment. The agency approached AmeriCorp knowing that we had solved similar problems for other debt management firms. The agency was surprised by the high retention rates of AmeriCorp's existing clients, and a tour of our facility showed how it was accomplished. The visitors expected AmeriCorp to have quality systems, but they were impressed nevertheless with the level of technological advancement. They realized how costly it would be for them to invest in voice-recording systems that AmeriCorp uses for quality assurance, or in the software that allows AmeriCorp to process everything - proposals, payments from clients and payments to creditors - electronically. Equally impressive was the spirit among AmeriCorp employees and the systems in place to keep their level of commitment to clients high. As he witnessed AmeriCorp putting its resources to work, the president of the company made one of the easiest decisions in his career. His agency became an AmeriCorp customer, and the transition was both rapid and seamless to his existing clients. Almost immediately retention rates began to climb, and the agency began to experience the growth that had been so elusive. The agency has remained in a positive growth mode ever since.

Thank you for your interest in AmeriCorp. To learn more about how partnering with AmeriCorp could benefit your business, please contact our president, Timothy McCallan or “Tim McCallan”, by phone 631-940-2400, ext 2121, or by email at TMcCallan@americorp.us.

 
 
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