Today’s guest blogger is Wilson Cole. He is the CEO of BackdoorHires.com and Adams, Evens & Ross, the nation’s largest credit and collections agency designed exclusively for the staffing and recruiting industry. In 2008 he was inducted into INC Magazine’s, “INC 500” for being the CEO of Adams, Evens & Ross, the 307th fastest-growing privately held company in America. Adams, Evens, & Ross has helped more than 3,000 staffing and recruiting firms recover more than $1 billion in past-due debt and is an NPAworldwide Endorsed Program. Read his post below to learn the basics of business debt collection.
People pay for the services and products they subscribe to in an ideal world. So they spent money on artists, laborers, and businesses that enabled them to obtain what they desired or needed at the time.
That is, indeed, the ideal, and the majority adheres to it. Unfortunately, however, there are still a few rotten apples. As a result, delinquent payers become even more inventive or vicious to avoid paying the outstanding debt.
As a business owner, it leaves you with a sinking feeling. So what should your next step be? Filing a lawsuit? Create a friendly payment plan? Or should you be negotiating with creditors?
You should hire a business debt collection agency as soon as possible.
Your Next Step: Debt Collection Services
Collect the debt with the help of a business debt collection agency.
When someone owes you money and fails or refuses to pay, they owe you. There could be a slew of explanations these debtors can use for not paying you back the money you owe them.
There is bankruptcy, allegations that you completed or delivered the service or product in an unsatisfactory manner, and that they forgot they owe you money—but no matter the reason, it all boils down to collecting the monetary compensation you are entitled to.
When Should You Call the Pros
Small business owners may wonder if outsourcing the debt collection process is worthwhile.
A commercial debt collection firm also does not have the best reputation due to the nature of their job (requiring debtors to pay up).
So, when is it essential to collaborate with one?
There are just three scenarios in which you should commit debt collecting services to them:
1. If they say they will not pay you, believe them.
This should go without saying, but why should the client declare they will not pay you if you are 100 percent confident you delivered your half of the contract without any faults? Most of the time, they mean it. They won’t pay you and continue to refuse unless someone steps in.
2. If it is been 90 days since it was due.
Most lending institutions allow 90 days or three months for payment grace; failure to make any payment after this duration is already an abuse of your generosity.
Furthermore, if it has already lasted this long, the chances are that the client has stopped communicating with you. If they would not pay while you were still chatting, how much more so now that you can not even get a “seen” from them?
3. If they do not keep the date they promised.
They did not say they would not pay, only that they would pay later. So you agreed, waited a day, and still had not been paid. Do you intend to stay?
Giving is excellent karma, but allowing another extension would let the delinquent client take advantage of your generosity. So instead, uphold the agreement to preserve your business and your interests.
You should contact a business debt collection agency if your client checked all these terms. How? Contact a reputable agency by phone or email.
What Makes a Good Debt Collection Agency?
You were essentially conned out of the payment you were due. Do you want to make the same mistake by hiring someone who is not trustworthy?
The answer is a resounding negative.
As the proverb goes, once is plenty, twice is too much (three times is stupidity, but we are not going there).
So, how can you know which debt collection service is the best? Before contacting one, you should answer the following three questions:
- How long have they been in business?
It is good to start by asking how long they have been collecting outstanding debt for clients. Working with someone who has been in business for at least a decade would be reassuring, but your quest for a proven track record should not stop there. - How many clients have they aided?
The collection agency’s performance should be commensurate with the number of years they have been in business. It is excellent to read testimonials and case studies, but getting actual recommendations from real individuals is better. - Are their collections process and staff dependable?
Finally, consider the business debt collection agency’s techniques and the quality of the staff assigned to your account. Is it well-balanced? Do they have a stern but professional and respectful demeanor?
To Wrap It Up
Attempting to recover outstanding debt on your own is a pain because the task is not easy. You will need to enlist the help of specialists to accomplish this. You will want confirmation that the debt collection agency you will contact knows what they are doing—the top debt collection agencies will be able to demonstrate this with years of expertise and success stories.