Fair Collection Practices
Wilson Cole
When you hear the word debt, the first thing that comes to mind is likely banks or other financial entities specializing in lending and collecting. However, most of us are unaware that most B2B (business-to-business) firms operate on credit, making debt and the collection of unpaid debts essential to their operations.
Take, for example, engineering debt.
The unfortunate truth is that engineers and businesses occasionally only make enough money to break even despite working on big projects.
Each block must be purchased or manufactured with cash in order to pay employees and specialists and keep the engineering firm's finances stable. So what happens if a client is unable to fulfill the project's financial requirements? And any effort to recoup a debt becomes challenging? Outstanding bad debt is a persistent problem, particularly for engineering firms that lack the resources, client-facing abilities, and collection expertise of a debt collection agency.
Debt collection is the process of getting your customers to pay you for the items you have delivered or the services you have provided. Most of the time, the payment terms are known in advance and organized in a specific order that begins with the order and concludes with the collection of payment.
However, the process of collecting the debt could be hampered by various issues, so you will need some efficient debt collection practices. This could include things like preventative steps or ways to support you after the debt has become problematic, and no payments are being made.
Tapping a specialized debt collection agency can also ensure there are no misleading representations, unfair practices, and the like when they collect a debt.
What is a collection agency?
A debt collection firm does precisely what its name suggests: they make an effort to recover a debt on your behalf. You might get legal counsel and see credit restoration techniques in action through a debt collection agency's efforts, which will eventually raise your credit score.
You can pay off your engineering and professional service debts more quickly by working with a qualified and competent credit management collection agency that specializes in assisting engineering organizations. But when can you confidently state that hiring a debt collector is preferable?
It is time to contact a credit management collection firm if your nonpaying client checks any of the following:
1. Did they say they won’t pay you?
If you uphold your half of the bargain, there is no reason why your client would tell you this. Maybe they were just kidding. Yes, but given that the service is already completed and suitable for their needs, why would they? There is a good chance that they really do mean it in the circumstances like this.
2. Is the account overdue for 90 days?
Collection agencies typically employ a 90-day countdown when an unpaid invoice is 90 days past due. The client is probably no longer responding to you if the debt has gone due for such a lengthy time.
How much more do they owe now that they are missing if they did not pay back when they answered the phone?
3. Did they miss paying on the due date?
Therefore, the client did not wholly disappear from you; they only requested an extension. You gave in since, after all, it is better late than never. What transpires if the due date approaches but no money has been paid? Do you still grant a delay?
It is advisable that you do not because your indulgence suggests that you are not actually anxious to receive payment. With this mentality, the client can quickly negotiate a due date postponement.
A credit management collection firm will ensure that you keep half of the bargain, especially if your company depends on it.
Dealing With Debt in Collections
Ensuring there would be no false, deceptive, or misleading collection activities is what makes debt collection almost a standardized process. The process outlines ways to protect debtors.
When debt is in collections, the debtor is encouraged to:
1. Validate the debt
The debt collector must send the debtor a written notice within five days after the initial contact. Examine it for information on the history and amount of the debt as well as the identity of the person who attempts to collect it. Check your own records, especially your credit reports, to confirm the account's specifics. Request a debt verification letter if you require further details.
2. Exercise your rights
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act protects debtors. Read it, so you are aware of what collectors are not permitted to do, such as phoning you at obscene hours, threatening to have you arrested, or using profanity. Consumers are further protected in some states' federal law than others; for more information, research your state law or get in touch with the attorney general's office.
3. Outline a repayment strategy
The two most typical approaches to dealing with a debt in collections are deciding on a method of repayment or contesting the charge as being unjustified.
There are a few ways to settle an account in collections. No matter which option you select, avoid granting the debt collector access to your bank account by giving them your debit card information or enabling automatic withdrawals. Get the agreement in writing so you may hold the debt collector responsible if you agree to a payment schedule or to settle the debt for less than is owed.
If the debt is not yours or you have already paid it off, you may contest it. The company must halt collecting attempts and look into the matter. It cannot submit the problem to your credit reports at this time. The debt collector will send you documentation proving the bill if it determines the disputed debt to be valid. Otherwise, it will stop making an effort to collect the debt.
To Wrap It Up
You can relax when you work with a credit management collection company with a proven track record that has the resources and know-how to get what your business is owed.
Address
1201 West Peachtree Street, Suite 2300, Atlanta, GA 30309
800-452-5287