Many businesses want their owed money but don’t want it to affect their customer relationship, and it shouldn’t have to. For thousands, commercial debt recovery has been an ongoing issue, so many enlist the help of a professional consumer collection agency.

Once you decide to go forward with a collection agency, there are a few key factors to look at to ensure you choose the right fit for your business. These are the most important factors you will want to consider to ensure you work with a reputable, fair-treatment consumer collections agency.

Mission Statement

A collection agency’s mission statement, or philosophy, will give you an insight into how they conduct their practice. You want to hand over your unpaid accounts to an agency that will treat your customers like they are their customers. You should have peace of mind that the collection agency you choose will have no unethical tactics or aggressive behaviour towards your customers. Their mission statement should align with you run your business and employees.

Reviews

In a digital world, every agency and company has online reviews. Online reviews are a great way to see what kind of experience past clients have had with the company and their work rate. When looking online, you will also want to check out the agency’s website for affiliations, accolades and awards. Awards may not always be the tell-tale sign for a great running agency, but they will steer you in the right direction. If you find an agency with a good Better Business Bureau rating, that’s even better.

Hidden Fees

As always, fees are a part of any business. When inquiring about pricing, make sure there are no hidden upfront fees as agencies might not always be able to get your money back. A reliable and trustworthy agency will ask for a fee once your money’s returned. You want there to be no miscommunication or understandings when it comes to associated costs.

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

Many collection agencies pride themselves on how they treat every party involved. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is the federal law that governs over debt collection practices. It’s essential to know that the agency you’re dealing with abides by the law and does not practice any unethical behaviours. The FDCPA makes it illegal for debtors to harass individuals either in person or on the phone. They cannot call debtors at work nor pose as law enforcement. Knowing the FDCPA law will assist you in better choosing the right agency.

Friendly

Friendliness might not be on the top of your list when looking for an agency, but it should be highly considered. You want to associate your business with friendly debt collectors who get the job done both efficiently and compassionately. Gone are the days of intimidating and unfriendly collectors.

The average American has over 90 thousand dollars in debt, so it’s important to remember that everyone who has debt has it for a reason. You don’t want to isolate your client and lack empathy – a friendly collector will be able to connect and understand your debtors in a difficult time.