Category: Collections
What security safeguards should your collection partner have?
Data security and the importance of protecting consumer information remains a top priority for any business that gathers and stores sensitive records. Credit card numbers, personal contact information, social security numbers, and medical records could all be at risk if a business does not take the proper steps to protect themselves. This is especially true
Can a collection agency get you paid more quickly?
Every introduction to sales tactics will teach you that your pitch won’t win over customers without a hook that makes the service stand out from the pack. Here’s one you may have heard in your quest to find a collection agency: How they can get you paid more quickly. Speed is not much of a
4 Ways to Get Paid on Time
Every business deals with the occasional late payer. Sometimes they’re a few days past-due, sometimes they can’t pay for months. Sometimes, when you make them aware of the lateness of their account, they jump right on the issue and resolve it. Other times, they actively avoid your calls and letters, requiring additional effort on your
Key Differentiators in Debt Collection Firms, and How Your RFP Can Uncover Them
I’ve been a proposal writer for a number of years, but I wasn’t always writing about debt collection services. Over the course of my career, I’ve responded to RFPs for industrial printers, surveillance cameras, open-road tolling technology, and even ankle monitors. So when I first started writing proposals for debt collection RFPs, I received a lot
Tips to acquire services through a formal request for proposal (RFP)
In my years as a proposal writer, I’ve responded on behalf of big Fortune 500 companies and smaller, family-owned operations. And as a member of the Association of Proposal Management Professionals, I’ve attended the industry seminars and commiserated with my fellow proposal writers. I’ve learned a few things from my time in the trenches, and
Sound collection techniques in the era of phone scams
When it’s time to telephone consumers to settle a late bill, it’s important to understand the new reality people are living in: Phone scams are becoming more and more prevalent. Even though it’s highly unlikely that scammers are out there impersonating your office, consumers might have their guard up when they hear from you about
5 strategies to contact unresponsive consumers
You pride yourself on building a good rapport with your consumers, while providing a superior service or product they can’t get anywhere else. So when it’s been more than a month and the client still hasn’t responded to the invoice you sent, it can be a touchy situation. On the one hand, you need cash
Debt collection for small business: protect your online reputation
If you’re like many smart entrepreneurs, you’re keeping an eye on your online reputation. All it takes is a few strongly worded reviews to erode trust with your customers, and that can lead to lost business. When 81 percent of shoppers do online research before buying, giving the online review the old brush-off is not an option.
Next steps: When past-due invoices go unanswered
As a small business owner, you can’t afford to let the small things nibble away at your cash flow. Keeping those expenses under control is always important. But on the other side of that, you’ll want to keep an eye on accounts receivable. It is true your A/R column represents a promise from someone to make
How small business credit reporting helps you resolve past-due accounts
Late this summer, Equifax rocked the news headline cycle when it came out that hackers made off with the Social Security numbers of a whopping 145 million consumers, along with their names and dates of birth. That means nearly half the U.S. population is touched by this security breach, making it easier for criminals to
