Never Make Assumptions. When performing your first debt collection call, it is vital to clarify if the debt hasn’t been paid already. Don’t push the customer away as there might be a possibility of doing business with them again in the future. The debt might not be debt at all and could have been an accounting error and no collection is actually required. At this point, you should approach carefully with your words and tone. Hear the customer out and be sure to accurately and carefully document the conversation.