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Avoid these Six Collection Myths

Your Virtual Credit Manager

If a company executive is not the primary collector, there is nothing wrong with them giving it a try. A large percentage of past due invoices are caused by up-stream problems in the order-to-cash process. A large percentage of past due invoices are caused by up-stream problems in the order-to-cash process.

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Sales Commissions Impact the Collection Process

Your Virtual Credit Manager

Assign Collections to an Existing Employee : When doing this you need to consider if the person being assigned collection duties has the time and demeanor to be an effective collector. Again, you need to also keep in mind the impact from putting other tasks on a back burner. it just might help them pay you sooner!

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Dealing with Difficult Debtors

Your Virtual Credit Manager

Being a collector requires patience, persistence, and effective communication skills. When communications break down, past due balances accumulate. That’s why collectors need to be effective communicators. Without effective communication skills, your patience and persistence won’t generate results.

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Debt Collection Mistakes Can Prove Costly

Your Virtual Credit Manager

Here then are eleven mistakes that business debt collectors should avoid: 1. Ignoring Customer Disputes When a customer disputes an invoice or has issues with the services your business provided, it’s up to the collector to investigate before making additional collection demands beyond asking for payment of non-disputed items.

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The Five Stages of a Collection Call

Your Virtual Credit Manager

People do not aspire to become commercial debt collectors. Many of us went to college and got degrees in business administration or accounting or even liberal arts and science, but due to the vagaries of providence ended up getting jobs handling credit and collectors. Nobody grows up wanting to be a bill collector.

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The Nine Essentials of a Successful Collection Call

Your Virtual Credit Manager

Successful collections require the coordination of a variety of activities: timely and accurate invoices and payment posting, monthly statements, email reminders and other dunning notices as well as telephone calls. Of all these items, making the necessary phone calls generates the greatest value in respect to recovering past due invoices.

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Effective Communication Strategies for Collecting Past Due Accounts

Your Virtual Credit Manager

On a phone call, you should provide a summary of the amount past due, such as “$10,000 over 30 days past due” or reference one or two large past due invoices (number, amount, and due date), but no more. Good collectors are expert at deflecting excuses.