subject: Improve Your Credit Card Debt Collection Success With These 3 Steps [print this page] If you're in the business of issuing credit cards, you assume a certain amount of financial risk. Some customers, if not mindful, can run up large amounts of credit card debt. It is to be expected that some of these same customers will default on their credit card obligations. As a lending institution, you should have systems in place to address and collect this debt owed to you. Failing to do so, your business can suffer great financial losses. It is as simple as that.
There will be instances when the customers given credit card privileges will fail to pay the debts they owe. When this occurs, it is necessary to have in place a system of credit card debt collection.
For sure, most people act responsibly, and they generally do not default on their credit card obligations. In some instances, there are extenuating circumstances, such as sudden unemployment, medical expenses from an illness, or other circumstances that lead to the problem.
However, the card issuer must use some form of debt collection, in spite of the individual's circumstances. It is important, because the credit card issuer needs the revenues to maintain the positive health of the business, as well as maintaining a positive relationship with the customers that do pay their debts.
This latter point requires further clarification. When a credit card customer doesn't pay their debts, this money must be generated from another source. In some cases, it can lead to the institution raising the interest rates on the other card holders. While this can reap short term results to the problem, it can also lead to making your good customers unhappy. They could end up going with another credit card issuer. This will have a longer term negative effect on your business. This is why it is critical to use proper credit card debt collection practices.
As the name suggests, credit card debt collection makes use of the proper collection of past due debt owed, and in an effective manner that follows the letter of the law. Although debt collection can be difficult, if your company follows a few commonly established tips for success, you can greatly improve on your ability to collect the past due monies owed to you. Here are 3 common tools to increase your success:
1. The first step for engaging in proper collections is to send a letter to the delinquent account holder. The letter should explain the situation in a clear manner and state the exact amount that is overdue. The letter should request prompt payment while also informing the recipient that they may present any information that disputes the statements in the letter. Generally, such letters will provide a 30-day window for a response, as required by law, and since this will usually be an adequate duration for such a response.
2. If payment has not been offered after this period, you need to contact the customer by telephone within the 31-60 day time window. This call needs to ask for clarification why the debt hasn't been paid. Then focus on, and offer a repayment plan. If success is still not effected during this period, the next 61-90 days should focus on sterner phone calls and letters letting the debtor know of the potential damage to their credit rating in the event of a default.
3. If this does not solve the problem, the next step should involve hiring a professional credit card debt collection agency. Such agencies are well adapt at dealing with delinquent accounts and can take such responsibilities off the shoulders of your business. This will allow your business to allocate its resources to other areas besides the perpetual collection of delinquent accounts. Credit card debt collection is not always easy. Some account holders simply cannot or will not pay. However, if you take the proper steps to deal with the problem, you may discover these problems resolved in a more efficient manner than you thought possible.
It's very important to mention that time is a crucial factor here. The earlier you can identify problem accounts, and outsource them at a reduced cost and time savings to those with better experience at handling them, the more money you will recoup sooner, and the more time and money you will save in the long run. The longer an account goes delinquent, the likelihood of recovering any money is reduced greatly.
