There are numerous options available to you if you want to work as a bill collector. Bill collectors are professionals who work with businesses and individuals to collect past due accounts and settle financial debts. They are also known as collections agents, debt counselors, credit managers, or skip tracers.
You must meet certain general requirements to work as a bill collector. Bill collectors should have a high school diploma or equivalent, with many employers preferring some postsecondary education or customer service experience. To work as a bill collector, you must have a strong background in accounting and finance. In order to process information on a timely basis and update accounts to reflect payments received, it’s also necessary to have general telecommunications and computer skills.
In order to be successful and handle the daily tasks of working with people to improve their accounts, bill collectors must have certain personality traits in addition to a solid educational and work background. Being an effective oral and written communicator, as well as being comfortable talking with a variety of people in stressful situations, including dealing with angry customers, is the most important skill. When dealing with difficult accounts, having a “thick skin” and perseverance are essential.
Many households are struggling to keep up with their debts in general, so the demand for quality bill collectors to collect on past due consumer accounts will continue to grow. To become a bill collector, keep in mind that consumers have a variety of debts resulting from rising housing, health-care, and energy costs. Even when dealing with irate people who are not paying their debts, the most effective bill collectors are able to treat customers with professionalism and empathy.
Getting a job as a bill collector is often as simple as contacting local businesses with in-house customer service or accounts receivables departments and asking about openings. There are also contract opportunities to assist in the location of debtors who have moved without providing a forwarding address, also known as skip tracing. Many collections agents work from home or through outsourced call centers all over the world.