 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
Our Subscribers Say...
I think Credit Today is fantastic. You cover many practical topics in the credit field that I use regularly. Just one recent example—a conversation on the ListServ about preferential payments—gave me tips that I used in an actual case. The specific information I picked up from this one discussion saved me $10,000, enough to cover my membership for many years!
- Steve Savino
Manager of Credit & Collections, ASSA Abloy Americas Division, New Haven, CT
Credit Today's Resource Directory and their online e-mail forum (ListServ) provide information on almost any credit-related topic you can think of. It is a great way to exchange information with other credit professionals. As the saying goes, "You don't know what you don't know."
- Scott Goen,
Credit Manager, Big Lots Stores, Inc., Wholesale Division
"We've recently started using the ListServ tool within Credit Today. This is phenomenal and powerful forum for gaining immediate feedback, ideas, and suggestions, relative to any credit topic under the sun, all in a real-time e-mail format."
-Javier Vela, Senior Credit Manager, Global Credit Services, JDA Software Group Inc.
"Being a part of the Credit Today online community is like having the expertise of hundreds of credit managers at your fingertips. These credit execs are willing to help you solve topical business issues as they arise. In the current environment of ever increasing competing priorities which reduce our opportunities to meet peers out of the office face-to-face, this is the most valuable tool you can have on your desktop! It's important that we have a mechanism to reach out to our counterparts quickly to exchange knowledge as well as to stay on top of industry trends."
- Victoria Artis, Director of Customer Financial Services, Pfizer, Inc.
"Over the last 10 years I've seen Credit Today evolve from a monthly credit publication into a quality source of information and guidance for the B2B credit community. The website, with its user friendly form downloads, will take you from examples of new account credit applications to bankruptcy forms and everything in between.
The Credit Today ListServ has become the pre-imminent online forum, providing an opportunity for discussion and comments (and occasional humor) from an impressive list of credit professionals."
David Dungan, Director of Credit
Justin Brands, Inc. (A Berkshire Hathaway company)
Fort Worth, Texas
"There are numerous credit periodicals available to the credit professional today. How good is Credit Today? Is it relevant? I always have to read it late, or online because my credit analysts want to read it the minute it comes in. When my staff wants to read a publication before I have a chance to read it then something is working in that publication. We have cancelled our other subscriptions. When you have the best you do not need the rest."
Ron Woods
Corporate Credit Manager-World Wide
Thales Navigation, Inc.
"The newsletter, coupled with the website and the ListServ, are to us, more valuable than any other credit publication, bar none. I try to use at least one article out of each newsletter for departmental training/discussion sessions."
D. Mark Constantine
Corporate Credit Mgr
Fulton Paper Company
"I love Credit Today and read every issue cover to cover. For me, the greatest perk of a subscription is ListServ. I believe Credit Today's ListServ members may be the most knowledgeable Credit brain trust in existence today. I have saved and categorized hundreds of contributions on a wide variety of topics which I refer to often. It's an easy and cost effective way to network and learn."
Doug M. Thomas
Kimberly-Clark Customer Financial Services |
|
|
 |
OHADA Harmonizes Commercial Laws in Africa
May 27, 2009, By Riki-Lee Ritz
The following article originally appeared in the May 2009 issue of ABC-Amega's free client newsletter, "Credit-to-Cash Advisor". The Organization for Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) was founded in 1993 by several West and Central African countries with the objective of bringing consistency to commercial law among its member states. Prior to the formation of OHADA, the arbitrary nature of commercial law in these African states frustrated many international companies attempting to do business there.
To date, sixteen countries are OHADA members:
| Benin |
Guinea |
| Burkina Faso |
Guinea Bissau |
| Cameroon |
Ivory Coast |
| Central African Republic |
Mali |
| Chad |
Niger |
| Comoros |
Senegal |
| Congo |
Togo |
| Equatorial Guinea |
Democratic Republic of Congo* |
| Gabon |
*membership pending |
Most of the members are Francophone; therefore, the implemented laws and codes are based on French commercial law. However, since OHADA is actively seeking to extend membership to all sub-Saharan African nations, the influence of French law is expected to transform into a blend of other legal systems.
In order to encourage international companies to invest and seek business opportunities in Africa, the OHADA treaty has updated and harmonized the commercial codes and legal systems of member countries. For creditors doing business in OHADA member states, the treaty also provides security for new sales initiatives and for transactions gone wrong.
The OHADA treaty consists of several Uniform Commercial Acts in effect in all member nations. These codes govern commercial and corporate law, debt recovery, bankruptcy and arbitration laws, as well as enforcement of these laws. Acts covering such areas as competition and labor law are expected to be added in the future. The treaty's scope is solely commercial and does not extend to criminal law.
Uniform Act on General Commercial Law
All businesses registered within OHADA member states are subject to the provisions of this act, which provides a clear and much needed definition of commerce. Prior to this act, "commerce" was defined differently in each country. The Uniform Act on General Commercial Law has defined commerce in all member countries as the sale, purchase, or rental of movable and immovable goods, manufacturing, banking, telecommunications, and stock transactions. This act also provides for regulation of retentions of title.
Uniform Act on Debt Collection Procedures
The Uniform Act on Debt Collection Procedures brings uniformity to legal remedies sought by creditors seeking judgment against a debtor. A creditor may seek an "Injunction to Pay," similar to a summary judgment in the US and other Common Law systems. The creditor files for the injunction by providing the court with documentation to support their entire claim. Should the documents support the injunction, the court will award judgment and grants a writ of execution enforceable in all of the OHADA member states. The act also provides for recovery of court costs and legally permissible interest, as well as seizure of goods.
Uniform Act on Bankruptcy
The legislation governing bankruptcy places weight on reaching broad settlements between debtors and creditors to prevent liquidation of companies. The restructuring of bankrupt companies is also regulated under this act. Bankruptcy proceedings in most of Africa are the exception and not the norm, as many companies simply close their doors leaving no recourse to creditors.
*****
We thank ABC-Amega Inc. for the above information, which was originally published in their client newsletter "Credit-to-Cash Advisor". ABC-Amega Inc. provides 1st and 3rd party commercial collection services since 1929, and collecting in more than 200 countries worldwide. For further information, contact info@abc-amega.com.
Riki-Lee Ritz received a B.A. in French language and literature and is a bilingual senior collector and Asst. VP in the international department at ABC-Amega. She manages the international department, as well as handling claims in Europe and francophone countries in Africa and the Caribbean.
| |
|
 |
Credit Groups 2012
Wonder What the ROI is on Credit Groups?
Find out here...
It's been 4 years since our original ground-breaking survey on credit groups and we're revisiting this most important topic. Among other topics, we're investigating:
- What are the top services being offered by credit groups
- How much credit groups cost
- What the value of credit group services is
- What the value of credit group services is in comparison to credit reporting services
- How data is submitted
- What percentage of credit groups reveal terms
- What percentage of credit groups share data outside the credit group
And much more...
Click here to participate!
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
May 2012
|
|
| S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Webinars