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 we believe it is important for people to know the story behind the company they are communicating with—the values we operate by, the history we bring to our work, and the commitment we have made to ethical business practices for generations.

One of the strongest reflections of that commitment is the BBB Torch Award for Ethics, which IC System received in 2022.

A Recognition Built Around Integrity

The BBB Torch Award for Ethics recognizes organizations that demonstrate a strong commitment to ethical leadership, trust, integrity, and community involvement.

Unlike awards based solely on growth or business performance, the BBB Torch Award for Ethics recognizes companies based on how they conduct business. The award evaluates areas such as leadership, organizational culture, customer relationships, ethical decision-making, and a commitment to building trust.

For a collection agency, those values are especially important.

Every day, collection agencies are entrusted with representing businesses and their brands while communicating with consumers about outstanding obligations. The way those conversations happen matters.

A Collection Agency Built on Trust Since 1938

IC System’s history is different from many companies in the collections industry.

Founded in 1938, IC System has remained family-owned and operated by the same family for more than 85 years. Today, the third generation of that family continues to provide leadership, carrying forward the same commitment to integrity and service that has guided the company since its beginning.

That longevity matters.

A company doesn’t remain successful for nearly nine decades without building trust with clients, employees, and communities. It requires adapting to change, maintaining high standards, and staying committed to doing business the right way.

For IC System, being family-owned means having a long-term perspective. Every decision is made with the future in mind—not just the next quarter or the next year.

Ethics Matter in Collections

Let’s be honest: receiving a call, letter, or message from a collection agency can be frustrating.

By the time an account reaches collections, there is often already a story behind it. Consumers may be dealing with unexpected circumstances, financial challenges, or simply confusion about an outstanding balance.

While IC System does not create the debt or determine what is owed, we do have a responsibility to help resolve accounts on behalf of the organizations that hire us.

That responsibility means treating every person with professionalism, courtesy, and respect. It means communicating clearly, protecting sensitive information, following all applicable laws and regulations, and representing our clients’ brands with the same care and integrity we would expect ourselves.

Compliance is essential, but ethics go beyond compliance. Ethics shape the decisions we make and the way we interact with people every day.

A Rare Recognition in the Collections Industry

The BBB Torch Award for Ethics is presented by regional Better Business Bureau organizations to businesses that demonstrate exceptional ethical standards.

Because the award is administered through individual BBB organizations, there is no single national database listing every recipient. However, based on our review of publicly available BBB recipient lists and award announcements, IC System appears to be one of only two third-party collection agencies in the United States that we could verify as having received a BBB Torch Award for Ethics.

While we are proud of this distinction, the award represents something more important than recognition—it reflects the values that have guided IC System for generations.

Looking Beyond the Stars

When people search for a company online, reviews are often one of the first things they see. Those reviews can provide helpful insight, but they are only one part of a much larger story.

Like many companies in the collections industry, some online reviews reflect the frustration that can come with receiving a collections communication. We understand that perspective.

However, a company’s reputation is built over time through its actions, its people, and the way it conducts business every day.

At IC System, our focus has always been on doing our work the right way—treating people fairly, supporting our clients, and maintaining the trust that has allowed us to serve organizations for nearly 90 years.

Recognition like the BBB Torch Award for Ethics provides another perspective: an independent acknowledgment of a company’s culture, leadership, and commitment to ethical business practices.

Making Collections Better

For nearly nine decades, IC System has been committed to helping organizations recover revenue while protecting the relationships that matter most.

The BBB Torch Award for Ethics reinforces what our clients and employees already know: integrity is not something we talk about occasionally—it is something we practice every day.

Family-owned. Trusted since 1938. Guided by three generations of leadership.

That’s what Making Collections Better means.