December is always a welcome month in Collections because November is always shortened because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Personally, the month is starting off great but more on that later. Again, I don’t write this post for ego but more about the deals that I’m taking and maybe can shed some light on how your or someone you know might be able to save some money.
12/01/08
Calls: 172
Contacts: 5
Money Collected: $4,140
- Dictating in Nebraska - This lady I have pitched twice before. She continues to think that she can tell me how to do my job. She owes $1,246, and I offer her 12 payments (interest free) of $103.83; which I think is a fair deal. She says she can’t do anything and offers nothing. I try to explain to her that if she doesn’t do something we will have to do something. That phrase always ends with a hang-up, however I wasn’t disappointed.
- Uncommitted College Kid – After some expert skip-tracing on my part, I found this kid at his grandmother’s. At first he seemed to want to take care of the debt and was relatively cooperative. He owes $2,398, which for a college kid is a lot, if you ask me. I offer a settlement of 75% just to see what he would say. He was all about it. **Note when someone who hasn’t paid a bill for 8 months all of sudden has the money and is willing to make a deal I know something is up** At this point I know he is trying to get me off the phone. When I ask him for his checking account info, he hangs up!
- Not so nice old man in Florida – Debtor’s husband answers the phone. After verifying that they are married and the current address, I explain the reason for the call. I’m quickly hung up on. (I add this one to my first call list for Saturday morning to try again).
- Deal of a lifetime – A rare call-in from a debtor who recently sold her home and wants to settle her $12,524 account. She is offering $4,000. After looking over her credit report, I can see that it is trashed. She has some 17 derogatory accounts. So I’m jumping all over the $4K. I say $4,140 just to make a counter offer which she takes after some quibbling. I know you’re thinking a 33% settlement is insane, but so is 17 derogatory accounts and most people in her shape are going to file bankruptcy. So I’m taking the money before some bankruptcy attorney catches her ear.
- Waiting on God - Call to older lady in Georgia. All she wants to do is talk about everything but the debt she owes. This is an all too common stall tactic. She begins to state that she is “waiting for God to get her a new job.” As a collector, what do you say to someone like this without sounding ignorant??? As you can imagine this call did not end well, and this God fearing women turned out to have a mouth the Devil would fear.
All an all not a bad day!
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2 Comments until now.
I could never do your job. Why? Because I have a hot temper and a dignity (a.k.a. stubborn pride) that often goes to far (yes, it is one of nastier traits that I am working on). I would probably be fired or out of business within a week.
Seriously, how to you stand the verbal *cough* “joy” all day?
Hi,
First timer on the site. I managed to read two posts including the latest one relating the Pearl Harbor. The world will wait to watch how America makes a turnaround & how soon. This one is a very interesting insight into the mood and mind of a debt collector. Narrated in a way to suggest that you just have to persevere and carry on, despite depressing encounters. Interesting also because of the portrayal of customer behavior; I have an article on a banking service in my archive but it is a customer’s perspective!
Many more interesting articles, I note here. Hope to see more.
Comment!