Questions any Business Owner Should Ask
When customers owe you money, trying to collect those debts by yourself can be a huge challenge. Not only is it time-consuming to track down delinquent payers, asking clients for the money you’re owed can lead to some very uncomfortable conversations.
If outstanding debts are a regular source of stress in your business, you might want to consider hiring a debt collection agency. Commercial collection agencies will track down your debtors, recover the amount they owe you, and return that money to you.
However, before you choose to work with a commercial collection agency, it’s important to learn about what they do, their process, and how much they charge for their services.
What to Ask a Commercial Collection Agency
1. Are your collectors certified?
Your commercial collection agency should have a team of collectors who are specifically trained to handle business-to-business debt. They should be knowledgeable about the principles of business transactions and informed of the laws and compliance issues that can affect credit and collection of debts.
A reliable debt collector will be part of an accrediting body such as Commercial Law League of America (CLLA) or International Association of Commercial Collectors (IACC). By being members in one or both of these organizations, a debt collection agency shows they are committed to training with meticulous standards, ethical processes, adherence to laws and regulations and properly bonded.
2. Can the agency offer a range of services tailored to your needs?
A collection agency should never offer just one solution for every problem. It’s essential that they can provide you with a specific collection strategy that fits your company’s needs.
Overly aggressive debt-collection methods can reflect poorly on your company’s reputation, so make sure you feel comfortable with what your debt collection agency will be doing in your company’s name. We at Revenue Assurance Partners adhere to the PHD philosophy (Preserve Human Dignity) while still obtaining outstanding results. 90% of the funds we recover are done within 90 days of placement.
3. Does the agency specialize in your industry?
If the collection agency you hire has agents who specialize in your industry, they already have the know-how to get started quickly and efficiently—which increases your chances of getting paid.
4. Do they have experience in dealing with international collections?
For businesses that operate in the global marketplace, it’s important to choose a collections agency that can manage overseas accounts to collect money from international debtors. They should be able to provide you with proof that they have served international businesses and have collected debts in countries around the globe, as well as demonstrate the understanding of the local laws that they’ll have to navigate while recovering your money.
5. What kind of legal infrastructure do they offer?
A reputable debt collection agency should have a network of contributing attorneys and representatives that will help your business take legal action when the situation calls for it. Having these resources will ensure you that your collection agency has the power to take each case to completion, without giving you more to worry about.
6. How effective are they at in-house collections?
The recovery rates of a company vary according to different factors such as the client’s niche, the location of the debtor, and how old the claim is. However, even with these factors, the collection agency should still be able to collect as much money as quickly as possible on their own. That’s why here at Revenue Assurance Partners, we only get paid if we get you paid.
7. Can they keep their client data safe?
The debt collection agency that you work with should recognize that securing your data is imperative. It shouldn’t be enough that they have anti-virus software installed on their computers. They should have encrypted circuit connections, and an uninterrupted power supply if a power loss occurred. In short, the company you hire should take extraordinary security measures to guard against the various scenarios that could threaten your company’s information.
8. Do they have a 24/7 client portal that provides timely and relevant information?
The commercial collection agency that you hire should be able to give you online access that lets you view the status of your outstanding debts in real time. We provide all our clients with complete transparency to the assets they have entrusted us with through RAPDIRECT.
Our portal allows you to:
- View your account’s status 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- Communicate with your designated collector/collectors
- Run statistical reports
- Place new accounts
9. Can they give you any complimentary educational services?
Good agencies take client education seriously and provide informational programs that equip you with important knowledge about debt collection in the business world. These resources will display the caliber of the company and how much they value giving you quality service.
10. How often do they remit finds to their clients?
Commercial Collection Agencies should never hold your fund remittances for more than 30 days. We at Revenue Assurance Partners remit to our clients on a bi-weekly basis to ensure we keep you cash flow working for you.
Take the Time to Know What You Want in a Debt Collector
Exploring the above questions will help you become much better equipped to select the right commercial collection agency for your business. By gathering all the necessary information and putting together a wish list of essential characteristics for the company you want to work with, you’ll be able to find a collection agency that will help you regain a significant amount of lost revenue and reduce the amount of stress in your life. We at RAP are all about making your job easier while providing you with the best results and return in the industry.
