Questions to Ask Before You Pay Commercial Collection Agencies
Commercial collection agencies are a dime a dozen in the UK so it's important that you create your list of prospects then narrowing it down to your final choice. But that would be easier said than done. In order to help you with your decision, ask the following questions from the companies you do decide to contact.
What's the protocol for stubborn accounts?
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act warns collectors from employing underhanded tactics in order to pressure the consumers into paying their obligations. Steer clear from these commercial collection agencies even if they have a high chance of success of recovering your money. You may not become an accessory to the illegal practice but you can't avoid the ensuing negative press. Second, how long does it have to wait before making the recommendation to pursue legal action? There are some unscrupulous agencies that sleep on some account while continuing to collect money from their clients. When it does recommend that you sue the person concerned, does it have a roster of lawyers precisely for that purpose? Will it handle all the legal proceedings if it comes to that?
Are they authorised by regulatory bodies?
When you scroll down your list of debt collection agencies, this should be the first on your catalogue of questions. Ask if you can see their certificates and how recent have they submitted a report to the regulatory bodies? If possible, request for a copy of the report. If not, just go to the government regulatory website to sustain the veracity of their claims. Can you speak to their past clients? How long have the credit collections agencies have been in business? How many branches do they have (at least for your convenience's sake)? Does it tap collectors in-house or outsource that task to another manpower company? In relation to that, how many collectors will be assigned to you and how many accounts that same collector is handling?
By the way, these service providers operate on commission so that could lead to a host of problems because their main intention to collect may lead to harassment and abuse.There are some unscrupulous agencies that sleep on some account while continuing to collect money from their clients. When it does recommend that you sue the person concerned, does it have a roster of lawyers precisely for that purpose? Will it handle all the legal proceedings if it comes to that?
What's the protocol for stubborn accounts?
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act warns collectors from employing underhanded tactics in order to pressure the consumers into paying their obligations. Steer clear from these commercial collection agencies even if they have a high chance of success of recovering your money. You may not become an accessory to the illegal practice but you can't avoid the ensuing negative press. Second, how long does it have to wait before making the recommendation to pursue legal action? There are some unscrupulous agencies that sleep on some account while continuing to collect money from their clients. When it does recommend that you sue the person concerned, does it have a roster of lawyers precisely for that purpose? Will it handle all the legal proceedings if it comes to that?
Are they authorised by regulatory bodies?
When you scroll down your list of debt collection agencies, this should be the first on your catalogue of questions. Ask if you can see their certificates and how recent have they submitted a report to the regulatory bodies? If possible, request for a copy of the report. If not, just go to the government regulatory website to sustain the veracity of their claims. Can you speak to their past clients? How long have the credit collections agencies have been in business? How many branches do they have (at least for your convenience's sake)? Does it tap collectors in-house or outsource that task to another manpower company? In relation to that, how many collectors will be assigned to you and how many accounts that same collector is handling?
By the way, these service providers operate on commission so that could lead to a host of problems because their main intention to collect may lead to harassment and abuse.There are some unscrupulous agencies that sleep on some account while continuing to collect money from their clients. When it does recommend that you sue the person concerned, does it have a roster of lawyers precisely for that purpose? Will it handle all the legal proceedings if it comes to that?
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