Characteristics-of-A-Great-Debt-Collector

Characteristics of A Great Debt Collector

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Hi, my name is Adam Stewart, Debt Collection Expert and owner of Debt Recoveries Australia.

It’s another new year and I would like to share with you some of the things I have learnt over the years that make me a great debt collector. One of my most popular blogs was How To Be an Awesome Debt Collector. This time, I am going to drill down a little and let you know some secret characteristics of our top debt collectors.

So here are 5 characteristics of our top debt collectors:

1. Preparation

Good debt collectors will prepare before making that first contact with the debtor.

Debtor profiling is a great way to start. We use tools such as Caspar , CITECAcceleon , and TICA. These tools and of course, good old Google, allow you to build a profile of the debtor so that you have more of an awareness of the sort of person you are dealing with.

Knowledge is power and the more you know about your debtor before you pick up the phone, the better you will be able to negotiate a good deal. Check them out on social media. Find out what sort of suburb they live in? what sort of work they do? What sort of friends do they have? What do they do in their spare time?

There is also the usual research before you dial, such as knowing the invoice number, date, amount that is past due, how past due it is, the payment history, details of the order and if there were any disputed items. If the debtor disputes or attempts to refute payment, you will be fully prepared.

see also: 10 Credit control tasks you can do before outsourcing to your debt collector


    Having problems with your debt collection? Input your email below for free consultation!

    Call Debt Recoveries Australia on 1300 799 511 or email us at email@debtrecoveries.com.au

    For legal matters contact ADC Legal on 1300 799 820 or email at email@adclegal.com.au


    2. Aim for a Win- Win

    Understanding the negotiation process is a good start. You must think about what the debtor is going to get out of all of this. What does his/her “win” scenario look like? How will the debtor benefit from this business exchange?

    An example would be to point out the advantages of paying the debt, such as retaining their good credit rating, avoiding more fees due to legal action or saving them time by not being contacted again.

    Win-win means both parties feel like they have won something during the collection process. Great debt collectors help their customers or debtors try to solve problems and look for opportunities to make that possible.

    As debt collectors, we are careful not to give financial advice, however, we can make suggestions about how to manage finances and we can also educate our debtors on the advantages of paying the debt off quickly.

    3. Patience

    I have seen too many collectors try to go for the quick fix so they can get paid and move on to the next account. Great debt collectors know that patience is a virtue and that rushing the collection process often leads to not getting paid.

    Great debt collectors take time to gather information before contacting the debtor or customer, they think carefully about possible solutions and they realise that it may take a few calls to get to that win-win situation.

    4. Managing Your Emotions

    Sometimes, it is difficult not to get down or disheartened when you have called many debtors, only to get the voicemail, or hang ups, or worse, being yelled at. On top of all that, there are collections targets that need to met. This can put a lot of stress on you.

    It’s important to be able to keep an “even keel”. Try and keep your emotions in check, although I find it’s always a good negotiation skill to show the debtor some empathy for their predicament. Show them you feel for them, without going over the top. Empathise with their position and show them you are not a robot, that you have feelings too and that you understand what they are going through.

    The trick is to be able to do this on a consistent basis, without letting it all get to you from an emotional side of things. Not easy I know.

    5. Closing the Deal

    Great debt collectors will never forget to “close the deal”. It may not be on the first call and it may take several calls, but this must always be front of mind, during all the negotiations- how do we close this deal?

    This is where good listening skills come into play. At some stage during your conversation with your debtor, they may simply change from disputing the debt, to simply agreeing to pay. If you are not listening, you may miss this change.

    This is where you need to close the deal- get the promise to pay. Make sure you get a definite amount of payment, time of payment and method of payment. Confirm all these details with the debtor and make sure they also understand the terms of payment.

     

    Being a great debt collector is a skill that takes time, effort, and energy but it can be a rewarding job. When you think about it, good debt collectors are masters of critical thinking and fixing bad or uncomfortable situations. I hope these tips help you. Happy collecting!

     

    Debt Recoveries Australia is the expert at recovering your outstanding debts without the drama. For more information, email us at email@debtrecoveries.com.au or call 1300 799 511. Tell us your problems on Skype at “debtrecoveries”.

    free-consult-debt recovery australia

    Email: email@debtrecoveries.com.au

    Call Us: +61 1300 799 511

    Adam Stewart - Debt Collection Expert
    About the Author

    In 2002, Adam Stewart established Debt Recoveries Australia Pty Ltd, a debt collection agency specialising in the insurance claims industry.

    Adam has worked in the fields of motor vehicle insurance and debt recovery for over 12 years, working with some of the largest insurance and debt recovery companies in Australia. Read more

    2 Comments on “Characteristics of A Great Debt Collector

    1. I am really thankful of this platform for the knowledge I am acquiring after joining a debt collection job with one of the big company in Uganda. I hope to continue learning on daily basis as possible as I will reach a desired level of expertise.
      I thank all the Participant of this platform, thank you, thank you, thank you.

      • Thanks Dan. Here are some other videos you may find useful….Arbeit Software. If you Google “Arbeit U” you can find their “Debt Collection 101” videos.

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