In many respects, collecting debt is a negative job—a fact that all credit risk professionals must be sensitive to. The typical collector may attempt 120 calls a day and speak to 36 customers, and then gain a kept promise from just half of those 36 customers he speaks to. This means the collector has just 18 kept promises and 102 negative results. An 85 per cent negative response rate translates to seven hours of negative feedback in an eight-hour day. This book offers the epiphany that great customer service in debt collections yields far greater kept promises than the above number. Consistent reiteration and coaching of the collections team about the importance of quality has always delivered a 25 to 35 per cent higher performance than the average. There are tips in this book that help you improve collection performance by embracing quality service. This is tried and tested in my career, and this is what this book reiterates.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the median annual income for someone in the collection industry is $29,000 and, as a business owner, you could make even more. The Department also suggests that the industry is expected to grow 18 to 26 percent by 2014. Working in the collection agency business requires patience, empathy, a commitment to excellent customer service, and superb negotiation skills. If you are thinking of opening a collection agency business, then we have a book that can guide you through the process, providing all of the insider tips needed to get started in a minimal amount of time, with a minimal amount of money. Whether you will be operating out of your home or you are looking to buy or rent office space, this book can help you with a wealth of start-up information, from how to form and name your business to deciding if this will be a joint venture or if you would rather work solo. Valuable information on forming a Partnership, LLC, Corporation, or becoming a Sole Proprietor, the four types of business formation, is included, as well as the legal implications of each. With all of the federal and state laws governing the industry, opening your own collection agency can quickly become a nightmare, and for that reason, you will be provided with the most up-to-date information on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, as well as a listing of laws state-by-state that may supersede this federal act. Many states, and even cities, require third-party agencies to be licensed and/or bonded, so you will be provided a wealth of information on all requirements so that you can knowledgably, and legally, operate your business with peace of mind. A complete checklist of all of the start-up equipment that you will need is provided, as well as a sample budgeting sheet to allow you to gauge start-up costs. You will learn about potential risks that you take in opening a collection agency and how a collection lawyer can help settle debts when you are unable to. You will learn the difference between first and third-party agencies, the different methods in which you can expect to be paid by creditors, tips and tricks to gaining clients, and the advantages of the debt buying method. This complete manual will arm you with everything you need, including sample business forms; contracts; worksheets and checklists for planning, opening, and running day-to-day operations; lists; plans and layouts; and dozens of other valuable, timesaving tools of the trade that no business owner should be without. A special chapter on customer service is provided, with tips on communicating with debtors in a non-threatening manner. While providing detailed instruction and examples, the author leads you through every detail that will bring success. You will learn how to draw up a winning business plan (the companion CD-ROM has the actual business plan you can use in Microsoft Word

The 5 Elements of the Highly Effective Debt Collector is the first How to collect a debt book of its kind, in that it breaks the debt collecting process down into five core fundamental areas. After years of training in the collection industry, I have found that these five fundamental areas are at the center of revealing the mystery behind why only a small percentage of debt collectors produce at a high level and more importantly explains why the larger percentage of low to mediocre performers never reach a top producing level. Not only does this book establish fundamental concepts every debt collector must understand to maximize personal or agencys earning potential, it also teaches: sound principles of engagement, valuable communication concepts, effective sales rebuttal techniques, as well as a system of file management that if followed and executed properly will more than double a collectors efficiency and effectiveness in less than 30 days The 5 Elements principles and concepts were designs to ensure that no matter an individuals talent level, years in the industry, or position held within an agency, the end user will understand clearly and be enriched by the experience.

"Diving deep into the realm of debt collections, this comprehensive guide, titled (The Art of Maximizing Debt Collections - Digitization, Analytics, AI, Machine Learning, Performance Management), serves as an authoritative handbook on the evolving landscape of collections analytics, automation, and strategic performance measurement. From its compelling introduction, uncovering five processes revolutionizing debt collections, to its culmination in exploring cutting edge applications of AI, machine learning, and robotic assistance in collections, this book is a definitive road map for professionals navigating the intricate world of debt recovery. Spanning fifteen meticulously crafted chapters, each segment is a treasure trove of insights. It begins by elucidating the critical role of collections analytics, unraveling how data management, reporting, and workflow analysis amplify collections strategies. In subsequent chapters, it explores the arsenal of software, tools, and operational reporting mechanisms employed in this domain, enhancing operational efficiencies and agent performance. The book delves into the dynamic realm of collections automation, highlighting the transformative impact of automated systems on debt recovery, while meticulously detailing the top-tier software and tips for selecting optimal automation tools. Moreover, it offers an in-depth exploration of collections performance measurement, unveiling key performance indicators (KPIs) crucial for gauging efficiency. Chapters dedicated to recovery performance, strategy analysis, digitization, and the integration of AI and Machine Learning offer strategic insights into bolstering collections strategies and leveraging technological advancements for enhanced outcomes. Intriguingly it addresses the ethical and legal aspects surrounding the use of robots in basic calling and automated payment promises, providing guidance to navigate these complex territories. The Art of Maximizing Debt Collections - Digitization, Analytics, AI, Machine Learning and Performance Management is an indispensable guide for professionals, analyst and decision makers seeking a comprehensive understanding of collections analytics, automation, and leveraging cutting edge technologies for optimizing Debt Recovery strategies in todays dynamic financial landscape."

As someone who has made thousands upon thousands of debt collection calls as a credit manager and first party collector and as an agency owner and third party collector, I wanted to share what I know about making these calls so that you can improve on your calls. To take the fear out of it, just remember that making a collection call is like making a customer service call. You are calling about a problem with the account and you just want to resolve it. You will learn what common excuses people give and what you can say to them in order to keep the call moving in the right direction and not going off track. You will learn how to notice a red flag with an account that you are calling and be able to avoid disaster by taking specific steps based on your knowledge of what is happening with that particular account. This book will help anyone who owns a business and needs to call customers that are past due. It will help accounts receivable clerks who make calls to delinquent accounts; it will help credit managers who make collection calls or "your account is on credit hold" calls. This book will also help collectors who work for a third party collection agency. This book is meant to be a guide for bill collectors. I have shared with you actual and specific steps I have taken in my years of doing collection work that have worked well for me. I have found that when making collection calls and dealing with excuses, you must be firm, tread lightly, have compassion and treat the account carefully. Treat the account (not the customer) like a child who needs your guidance and help to get this paid. This has worked very well for me and I have successfully collected more money than other collectors based on following these steps.

The Art of Debt Collections is for any one doing debt recovery using the telephone, be it 1st party, a collection agency, a collection attorney it provides a training system directed towards a successful debt recovery solution. Though attorney collection practices, 1st party, agency collection practices and techniques might differ, this book still applies. A useful training tool for every debt collection agency, debt collection attorney, 1st party creditor and any one involved in debt recovery services or debt collection services. The book doesn't offer an all encompassing debt elimination strategy, debt collection solution or debt collection strategy. Instead it is geared towards the individual collector, the one who is actually on the phone in direct contact with the debtor. The book covers the physiological aspect of debt collection, and a step by step method for the collection debt phone call. The Art of Debt Collections is a must read for every debt collector.