debt collector

If you would like to give us some knowledge and assistance from the other side, we would greatly appreciate it.

All are welcome, and the more that work together, the better for everyone.

I have always wondered why anyone would voluntarily work as a debt collector. Why did you choose this line of work? I would think it would be one of the most difficult jobs in the world because you are calling people who either can't afford to pay these bills or don't want to pay them, and either way they would react in a less than friendly manner with you. Do you like talking to angry and hostile people, and fighting with them over the phone? Were you a bully when you were in school?

irislyne - I have to call foul on that last comment.

If luhoe comes to offer inside advice on the debt collection industry, it can only help us in our efforts to become debt free by understanding the inner workings of that industry. By offending them right off the bat, we don't stand to gain anything.

Just my opinion.

I have to agree with suebee. He is here of his on volition to offer advice and help. Your questions were valid and it should have stayed at that.
I do have a question though on the whole collection process. Once a debt is assigned to a collection agency and you get the money, what happens after that? Does any part of the payment go back to the original creditor? Or did your agency buy the debt and you keep all the money paid?

I also agree with SueBee. debt collectors can be helpful, I was as a student loan collector. Collecting is not about bullying, it is supposed to be about professionalism, negotiation, and resolution. Unforunately such agencies and their agents are few and far between.

Well, I am honestly curious about the answers to my questions.

For example, what is it like to call someone on the phone who most likely does not want to talk to you?

I would think it would be more difficult than even being a telemarketer, and I would think that would be a difficult job, too.

I would think that if you were to be able to make any money in this career, you would have to be extremely aggressive on the phone to try to force the person to voluntarily pay you some money. Where are these skills or abilities learned? That's why I wondered if perhaps these are abilities that were learned on the playground back in grade school. I think it would be a safe bet that most collection agents were bullies in school.

I have dealt with some collectors who, of course, wanted their money but at the same time were willing to negotiate on a payment plan with me. I was never bullied by these individuals. If I was, I would have probably put them off. As the saying goes, you can attract more with honey than with vinegar. I do know for a fact that there are collectors like this out there, and Ari, I would be willing to bet that you would be one that falls in this category.

Of course, I've also dealt with obnoxious ones who semeed to enjoy bullying you. Like with any business, though, you have both personalities. This is just my opinion.

Well Iris, when people get in a way suggesting that they don't want to talk to me, I just keep these things in mind:

1. They're mad at themselves for getting into this.
2. Nobody like to hear from a complete stranger that money is owed somewhere. Not even me, and yes I was once on the recieving end.
3. It's not personal, not one iota.
4. They are embarassed.
5. It's their credit and their life. I really don't care if they pay or not. I just need a salary to tide me over until something better comes along. You think collections is career material? No way! Not unless you like the taste of antacids and valium. Collections sucks and doesn't pay very well, but it does provide experience for moving upward, which is all I need it for.

Stop that mentality that all collectors are schoolyard bullies. I never was, in fact when I was in school I was the one being picked on.

Collectors are not just young, obnoxious punks. There are college kids, young mothers, grandparents, little old ladies, its not a cookie-cutter environment.

Hi Luhoe,

Welcome to the forums. We look forward to hearing your replies on some of the debt questions posted around here.

Iris,

I really don't think you are being fair to luhoe. He said he could help us. It doesn't seem like he is out there to hurt anyone. Instead of attacking him or her right off the bat, shouldn't we hear what he has to say on debt issues? There are other debt collectors on this board who have been a tremendous help to many forum members here. I don't think it has anything to do with being a bully on the school play ground either. It's not fair to put the whole profession into a negative spot. I've dealt with some doozies but I've also dealt with fair debt collectors.

I have always wondered why anyone would voluntarily work as a debt collector. Why did you choose this line of work?
Because it feeds my family, provides them with a life style I always wanted as a child, gives me a sense of accomplishment.

I would think it would be one of the most difficult jobs in the world because you are calling people who either can't afford to pay these bills or don't want to pay them, and either way they would react in a less than friendly manner with you.

Difficult, no. Stressful, Extremely. Most people do not intentionaly go out and get debt and intentionaly not pay it. I guess I expect people to treat me as I treat them with an amount of respect I would give a stranger but with enough authority to try and guide them into providing a solution or working out something that won't keep them hiding and afraid to handle their affiars in the manner they agreed to.

Do you like talking to angry and hostile people, and fighting with them over the phone? Were you a bully when you were in school?

Why do you assume every person a debt collector speaks with is angry and hostile. Most are fairly calm and wanting to pay their bills. I was not a bully. Are you always someone who jumps to conclusions about people you don't know and condems those who do the right thing in a high demand field because you were once burned by a bad collector or do you base your accusations on things you read?

I don't think it is fair that it seems like everybody is attacking Iris for asking a question. She had a question and maybe it just wasn't worded the right way. Maybe nobody will have to worry about it, she was probably run off.

I don't see anybody attacking her. Nothing harsh or negative is being thrown directly her way. FYI and I are simply trying to answer the question she posed, even if that question was rather intrusive.

I think Iris had a valid question about the background of someone who chooses the career of debt collector...I just think it could have been worded a little more carefully so it didn't sound so abrasive.

(*edited by Suebee - sorry, I meant Iris, not Luhoe)

It seemed to me that Luhoe was being attacked but that's just my opinion.

Asking a certain person on why they chose any path sure, I can see that. But in a broad scale generaliation? No.


One of the first things I was taought in collections is that everyone is different and has their own story.

luhoe23... I think you said you are or were a debt collector. In your opinion what is the safest and most effective way to contact a collection agency and pay off a debt with them. And once paid how can you make them delete the item from your report, rather than just list it as paid in full or settled???

He hasnt said a word since his first comment?

nupe!

Should you pay an account off from a collection agency and wish it to be deleted from your credit report then you will need to negotiate that before payment. I don't know many companies that delete entries but I know some that do.

I was a collector for years. I loved it and it was GREAT MONEY!!!
If I could work from home, I would do it again.

i was a debt collector for 5 years. after 9/11 my job cut all over time and i was banking on 15-20 hours a week with out the over time i fell behind. I started getting calls from these people yelling at me to pay my bills. So after argueing with one of them and explaining my situation he told me to look into the collections field. I did and it was good to me. I know from experince being a hard ass on the phone gets you now where. Having been in a bad situation (which took years to recover from) I was able to see the human side of the industry. Its very common at most shops to refere to the people that owe as DEBTORS to dehumanize them and make the collectors feel better about whay they do.

I spent 10 years as a student loan debt collector for a very good agency. The money was fantastic and we had fun!(High year was $150K, but average was about $90k. We had great training in negotiation and listening skills. We had fun! However if you broke fdcpa, you were out the door!

And that's the way that it should be, Soaplady! And why isn't it like that at Bass and Associates, an agency that totally ignores the fdcpa??