A bill collector is a person who collects payments for a bill. Collectors contact people to inform them of a debt. After presenting the necessary information, the collector will attempt to obtain the payment which is due. While any person attempting to acquire monies for a debt may be considered a collector, most bill collectors work on the behalf of a collection agency. A collection agency is a business whose primary purpose is to collect on overdue bills.
To become a bill collector, a person will need to obtain a high school diploma. He or she may also be required to have some customer service experience. Most bill collectors will receive training on the job. Generally, bill or debt collectors must follow certain laws and rules to legally collect on a debt. Such guidelines will usually be addressed while training for the job.
In most cases, bill collecting involves a lot of telephone work. For this reason, the person wishing to become a bill collector should have good phone etiquette. Some people become angry when contacted by bill collectors, but it will be important to remain professional at all times. Most collectors will begin a phone conversation by establishing the company he or she is representing, the type of bill which is due and the amount due. The collector should also be prepared to answer a great deal of questions from the debtor in regards to the validity of the alleged debt.
The duties of a bill collector can be vast. After notifying the person of a debt, the collector will try to collect on the bill. If the person is unable to pay the amount requested, the collector may work out a payment arrangement. He or she may then be responsible for negotiating the fine details of the arrangement and ensure that both the debtor and the original creditor are in agreement on it. After this is done, the collector may need to compile and distribute copies of the agreement and post any payments from the debtor to his or her account.
Being a bill collector may not be the easiest of jobs. Most people do not look at being contacted by collectors favorably. For this reason, bill collectors may deal with more unpleasant personalities than pleasant ones. A person wishing to obtain a position such as this may need to have a thick skin and not take things personally. Although, some history in customer service may be preferred, a person may obtain an entry-level position without a great deal of experience due to the extensive on-the-job training typically provided.