Glossary

an account includes a debt record and demographic records, and may include a bankruptcy record, a legal record, a dispute record, etc. (in other words, an account in ACE is not synonymous with a debt)

Account Batches are used to double-check and confirm the accuracy of accounts assigned per batch.

are used within ACE to designate accounts for specific actions or processes. These include:

• Credit Reporting: Identifying accounts to be included in credit reporting.
• Dialer Campaigns: Flagging accounts to be sent to a dialer vendor for dialing campaigns.
• Enrichment: Marking accounts for data enrichment processes.
• General Workflow: Designating accounts for various workflow including reports.

a tool in the ACE application used to take one or more actions against accounts selected and returned using logic block criteria 

debt id, unique account identifier in ACE

transactions entered or loaded to the account

web-based debt collections software developed by InterProse

Automated Clearing House network - electronic payment processing, typically associated with a checking account

manual or automated behavior taking place in a collections application

a macro feature in collections applications used to call one or more other actions

Action Paths are containers of Flow Actions that represents steps to be followed in response to a Trigger, Job, or Action Code being initiated, defining the workflow for automated processes.

It is also possible for the flow actions within an Action Path to result in other triggers that initiate additional Action Paths.

is used when a balance needs to be adjusted or if a fee needs to be added to any buckets

ACE application manager, primary customer contact for ACE support, portal

staff responsible for collections work; synonymous with collector

Application Program Interface (API)
a set of routines, protocols and tools relating to data interaction between applications

system, platform, portal (deprecated); ACE is the InterProse application the customer uses

new accounts, synonymous with placement

the date a new account was received (and loaded) for collection work

Authorize.net 

credit and debit card payment gateway vendor

as defined in RFC-6750, is a type of access token used for authentication and authorization in API requests. It serves as proof of identity and access rights, typically included in the HTTP Authorization header using the Bearer scheme. The token grants access to protected resources but does not have inherent security properties and relies on the security mechanisms provided by the authorization server.

a feature in ACE to test user profiles, verify changes, and ensure that the user will be able to access information and perform actions as expected without compromising the integrity of the user's account

a tool to prevent/block a payment from appearing on an invoice

refers to a type of data that can be either True or False

one or more value types, when combined, equal to the total owing balance on an account; for example, common buckets are principal, fees, and interest

a group of accounts for the same consumer; the primary demographic identified for accounts grouped together should be the same person or entity

A sub group of accounts within a bundle. Bundle groups are helpful for executing workflow for accounts which should be treated the same

determines how the spreader will distribute payments among bundled accounts

the process of grouping accounts together belonging to the same consumer

is a financial transaction in which a customer disputes a charge made to their account and requests a refund from the merchant or bank that processed the payment. This can occur for a variety of reasons, including unauthorized transactions, fraudulent activity, or disputes over the quality or delivery of goods or services.

original credit grantor, property, division, property management company, hospital, portfolio

refers to the ability for clients to access specific features and information within the ACE system, such as reports, invoices, and a documents folder for managing documents. 

Admins can control and customize this access through the Client Access User Interface in Setup, allowing clients to view and interact with relevant data based on their needs.

a client user in ACE who can login to access account data the customer is collecting on for the client; access may include the ability to run or pick up reports, deliver files, view accounts, alter accounts and/or post payments

unique account identifier by client; typically provided by the client to the customer to identify accounts; this number can be alphanumeric and may not be unique across the customer's ACE application

fee, commission amount

involves creating a duplicate copy of an existing profile, allowing administrators to replicate its structure and settings while making necessary modifications for a new user

The Commission Tax feature in ACE allows collection companies to calculate and reflect the sales tax owed on the commissions they receive. There are two types of commission rates available: static and conditional.

• Static rates can be set up to apply to all payments taken on accounts for a specific client.
• Conditional rates can be set up based on the state and associated with the primary demographics address on accounts.

may refer to our customer's company, a client's company, a consumer's company, or a third party vendor's company

The Company Profile section is where you will add your company information. When generating letters, the information used in them will be sourced from this screen. 

Setup-Company Profile

synonymous with debtor

used to return a payment to the consumer (secure via Credit Card or ACH transaction; manual mixed like check or cash - customer can generate a check to send to the payment back to the consumer) - see "Reverse" which is strictly an accounting fix at the account level and does not return funds to the consumer

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a language for specifying how things look on screens, like text, images, and their layout. While often linked to websites, it's also useful for apps, software interfaces, and documents. Its main goal is to separate design from content, making it easier to handle how things appear.

refers to how monetary values are presented, which can be divided into two types:

• implicit decimal (e.g. 3256 in a data file being imported will be loaded via ETL 32.56) 
•  explicit decimal (e.g. 32.56 in a data file being imported will be loaded via ETL as 32.56)

collection entity or company using the ACE application, agency (deprecated), InterProse's customer

balance a customer owes to InterProse

define which accounts the user will be able to access; it is common to give agent users access to accounts for all clients. Users can be limited to specific clients if desired. 

the amount owed on an account

individual or commercial entity responsible for a debt

a tool to delay a payment from appearing on an invoice until the next invoice cycle-perhaps to allow the particular payment more time to clear

a person or entity associated with an account along with associated demographic data such as social security number, drivers license and date of birth

 an address associated with an account

an email address associated with an account

a phone number associated with an account

DomainKeys Identified Mail is an email authentication method that adds a digital signature to outgoing emails. It verifies the integrity and authenticity of emails, ensuring they were not altered during transit and originated from the claimed sender's domain.

Domain- based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance is an email security standard that enables domain owners to monitor and control email sent using their domain.

 It also instructs email receivers, such as Gmail, to either approve, quarantine, or reject emails that aren't from a trusted source. 

Domain Name System is like the Internet's phonebook. It translates domain names, such as google.com or amazon.com, into the corresponding IP addresses that web browsers use to access online resources.

Electronic Funds Transfer - electronic transfer of money from one bank account to another

use of third party provided data to consider adding, updating or removing existing data associated with collections accounts

an individual, team, organization, vendor, software application or hardware

ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) is a data integration process that extracts data from a source (files), transforms it (formats), and loads it into a new source (ACE).

is reusable for the same file format for loading accounts. The profile can be connected to a job which can be put on a schedule.

is a reusable configuration designed for loading data with the same file format. The profiles can be associated with a job and scheduled to automate the loading process.

A favicon is a small icon that represents a website and appears in the browser's tab or bookmark bar, helping users easily identify and access the site.

Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) - a federal law that provides limitations on what debt collectors can do when collecting certain types of debt

an enhancement to a module in ACE

item, option, a placeholder where data will be filled in (typed or selected from a list)

is a secure cloud based storage system accessible only within ACE.

(Firsts) account placements which have never been in collections

provide the ability to import account data or client data without a native home in ACE. 

Forms are flexible in the following ways:

• Debt forms can be included on the account page or can stand alone from the account sidebar on the left
• Debt forms that are standalone may be single instance or multi-instance
• Client forms can be included on the client profile page

Please reach out to support if you have questions about form customization or transaction forms. 

A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your articles or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. Your glossary only needs to include terms that your reader may not be familiar with, and it’s intended to enhance their understanding of your work. Glossaries are not mandatory, but if you use a lot of technical or field-specific terms, it may improve readability to add one.

responsible for a debt - may be on behalf of someone else

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 which includes standards for the electronic exchange, privacy and security of health information

first page users see after they log into ACE

In Ace, the Identifier Field is a unique value or combination of values used to identify a record. Most often users choose to name the Identifier and Label fields the same.

An Include Form is included as a section on the account page. 

See Form definition for more information.

often used to identify more than one “instance” of the ACE application that is open - each instance should be open in a different browser

method allowing connectivity or sharing of data between ACE and a third party vendor

API (Application Programming Interface) or Batch File used for integration

Interprose builds, delivers, upgrades, and supports ACE, the most advanced web-based debt recovery software on the market today

Itemization Transaction represent owing and received adjustments the client applied to the account between the itemization date and the assignment date

Interactive voice response - an automated attendant plus voice recognition where consumers have the option option of responding by pressing the keypad or by speaking words or short phrases - can include the management of some payment options

JavaScript Object Notation (JSON)  is a lightweight data format used for structured data interchange. It uses key-value pairs and supports objects, arrays, strings, numbers, booleans, and null values. JSON is widely used for transmitting data between different parts of a software system or between a server and a web application. It offers simplicity, readability, and compatibility with multiple programming languages.

In ACE, the label field (input field) allows a user to define the purpose of the element and how to use it.

 The "Letter Data Source" is a specific spreadsheet that can be downloaded from ACE via Help → Layout → Letter Data Source. This spreadsheet contains tables and fields that act as placeholders for dynamically inserting information from ACE into LibreOffice documents, text messages, and emails.

a free, open source office suite of applications; ACE local print and ELS (Electronic Letter Service) email letter templates are written using the LibreOffice Writer word processor

a state in which a collection agency can conduct collections activities; licensing requirements vary by state; a state in which the agency has no license may be referred to as a closed state

In ACE, Logic Blocks allow a user to return a specific group of accounts based on stored field values associated with accounts. Once a Logic Block has been built, it can be stored and available for future use as follows:

• as a report (run the logic block and export)
• in a job (action path workflow)
• in an action path (logic block limitation for parts of the action path)
• in the account manager (one time actions against the group of accounts)

options displayed at the top of account pages in ACE

the gray Menu Bar contains drop-down menus and sub-menu links to navigate the system. The viewable menus sub-menus are specific to the users’ role, as defined by your ACE administrator. It is always present, no matter where you are in ACE

 when a new account is added to a bundle of accounts data may be merged up to the primary account based on bundle merge settings if the data item is not already populated for the primary account

Metro2 or Metro 2 is a data specification created by the Consumer Data Industry Association for credit reporting data furnishers to report consumers' credit history information to major credit bureaus electronically and in a standardized format

an organized set of features in ACE; for example, "legal module," "forwarding module," "bankruptcy module"

A Multi-instance Form is accessible from the account sidebar and can store more than one record of the same type of information associated with a single account.

See Form definition for additional information.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a security option that requires users to enter more information than just a password. In ACE the additional information is a 6 digit code that is provided by a key generator.

screen where users have access to a variety of tabs and panels related to collections, goals, and recent accounts. The different panels only show information related to that user

National Change of Address; associated with the United States Postal Service NCOALink product database

In company news you can add a message to your team. This can be monthly collection stats or an an inspiring note.

Setup-News

primary place for a lot of quick actions that need to be taken on an account. You can post a note, create or clear important notes, initiate an action code, and enter a promise payment

Non-Sufficient Funds

define which side of the balance sheet the transaction is applied to. 

• Owing-Positive amount to the owing operator increase the balance, while a negative amount to the owing operator decreases the balance.
• Received-Positive amount to the received operator decreases the current balance, while a negative amount to the received operator increases the balance.
• Overpayment- Positive amount to the overpayment operator decreases the current balance, while a negative amount increases the current balance.

 if the original creditor related to the account’s debt is not the client, the original creditor can be loaded to and/or stored in the ACE account original creditor fields (name, number, phone number and address)

When a payment is greater then the current balance, an overpayment will spread in one of the two following places.

1. OverPayment Bucket: It is best practice to spread overpayments to this bucket.

2. Principal OverPayment: This is a rarely used overpayment spread method that requires the permission OVERPAYMENT_OPERATOR to be applied to a user's permission roles.

a nationwide service that provides online access to United States bankruptcy court records

the entire amount received from the consumer and posted or entered to the account

Every transaction or payment is posted to a batch in ACE.

If you have multiple payment-receiving locations, this functionality enables you to distinguish the location where payments have been received. 

Setup-Transactions-Payment Batch Locations

Payment destinations consist of Manual Mixed Payments and Secure Payments.

• Manual Mixed Payment Destinations require agencies to manually open, close and deposit batches.
• Secure Payment Destination automatically handle batch opening, closing, and depositing.

enable secure payments, such as credit card or ACH information, to be saved on the plan, with payments automatically drawn at the agreed frequency without the need for re-entering data

Payment Spreaders determine the way a payment is spread across buckets and bundled accounts.

payments remain in a pending status until the batch is deposited

help to define what areas in the ACE application a user is able to access and what actions they can take within those areas.

accounts a client places with a customer (inside of ACE "assignment" is used to refer to placements; for example, a new placement account has an "assignment date"

used to refer to a primary component where more than one of the components may exist in ACE; examples include

• Primary account and bundle member accounts
• Primary client and sub clients
• Primary agent and secondary agent
• Primary demographic and other demographics (default demographic labels are Primary, Patient, CoMaker, Spouse, Business, and Misc)
• Master (deprecated)

a client, user or invoice record in ACE

involve an agreement between a debtor and a creditor to make regular payments. If a payment is made with the exact promise amount by the promise date, the promise is considered fulfilled. However, if the payment falls short, the promise is broken, and automatic actions may be applied to the account.

when a change is made on the primary account in a bundle of accounts the change will be pushed down to all other bundle members if the change is identified in bundle propagation settings

 In ETL processes, the quote character and the single quote character are often used for the same purpose to refer to the character used to delimit strings.

However, strictly speaking, a "quote character" can refer to any character used to delimit a string, including both single and double quote characters. In contrast, a "single quote character" specifically refers to the character ' used to delimit strings.

the receiver set on a transaction batch identifies who received the payment and dictates how the payment is managed in ACE for invoice and remittance purposes:

• Owner (customer received the payment from the consumer)
• Direct (customer's client received the payment from the consumer)
• Forward (a forward agency received the payment from the consumer) 
• Legal (an attorney received the payment from the consumer)

unique account identifier; typically associated with software a customer is converting from

used to identify different accounts equally responsible for the same debt

is an accounting fix that unties money from a transaction so that it can be moved within the system. 

Reversals cannot be undone. 

It is highly recommended to consult with support before performing a reversal.

strictly an accounting fix at the account level and does not return funds to the consumer - see "Credit" definition for the method to return a payment to a consumer

a term used to indicate the correct individual (responsible for the account) has been contacted

a feature that allows the removal of accounts from your ACE application. 

Accounts with transaction history cannot be rolled back.

horizontal portion of information referenced in lists

salesman (deprecated), sales associate, individual who may receive a specific percentage commission for payments received on referred client accounts

SCIM manages user accounts and access to systems. It automates adding or removing users, making it easier to manage user identities across multiple systems.

(Seconds) - account placements which have been in collections prior with another agency. 

identifies an additional agent who will share in the credit for working an account

distinct area on a page

time frame associated with a user being logged in and using an application

Secure File Transfer Protocol Client - SFTP Client applications provide a means to connect to SFTP sites and test SFTP file transfer procedures; two examples are WinSCP and FileZilla

options displayed on the left side of pages in ACE contains links to navigate the system; links listed on the sidebar are relevant to the current screen the user is at and is configured by the ACE administrator

Service-level Agreement - defines minimum agreed upon service quality and availability

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol is the standard protocol for sending and receiving emails. it allows email servers to communicate and transfer messages between them.

the time period when fresh account data will be loaded into ACE and workflow for those accounts will continue in parallel in your current system and ACE to verify consistent behavior and outcomes

a software program used to make phone calls with VoIP

Sender Policy Framework is an email authentication standard that helps detect forged sender addresses, protecting both senders and recipients from spam, spoofing, and phishing attempts

SQL (Structured Query Language) is a powerful data reference language used for managing relational databases. Tables in SQL have interlinked unique identifying keys and contain multiple data fields (columns) and rows. 

Available in all ETL Profiles. 

The SSN verification field evaluates incoming social security numbers for validity. It checks for SSNs that are too short/long, contain invalid character strings or include invalid characters. 

If an SSN is invalid, the field is cleared, and an error is logged in the ETL job log. Invalid numbers are stored in the original demographic for reference. 

A Standalone Form is accessible from the account sidebar.

See Form definition for more information.

are used to setup workflow around a set of status codes that might trigger similar behavior inside of ACE

represent the state of an account, such ACT (active) or DISPUTE -in ACE, status codes may be used to develop workflow

menu options

section displays below the blue Utility bar and contains a summary of the most important account information (as determined by your ACE administrator)

an ACE integrated dialer vendor

a company doing work for the customer; for example, a dialer vendor, a letter vendor, an enrichment vendor, a credit bureau, etc.

blue toolbar, utility bar (deprecated)

a monetary amount applied to a bucket and operator related to an account; a transactions may be associated with a payment or an adjustment to account values

define which type of transaction that is applied:

• Payment
• NSF
• Adjustment
• Credit
• Reversal
• Assigned
• Cancelled
• Settled
• Reactivate
• Return

an event that initiates an Action Path

Ex: if a deceased record is created and the onAfterDeceasedInsert Trigger is active, the Action Path associated with the Trigger will be initiated.

it is possible for the flow actions in one Action Path to result in other Triggers that initiate other Action Paths.

Ex: if the Action Path associated with the onAfterDeceasedInsert Trigger sets the status code of an account to "DEC", the onAfterStatusCodeGroupChange trigger may initiate another Action Path

a Trust account in ACE is used to establish a record that mirrors bulk payments deposited into a bank account, which are subsequently invoiced for remittance to clients. 

is a security process that requires individuals to provide two or more different methods of verifying their identity before gaining access to a system, application, or account. This approach enhances security by adding layers of protection beyond just a password, making unauthorized access more difficult.

is a method to correct the way a payment was spread.

It is highly recommended that you consult with support before un-spreading a payment.

Uniform Resource Locator - a web page address

URL encoding, also known as percent-encoding is a process of encoding information in a URL to ensure proper transmission and interpretation. It replaces reserved characters, spaces, and special characters with their hexadecimal equivalents. 

Encoding maintains uniformity, prevents conflicts, and ensures compatibility of URLS across different systems. URL encoding guarantees data integrity and eliminates parsing errors during transmission, resulting in reliable and error-free web interactions. 

in ACE, all users are typed as "User," "Client Access," or "Admin"; a user may be an agent but not all users in ACE will necessarily be agents

The user commission is defined in ACE as the commission an agent receives on payments that are collected in ACE. 

User commissions can be setup by client commission (agency portion) or the entire transaction.

allow companies to arrange the way they want their users to view the account page and what type of data they want their users to view in the summary section of an account. 

Setup-User Interface

• Account Summary
• Account View
• Client Access

The Blue Utility Bar is just below the menu screen and contains frequently accessed features such as search and worklists. It is always present, no matter where you are in ACE

provides the agency the ability to review the invoice before proceeding to next steps

utilized to rectify an incorrectly posted payment in an open batch. A record will be added to the account indicating that a payment was voided.

In the case where multiple payments within a batch have been posted incorrectly, voiding the batch is an option.

Voice over Internet Protocol - a method and group of technologies for the delivery of voice communications through a soft phone or connected telephone hardware

a character that can be used in place of unknown characters for search and mask options in ACE - the preferred wild card for use in ACE is the asterisk (*)

any feature in a collections application where changes to an account may result in workflow automatically occurring

A queue of accounts that are waiting to be worked; similar to the term desk in other applications

Dynamic: Maintains a traditional sorting order that automatically updates based on user-defined criteria, with the primary sorting being by the assigned date.

Static: Order remains fixed unless rebuilt; altering account values won't automatically change their position, requiring manual adjustments to the order.

Pool: designed to be worked by multiple agents at a time

User: designed to be worked by a specific user (admins will have access)

Storage: designed to store accounts you do not wished to be worked

Review: designed to allow admins to make adjustments on accounts and not interrupt the workflow