News and Views

PREPARE: Review the paperwork on the debtor before making your collections calls. Know the history of the account, credit record, the promises kept/broken. Have all records in front of you, ready for reference.

REASONABLE: Be reasonable and ready to adjust to the situation. Think about the kind of customer you´re dealing with and adapt to meet the circumstances. Be prepared to accept a reasonable payment schedule, and a willingness to deal with a customer´s circumstances. 

UNFLAPPABLE: Adopt a straightforward, professional business-like attitude. You have a contract, you delivered the goods, money is owed, and you have a right to expect payment. Never let it become personal. Don´t yell or raise your voice; and NEVER swear. Don´t threaten; legal action is your recourse.

DILIGENT: Make sure you´re talking to the right person. Don´t let the individual brush you off with "You´ll have to talk to the bookkeeper." Identify the person who will pay the bill. If you can´t get through after several calls, tell the secretary that you know your calls are being screened. Indicate the purpose of your call and if necessary give deadlines.

EXECUTE: Never leave a contact open ended, such as "We´ll talk next week," or "I´ll send what I can." Every contact should result in a commitment to payment, of a specific amount, by a specific date, even the check number the customer is using to pay the pledge.

NOTES: Keep detailed, accurate notes of every contact with the customer. Probe for further information on the customer. Notes of these contacts will help you in subsequent phone calls, and may be invaluable in litigation. Good notes will also help in further credit decisions, or in cases where skip tracing may be needed.

TIME: The longer an account is held, the less likely it is that it will be recovered. If payment or a payout is not arranged within 90 days, place the claim with a collection agency.  Use only an agency that is a member of the Commercial Collection Agency Section of the Commercial Law League of America. This will insure that you´re dealing with ethical professionals who are fully bonded to guarantee your remittance.

Choose NCS!

Get prompt results with over 35 years experience in successful collections.  NCS joins your Credit Department team to work to affect full payment ASAP.   Our collectors contact debtors during legally mandated hours nationwide and will only take legal action once all in-house resources are exhausted. Throughout the entire process, we keep you informed of your account status with the reporting method of your choice.

NCS holds the Certificate of Compliance from the Commercial Collection Agency Section of the Commercial Law League of America

By design, NCS' recovery system is one of the most ethical, economical and fastest routes available.  We invite you to compare.

To learn more about NCS or to place an account visit our website, www.ncscredit.com.
Written by Chris Ring, Senior Account Representative, NCS