Internet's first get-out-of-debt community - 136,000 members

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 4:54 pm Subject: Your input has been requested.

As many of you know I am a debt collector. I follow the law and I do my best to work with people as long as it is within my companies client's guidelines. Coming into this field I searched online for some helpful collection tips and tools to use to help me become a better stronger collector. I didn't find very much information and the information I did find was wanting me to purchase a book or two.

I want to make a web site for collectors that would become a teaching and learning tool. The reason I requested your input is because I wanted to see if anyone had any ideas or suggestions on what you would want to see if you were a collector and looking for helpful information.

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 4:59 pm Subject:

Yes, never threaten us belittle us. We are like anyone else, just had some bad luck and trying to make it right.

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 5:14 pm Subject:

OMG, you are a nice collector caring for the people who are in debts. I wish the industry has more people like you and change the present picture. There are so many horror stories of the collectors posted on the board. Some of the nasty companies are linked in this page

http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/handle-collectors.html

The FAQs mentioned in the link is also helpful for people who don't know how to deal with the collectors doing shady business. They seem to violate the laws more often. One must be aware of their legal rights to handle such people within the laws.

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:28 pm Subject:

Thats a hard question to answer. I don't think I could evre be a collector I am too soft. If someone would start to cry on the phone then I would probably not be able to collect on that account. But I think if I was looking for info I would try and see if it were possible to have compassion and still be firm at the same time. Most people didn't chose to have their debts go to collections but things happen. But yet there are people out there that do default on purpose. You have a tough job. Good luck to you on your website!!!

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 11:50 pm Subject:

To implore the fact that "you catch more flies with honey"...

That's a good idea FYI. If I were a collector, I would want to see the full fdcpa. I have a feeling that many agencies "FDCPA training" (such as Bass etc) is more like ways to skirt around the law.

Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 3:27 am Subject:

Training materials for collectors in fdcpa & Fcra along with current trends in Federal court relating to this area.

Guest · Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 3:51 am Subject:

Since your a collector, I think it would be better served if you resign as a moderator and just go about your collection business. You don't offer any real input to help the people here anyway.

Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 3:56 am Subject:

I beg to differ Guest. She has been a big help here. To get an inside perspective is invaulable here. She is one of the good guys/girls.

all the best

Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 3:57 am Subject:

Guest that is a seriously rude comment.FYI is a collector but helps us a great deal in seeing things from their side of the fence. FYI also is one of the few collectors I know that stays in compliance with the federal laws regulating collections & credit.

Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 4:01 am Subject:

Your Web site should have form letters or scripts for collectors to use. Collectors need to know the valid information they need to give out to collect on the debit. They also need to know how to verify that they are communicating with the right person.
You may even want to do a Miss Manner section

Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 4:02 am Subject:

you mean FYI website or this one?

Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 4:03 am Subject:

FYI's

Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 4:04 am Subject:

I been to her website, it is better than mine, but I do like the miss manners thing.

Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 5:29 am Subject: collector

FYI...I din't know you were a collector ( where have I been?)..LOL I think your posts can be valuable..on what a collector can legally do and NOT do.

Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:05 am Subject:

Guest- please don not post negative remarks about others here. FYI has been a great help to many on this site with her knowledge.

As far as the site goes, I agree with them being educated more on the fdcpa. Many times, I have known more about them than the collectors.

I have friends that are collectors too. They are always in trouble for working out lower payment than they are suppossed to!

Maybe if they were taught a "peoples skills" class, too. Like Law student says, you can catch more flys with honey. I have worked with some very good collectors, that weren't intimidating, compassionate and we worked something out, and I got those paid off.. Good Luck..Karen

Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 11:31 am Subject:

The biggest skill a debt collector can learn is to listen. Give the debtor a chance to have their say. When I was collecting, by listening to my debtors I could find out what the issues/problems were preventing them from paying. Sometimes it was a simple as sending them their payment history, others I had to go into great detail resolving a dispute. However in the end, debtors were grateful that I had taken the time to listen. Then I would find out what they "could" pay versus what I wanted them to pay...from there it was simple negotiation.

Another biggie is that a debt collectors need to park their attitutes at the front door. Leaving a message on an voicemail sounding angry or demanding is not going to get a return call. One thing we were taught was that each call had to be treated individually and as a fresh start. If we had a bad call, we were told to take a deep breath, take a short walk, go for a smoke and then start fresh again. "Honey does attract more flies than vinegar" was a huge saying in our office. Yelling and cursing a debtor is going to result in hang up. Then again, I would have debtors calling in cursing out the moon....I would simply let them rant, and then very calmly and quietly would ask them how they were going to resolve the matter. Collectors cannot feed into debtors anger....it resolves nothing.

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