Collections and Rent Collections Agencies?

[Susan O.]

Does anyone recomend a 

Rent recovery service or collections service that will go after a tenant who doesn't pay rent or skips out on the rent and leaves.

I have their social etc. and they owe me 3 months of rent about $4500 and trashed the place.  I don't have a judgement

Do you have to hire a lawyer if the tenant has already Vacated?  And can I just have a collection service go after the tenant.  there's some on google that just report tot hem

Anyoe have recommendations for getting tenant to first talk to you? Like that report ot the 3 credit agencies and send letters for you?

OR

a full service collection agency that will go after the tenant? Contingency based that you guys have used in past or recommend?