Perhaps you have heard a little bit about ARO. If so, you know that we are more than just a debt collection agency. We’re a trusted partner to businesses across Canada and the United States when it comes to successfully recovering on overdue payments. We also take a more human approach than many in the industry. We believe empathy goes a long way when it comes to working with people who are having a difficult time making ends meet.
Here’s a little insight into how we think.
Sometimes it’s not those large outstanding accounts receivable that present the biggest challenge. Instead, it’s often that seemingly innocuous stack of small debts that, when combined, add up to a painful write off.
While it’s true that oodles of positive strokes may not move the chronic late payer to become a Johnny-on-the-spot, genuine kindness goes a long way in touching the person’s conscience. You may be dealing with someone who is generally a nice, responsible person but is currently in a tough spot. A friendly demeanor may plant a seed that eventually leads the debtor to move your accounts receivable to the top of the list as soon as the person has the money to pay.
It’s also better for your personal health as a business owner not to allow stressful concerns to detract you from your business operations. There’s no need to let anger over a chronic late pay ruin your day.
When you do succeed in reaching the debtor by phone, smile while you are speaking. Even if the person cannot see your smile, they will hear it in your voice. Next, be sure to listen very carefully to what the person is saying, and have a pencil or pen in hand, as he or she may propose a payment plan right there on the spot.
Some accounts will require more patience to collect because the business owner is experiencing difficulties beyond the person’s control. Still others will prove to be stallers. Once you’ve heard a string of broken promises and have exhausted your efforts to collect the bill, don’t hold a grudge. Let the anger go, if for no other reason than it’s bad for your personal health.
If you hit this stage, we humbly submit that it’s time to turn the debt over to a professional collection agency. Teams like ours are well prepared to take the collection effort to the next step. And remember to keep smiling while you do what you do best: Serving your loyal customers. Get in touch with us today at https://www.aro.ca/en/
