How to Listen to Your Debtor and Create Solutions

Is your debtor coming up with excuses?

You’ll hear all sorts of reasons why a customer hasn’t paid, including illness, injury to a key employee, a sudden downturn of business, and the debtor’s inability to collect their own receivables. In your collection calls, take the role of the problem solver and even make polite suggestions, such as: “I understand you’ve had some serious challenges, and I’ll work with you as much as I can. Can we arrange for at least half of this outstanding bill to be paid today with the remaining half in 30 days?” Your willingness to sympathize or bend the rules a bit in some, but not all, occasions can result in payment. 

Whatever the reason for nonpayment, check your notes. If the debtor has used similar excuses in the past, but you didn’t get paid promptly, you need to reconsider your extension of credit. Remind your customer: “I’ve heard that one before, we worked through it, and you still didn’t meet your commitment of payment.”

Hopefully the dispute is minor and can be resolved quickly in the first telephone call, so the entire bill can then be paid. Whatever the dispute, if it applies to only a portion of the debt, seek a commitment for payment of the undisputed amount before concluding the conversation.

Learn how to manage a phone call with your debtor.

Debt Collections in Michigan: We Fight for Your Creditors’ Rights!

Have you tried these call tactics and are still struggling with nonpayment?

Don’t let the stress of trying to contact and get results from a debtor weigh you down any longer! Contact our experienced collection firm to speak with an attorney about debt collections in Michigan today at (248) 645-2440 for an immediate resolution to your collection matters. We look forward to hearing from you!