Blog
Utility Debt Collection: Balancing Recovery and Customer Experience
Utilities often serve customers for years or even decades. When an account becomes delinquent, the utility faces a unique challenge: recovering unpaid balances while protecting the trust and reputation it has built within the community. That is one reason IC System pays close attention to the consumer experience during collections. Keeping an Eye on the
Achieving Success in Telecommunications Collections
Telecommunications providers lose millions of dollars annually to unpaid balances from disconnected and hard-to-locate customers. As customer mobility increases, recovering these accounts becomes more complex and resource-intensive. A telecommunications provider may begin with internal reminders, billing notices, calls, emails, or other collection efforts. But once a customer disconnects service or stops responding, recovering the remaining
A Sentimental Journey Through the Years: Celebrating IC System’s 10-Year Club
There are some events you look forward to because they’re fun. Others because they’re meaningful. Then there are the ones that somehow become both. Our annual 10-Year Club celebration is one of those events. On Thursday, July 23, I had the privilege of coordinating one of my favorite IC System traditions at the beautiful Tria
The 28th Annual IC System Charity Golf Tournament
The 2026 IC System Charity Golf Tournament Brings Teams Together for a Great Cause On Friday, July 24, 2026, golfers, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters came together at Tanners Brook Golf Course in Forest Lake, Minnesota, for the annual IC System Charity Golf Tournament. With friendly competition, plenty of laughs, and an important mission behind
Four Times and Counting: IC System Named One of the Best Places to Work in Collections for 2026
Some accomplishments are worth celebrating every time. IC System is proud to announce that we have been recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Collections for 2026. This marks the fourth time we’ve received this honor. While we’re grateful for the recognition, what makes this award especially meaningful is where it comes
Why Google Ratings Do Not Tell the Whole Story About a Collection Agency
Imagine you are choosing a restaurant for dinner. You open Google, compare star ratings, skim a few recent reviews, and quickly get a sense of what to expect. For restaurants, hotels, and many local businesses, that approach can work fairly well. Most reviewers received the same basic service, and their comments usually focus on straightforward
What the BBB Torch Award for Ethics Says About IC System
When someone receives a communication from a collection agency, they may have questions. Who is this company? Is this legitimate? How will I be treated? We understand those questions. Hearing from a collection agency is rarely an experience people expect or look forward to, and we recognize that emotions can sometimes run high. That’s why
IC System Named a 2026 Star Tribune Top Workplace for the 10th Consecutive Year
At IC System, we often say that our people are what makes us different. This year, that belief was reaffirmed as we were named a Star Tribune Top Workplace for the 10th consecutive year. What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that it comes directly from employee feedback. The Top Workplaces award is based on
Collection Agency vs. Debt Buyer: Why the Difference Matters
When businesses need help recovering past-due accounts, it’s important to understand the difference between working with a professional collection agency and selling accounts to a debt buyer. While both may operate in the broader accounts receivable industry, their roles, priorities, and impact on customer relationships can be very different. At IC System, we are not
Why AI in Debt Collection Still Requires Human Expertise
Artificial intelligence is transforming nearly every industry, and debt collection is no exception. But despite headlines claiming AI can automate everything, collections remains a highly regulated, high-risk environment where human oversight still matters. For businesses trying to recover past-due accounts, it’s easy to assume AI-powered bots can simply take over the process. The reality is
