COVID-19 has changed how we live and do business. COVID-19 has forced us to learn how to do things differently. Somethings will be temporary while others will stay.

BILLING:
One Change is to our Billing System. On June 19, 2020, we started sending statements via e-mail and we are eliminating printed statements. We will note our first e-mail statements had the wrong due date. The correct due date is June 29, 2020.

The June e-mail statements and all future statements will be sent from billing@heisler.org. Please ensure this email address does not end up in your spam (junk) folder. We recommend you set up a folder for all emails that come from an e-mail address ending in @heisler.org.

Also, a new change is when clients desired to pay their bill using a credit or debit card, there use to be a 5% fee. That fee has been eliminated when you click the link in the billing e-mail. Also added is an e-check option, also there is no fee for this option when clicking the payment link in the billing e-mail.

We expect to continue using e-mail billing and making these great new free payment option available even when COVID-19 is no longer an issue. This move to e-mail billing is saving our firm, and we have been able to pass this saving to our clients that use the new payment options as there is no longer a fee when clicking on the payment link to use your credit and debit cards. Another advantage for clients is if your card is tied to a rewards program, you can earn miles/points with your credit card company.

DOCUMENT DELIVERY:
Since COVID-19 hit our nation, we have noticed a delay in the delivery of mail using the U.S.P.S. This delay in some cases is not an issue, but in others, it has forced us to send documents to clients using U.S.P.S. Priority Mail and Federal Express. Both of these options result in higher legal costs for clients.

We knew there had to be a less expense and faster way to get documents to our clients, and we found it. How the new system works, is when we have documents for you, we email you a link to download the document in a pdf format. For security reasons, the links will be good for 30 days. Clients should download the pdf and store (or print) it as soon as possible. The alert emails will come from no-reply@dropbox.com. Please ensure this email address does not end up in your spam (junk) folder. We recommend you set up a folder for all emails that come from this e-mail address. After 30 days, the links will be removed.

The testing phase of this new service will start on July 1, 2020. This means during testing you could get something via U.S.P.S and others via the link that will be emailed to you. Later this year, this will be our standard delivery method. This new method comes to savings to our firm, and again we are passing those savings to our clients. This will mean less (or no) postage fees being added to your bill. One more advantage to clients is that clients no longer need to wait days for documents as they will become available within hours, not days because of the postal system.

We are also investigating ways to deliver documents to non-clients using this technology, but due to court rule requirements, mail may still need to be used for some time so we comply with the court rules.

We expect to continue using this new document delivery system even after COVID-19 is no longer an issue.

VIDEO / PHONE APPOINTMENTS:
Prior to COVID-19, we offered face-to-face appointments, and in some cases, appointments via telephone. We have invested in technology that has allowed us to appear in court remotely (when allowed by the Judge). We are using the same equipment to now offer video conferencing.

Also new is when there are several people that need to be part of a conference (more than three people), we have a telephone conference system. It allows people to call in to a special number, enter a private password, and they are connected with everyone else in the telephone conference.

We expect to continue offering these tools even after COVID-19 is no longer an issue.

COVID-19:
We are getting closer to having people back in our office. The first step will be by appointment only. We are spending a great deal to ensure the health and safety of people that will be entering our buildings. We hope to start this process sometime in August 2021. For requirements to enter our building, click here for the latest what you will be required to do to enter our buildings.