Commercial & Retail Debt Collection Attorneys

When businesses in Mississippi are owed money—whether by commercial clients or retail consumers—swift, strategic legal action can make the difference between recovering assets or writing off losses. At Rushing & Guice, we represent Mississippi businesses and creditors in all aspects of debt collection, with a focus on compliance, efficiency, and results.

Our firm is uniquely positioned in the field of debt recovery. We are the only Mississippi law firm that is a member of the International Association of Commercial Collectors, the world’s leading organization of commercial collection professionals. Partner William L. Guice III is a recognized authority in Mississippi debt collection law—having co-authored a key legal publication on the subject and testified before the U.S. Senate during the development of the Federal Debt Recovery Act of 1985.

Whether you are pursuing unpaid invoices, enforcing a judgment, or securing collateral, our attorneys develop aggressive yet compliant strategies that maximize recovery while adhering to federal and Mississippi-specific debt collection regulations. We represent creditors across industries, from local retailers to commercial service providers.

Mississippi Debt Collection Lawyers Focused on Maximizing Recovery

At Rushing & Guice, our Mississippi debt collection attorneys are committed to helping businesses recover what they’re owed—efficiently, legally, and cost-effectively. We pursue delinquent accounts with a results-driven approach, always seeking the most practical path to payment while protecting your bottom line.

When possible, we negotiate repayment plans directly with debtors to avoid the time and expense of court proceedings. But when litigation is necessary, our experienced legal team is fully equipped to pursue judgments and enforce collection through all available legal channels, including garnishments, liens, and asset seizures.

To reduce legal expenses, we leverage skilled paralegals and collaborate with your internal team to streamline the recovery process. Whether you’re a retailer, service provider, or commercial creditor, Rushing & Guice provides the legal insight and professional resources to secure full and timely payment—without unnecessary delays.

Legal Tools Available for Collecting Debt in Mississippi

Mississippi law provides several powerful legal tools that creditors can use to collect unpaid debts—once a judgment is secured in court. At Rushing & Guice, we guide our clients through every stage of the enforcement process to maximize recovery while staying fully compliant with state and federal regulations.

Common debt collection remedies in Mississippi include:

• Wage Garnishment: Mississippi law allows creditors to garnish a portion of a debtor’s wages after obtaining a court judgment, subject to certain exemptions and limits.
• Bank Account Garnishment: Creditors may seek to freeze and collect funds directly from a debtor’s bank account through a writ of garnishment.
• Judgment Liens: We help clients file liens against real property owned by a debtor, which can force payment when the property is sold or refinanced.
• Replevin Actions: When specific collateral is involved—such as equipment or goods—we can initiate legal action to recover that property.
• Post-Judgment Discovery: We use court-authorized discovery tools to identify assets that may be used to satisfy a debt, including subpoenas and debtor examinations.

Our attorneys tailor enforcement strategies to the unique circumstances of each case and ensure all actions taken comply with the Mississippi Collection Agency Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), and other relevant laws.

Common Commercial Debt Collection Scenarios We Handle in Mississippi

At Rushing & Guice, we represent a wide range of Mississippi businesses facing unpaid accounts, overdue invoices, and broken payment agreements. Whether you operate a local retail store or a regional service company, our legal team helps you collect with precision and professionalism.

We routinely handle commercial debt collection cases involving:

• Unpaid invoices from B2B clients
• Defaulted commercial lease agreements
• Past-due accounts for goods and services
• Retail installment contracts
• Returned checks or NSF transactions
• Breaches of personal or corporate guarantees
• Enforcement of out-of-state judgments (domesticated in Mississippi)

Our goal is always the same: recover your funds efficiently, protect your business relationships where possible, and minimize the financial impact of non-payment. With deep roots in Mississippi’s legal and business communities, Rushing & Guice is trusted by creditors across the state to deliver legal solutions that get results.

Why use a commercial collection lawyer in Mississippi?

If you’re wondering why you should enlist the services of a commercial collection lawyer, consider the following insights:

When a commercial collection agency steps in, it sends a powerful signal to businesses and consumers, underscoring the seriousness of your outstanding invoices. In Mississippi, businesses, like individuals, have credit scores, and the involvement of a commercial collection agency can impact their future loan prospects.

At Rushing & Guice, PLLC, we distinguish ourselves by adopting a distinctive approach compared to traditional commercial debt collection agencies. Our commitment to a no-complaint policy is rooted in the belief that serving our clients effectively means safeguarding your business relationships. We understand that while you need commercial collection services to maintain cash flow and cover operational expenses, this shouldn’t come at the cost of compromising valuable business connections.

Choosing a commercial collection lawyer in Mississippi, especially from Rushing & Guice, PLLC, means selecting a partner who not only prioritizes recovering your dues but also values the preservation of your business relationships.

William L. Guice III, is an expert on debt collection, a co-author of an important article on collections, and has even testified before the United States Senate while Congress was considering the Federal Debt Recovery Act of 1985. He is renowned. Rushing & Guice has done collections work for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, including its foreclosures, and maintains the highest standards in this often difficult and highly regulated area of law.

Effective collections require investigative staff to find assets, paralegals to administer the claims, and lawyers to demand payment and file suit, if necessary. Rushing & Guice has the staff to provide professional services not only to our local clients, but to those clients residing throughout Mississippi and the United States.

Statute of Limitations on Commercial Debt Collection in Mississippi

In Mississippi, the statute of limitations plays a critical role in commercial debt collection. Creditors and debtors alike must be aware of these time limits, as they determine whether a debt can be legally enforced through the courts.

Under Mississippi Code Ann. § 15-1-29, the statute of limitations for most written contracts—including commercial debts—is three years from the date of default or the last payment made. Once this time period has passed, the creditor may be legally barred from obtaining a judgment unless the debtor fails to raise the statute of limitations as a defense.

Why Timing Matters in Mississippi Debt Collection

• Expired Debts: If a creditor files a lawsuit after the three-year period, the debtor can raise the expired statute of limitations as a complete defense. If properly asserted, the case will likely be dismissed.
• Restarting the Clock: Even a small payment or written acknowledgment of the debt can potentially restart the statute of limitations. That’s why debt collectors may try to persuade debtors to make a partial payment.
• Debtor’s Obligation to Raise the Defense: Mississippi courts won’t automatically dismiss time-barred debt lawsuits. If a debtor does not assert the statute of limitations as a defense, the court may still grant a judgment to the creditor—even if the claim is technically expired.
• FDCPA Violations: Attempting to collect a time-barred debt—especially through litigation—may violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), giving the debtor grounds for a separate legal claim.

Don’t Let Time-Barred Debts Turn Into Judgments

Under Mississippi Code Ann. § 15-1-3, debts not pursued within the legal timeframe are considered extinguished. However, some collectors may still initiate lawsuits hoping the debtor doesn’t respond or fails to raise the appropriate defenses.

Whether you’re a creditor looking to enforce a valid debt or a business owner facing an unexpected lawsuit, it’s essential to work with an experienced Mississippi debt collection attorney. At Rushing & Guice, we help clients navigate the statute of limitations, assert or defend claims appropriately, and avoid costly legal missteps.

What Does a Debt Collection Case Involve in Mississippi?

Debt can be incurred in any kind of retail or commercial transaction. Uncollected debt compounds the cost of doing business, robbing companies of needed funding and distracting their staff from day-to-day business. Businesses need to develop internal structures that facilitate rapid receipt of payment for services and products to maintain their business relationships and preserve working capital. Such internal processes begin with friendly payment reminders that escalate on a schedule to overdue payment reminders, final notice, direct contact with the debtor, and finally a formal letter of demand. When there is no repayment, lawyers get involved.

Rushing & Guice’s collections practice includes:

• Commercial collections – involve debts incurred by businesses engaged with other businesses. We help our clients with collection of commercial debt, secured and unsecured, for small and large businesses, contractors, subcontractors, banks, lenders, commercial landlords, and equipment lessors.
• Retail collections – include debts incurred by individuals with businesses for products or services purchased and left unpaid. American consumers have amassed $15.24 trillion in debt. The highest category of debt is home mortgages, followed by student loans. Retail debt might involve credit cards, medical bills, automobile loans, personal loans, business, student loans, and even unpaid utility and cell phone bills. Our lawyers help with collection of consumer debt, secured and unsecured, for banks, savings and loans, credit unions, retail establishments, and other lenders.
• Construction collections – encompass debts incurred during the course of construction, with moneys owed to the general contractor, subcontractors, materials vendors, and staffing. At Rushing & Guice, our lawyers are experienced in filing and enforcement of mechanic’s lien claims and labor and material payment bond claims.
• Replevins – are legal actions to recover property wrongfully taken or held by a defendant. In the world of debt collections, replevins involve repossession and recovery of collateral from defaulting debtors for lessors and other secured creditors.
• Litigation – prosecution of debt collection in civil actions in state and federal courts and before alternative dispute resolution forums (arbitration, mediation) and defense against debtor counterclaims.

International Association of Commercial Collectors, Inc. (IACC) Membership

Rushing & Guice is the only Mississippi law firm that is a member of the IACC, the trade association that provides education and leadership in the field of debt collection. The IACC provides an ethical framework for the collection industry and offers educational programs to promote a fair and just approach to debt and its repayment. IACC members must abide by a Code of Ethics that infuses their business operations. For example, when dealing with debtors, each IACC member is held to standards of conduct:

• IACC members must show due consideration, including but not limited to the avoidance of harassment by all means of communication.
• Avoid deceptive practices, statements, and materials.
• Respond to disputes in a reasonable and prompt manner.
• If the debtor states that he is represented by an attorney and identifies that counsel, the agency shall deal directly with the attorney.

Rushing & Guice’s membership in the IACC assures our clients that the methods used to collect any debt conform to the highest ethical and industry standards.

Rushing & Guice, P.L.L.C: Mississippi Commercial Collection Lawyers

At Rushing & Guice, Mississippi’s only member of the International Association of Commercial Collectors, our experienced commercial collection attorneys know what it takes to obtain payment on outstanding debts and reduce receivables for our clients. Call us at (228) 374-2313 or fill out our online form to arrange for a limited initial consultation. We look forward to hearing from you, and look forward to the opportunity to serve as your attorneys.