The art of negotiation is a critical skill for bill and account collectors… who develop agreements with people in debt to repay their creditors… on terms both parties can live with. Bill and account collectors generally spend most of their time on the phone, tracking down or negotiating with debtors. Listening, and paying attention to his or her concerns can help the collector negotiate a successful solution. Collectors follow federal and state laws, and must document their calling using computers and databases. Bill and account collectors follow up to ensure payments are actually made… if not, they let the creditor know, which may result in legal action. Collectors usually have the added pressure of meeting calling goals and success rates. Many bill and account collectors work in call centers for collection agencies although positions are available in healthcare, social assistance agencies, and other industries. Collectors face resistance, rejection, anger, and desperation from the people they negotiate with, and must still make their next call with a polite, positive tone and attitude. Fortunately, some consumers appreciate help in resolving their outstanding debts and can be quite grateful. Most bill and account collectors work full time… often putting in evening and weekend hours to reach people at home. Positions generally require a high school diploma, and on-the-job training is provided.
What they do:
Locate and notify customers of delinquent accounts by mail, telephone, or personal visit to solicit payment. Duties include receiving payment and posting amount to customer's account, preparing statements to credit department if customer fails to respond, initiating repossession proceedings or service disconnection, and keeping records of collection and status of accounts.
On the job, you would:
Record information about financial status of customers and status of collection efforts.
Locate and notify customers of delinquent accounts by mail, telephone, or personal visits to solicit payment.
Locate and monitor overdue accounts, using computers and a variety of automated systems.
Arts and Humanities
English language
Business
customer service
accounting and economics
Math and Science
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Safety and Government
law and government
Basic Skills
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
talking to others
Social
talking people into changing their minds or their behavior
understanding people's reactions
Verbal
communicate by speaking
listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
group things in different ways
notice when problems happen
People interested in this work like activities that include data, detail, and regular routines.
They do well at jobs that need:
Integrity
Attention to Detail
Dependability
Independence
Cooperation
Analytical Thinking
You might use software like this on the job:
Customer relationship management CRM software
Austin Logistics CallSelect
Microsoft Dynamics
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Data base user interface and query software
Relational database software
high school diploma/GED or some college usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
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