This is one of the most important steps in choosing a collections agency. You would not just open the yellow pages and pick a surgeon without checking them out, and the same goes for collection agencies. Especially when you consider that each year, there are more than 150,000 complaints filed with the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) against collection agencies – more than any other industry.
Unfortunately, the FTC does not make public any company specific complaint information. Fortunately, the internet has made it much easier for both praise and angst to be publicly available.
Best Places To Check Out Reputation
You can’t expect companies to have a perfect reputation (although you cannot find a complaint against The Kaplan Group), so one or two complaints should not eliminate an agency from consideration. But lots of complaints, litigation etc. – move on.
DO NOT RELY ON COLLECTIONS AGENCY REVIEW SITES – THEY ARE FAKE!
A search for “collection agency reviews” brings you to sites that sell advertising to collection agencies. They don’t actually review anything.
Other Considerations:
Besides reviews, there are some other factors that you can evaluate, such as:
- How many years has the agency been in business?
- Does the collection agency have any industry memberships?
- Client testimonials on the agency’s website, although there is no guarantee these are authentic
- Articles published by agency personnel in trade publications
- Collections agency management involvement in industry trade organizations References
Debt Collection Philosophy and Process
- The debt collections philosophy of the agency.
- The debt collection process.
- The skill of the debt collectors.
Let’s take a look at the agency’s debt collections philosophy first.
Next: Debt Collection Philosophy
How to Select a Collection Agency
