10 Debt Collection Truths.

 

debt collection attorney florida

The Phone Is still the most Productive Debt Collection Tool

Marcadis Singer frequently works with it’s creditors on the front end, helping them to improve their debt collection process.  The debts that are truly hard to collect are the debts that should end up in the hands of a debt collection attorney.   Most debts can be well taken care of by the original creditor, if they have been appropriately trained in how to legally collect a debt and stay out of trouble, or by a debt collection agency.  These tips and truths will help guide you in your debt collection efforts, and frankly are not much different than how we run our own debt collection legal practice.

 

  1. The longer an account is past due, the harder the balance is to collect
  2. The telephone is the most effective debt collection tool/technique
  3. The longer you wait before making that first collection call, the more likely your customer is to think of you as complacent about collections
  4. Slow payments hurt both the buyer and the seller. The seller’s cash flow is damaged, and the buyer’s reputation and ability to purchase more on open account terms is damaged
  5. A courteous, firm and professional collection process is something that most customers will respect – and it will be a deterrent to delinquent payments
  6. Always avoid using form letters. Personalize dunning notices by merging your mailing list with your account contact name field so your letter is sent to a specific person
  7. Debt collectors usually hold onto problem accounts for too long before referring them to their managers. This mistake should be corrected
  8. The overwhelming majority of deductions are the result of errors made by the seller… so finding and correcting these internal problems should be one of the credit department’s top priorities
  9. Always ask for and expect a commitment for payment of the entire past due balance.
  10. Recognize that any call that does not result in a payment commitment [including collection calls in which you have to leave a voice mail message for accounts payable] must be considered as at best under-productive and at worst unproductive. Always try to speak to someone who can make and keep a payment commitment.