The Commercial Collection Agency Association (CCAA), with over 110 member agencies, represents the most prestigious commercial collection agencies in the United States . The CCAA, also referred to as the Association, works to elevate the standards of the commercial collections industry by providing educational, legislative, promotional and administrative services to its members.

The central focus of the Association is you, the credit grantor. Our members work to provide you with the highest level of professional services in the commercial debt collection industry. When you use a Certified member of the CCAA you can count on persistent and attentive collection efforts coupled with the ethical treatment of you and your past due customers.

Established in 1972 to improve the quality and reputation of the commercial collection industry, the CCAA is part of the Commercial Law League of America, the oldest creditors' rights organization in the country.

Membership in the CCAA, whose members are the only collection agencies in the United States certified by the Commercial Law League of America and authorized to display the seal of the Association, is limited to those select agencies in the country who continue to meet CCAA's rigorous criteria. These standards include:

• The agency has been in business for a minimum of five years prior to application for membership in the CCAA.
• A minimum of 80% of the agency's collection business must be commercial in nature.
• The agency agrees to maintain a separate Trust Account into which all monies belonging to creditors are placed. This Trust Account is analyzed twice annually by the Executive Director of the CCAA.
• The agency must agree to subscribe to the CCAA Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics sets ethical standards for the agencies dealing with customers, debtors and attorneys. A copy of the Code of Ethics can be found on this Web site. Failure to adhere to those standards may cost an agency its certification.
• Agency executives must meet continuing educational requirements and attend regular CCAA meetings during the year. These meetings are both informational and educational in nature.
• The agency agrees to post a surety bond in the minimum amount of $300,000 for the protection of the creditors it serves.
• The agency must agree to random periodic site visits from the CCAA Executive Director.
• The agency must be in compliance with all local and state regulations governing its operation of a commercial collection agency.

Unfortunately, there are some unscrupulous agencies who may claim that they are a Certified member of CCAA. The surest way to determine if the agency you are contemplating using is a Certified member of CCAA is to use the Member Directory on this Web site. If the agency is not listed in the directory, they are not a Certified member of CCAA. In such cases, we ask that you call or e-mail the Executive Director and advise him about the agency so he may take appropriate steps to have the agency cease their unscrupulous practices.

The Commercial Collection Agency Association is overseen by the Board of Governors of the Commercial Law League of America. Its Executive Director, Mr. Emil Hartleb, works out of the Association's headquarters in Cedar Grove , New Jersey . The Commercial Collection Agency Association office is open during regular business hours and may be reached by calling (973) 239-0721 (between 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST), by writing to the Commercial Collection Agency Association, P.O. Box 205, Cedar Grove, New Jersey 07009, or by E-Mail at ccaaxd@aol.com

The Officers and Executive Committee of CCAA:

Chair: Marc Hirschel
McKenzie, Becker & Stevens, Inc, Lakeville , CT

Chair-elect: Lee Baldieri
Levy, Diamond, Bello & Associates, Inc., Milford, CT

Immediate Past-chair & CCAA Representative to CLLA Board of Governors: Daniel Hogan
Allied Interstate, Inc., Waukesha, WI

Treasurer: Meg Scotty
Brennan & Clark, Ltd., Villa Park, IL

Association Council

The CCAA Council is the governing body of CCAA. It consists of the Chair, Chair-elect, Treasurer and Representative to the CLLA Board of Governors and the following individuals:

Steve Antico
Coastal Recovery Corporation, White Plains , NY

William Biehl
Biehl & Biehl, Inc., Illinois

Lawrence Cassidy
Sacramento Valley Board of Trade, Inc., Sacramento, CA

Stuart Spivack
Stuart Allan & Associates, Inc., Tucson, AZ

Kevin Terrell
STA International, Uniondale, NY

David Ward
Delta Recovery, Long Valley, NJ

Affiliate Members Representatives

Mark Sheriff
Wiles, Boyle, Burkholder & Bringardner, Columbus, OH

Charles Sonnhalter
The General Bar Law List, Cleveland , OH

Committees and Chairs

Advertising & Public Relations: Marc Hirschel
McKenzie, Becker & Stevens, Inc., Lakeville, CT

Certificate of Compliance: Jon Lunn
SKO Brenner American, Baldwin, NY

Education: Bruce Godwin
Williams, Babbit & Weisman, Inc., Boca Raton, FL

Legislation: Lawrence Cassidy
Sacramento Valley Board of Trade, Sacramento, CA

Leadership: Robert Ingold
Commercial Collection Corporation of New York, Buffalo, NY

Membership & Member Involvement: Lee Baldieri
Levy, Diamond, Bello Associates, Milford, CT

Relations with Law Lists: Alphonse Antico
Coastal Recovery Corp., White Plains, NY