Back in 2004 I went to Dun and Bradstreet over a non-payer, they tried to collect the debt and couldn't so sent it to one of their attorneys in GA, he also tried to collect with no results. He said the only way was to take said company to court, which meant me going to GA, etc.. and since I didn't have a written contract it was her word against mine. I chose not to go that route as I didn't want to spend the money.

Then Dun and Bradstreet put it on this companies credit report as having this outstanding debt, the amount, and to whom it was owed (Those Girls Abstracting).

This company was Courthouse Connections. They are out of business now, gee what a surprise!

This is a good route to go, especially with companies who are nation wide and work directly for banks, banks normally run a company credit check before bringing you on as a vendor.

I am sure D and B has had success in collecting because they have a full time collection division.

I think the BBB is a one good way of making inquiries about companies, if a company has been reported to them. I used BBB to check out some moving companies when I moved to Florida last year and they were able to give me lots of information, which was helpful in deciding which to use.