Money is a sensitive topic, especially during the holiday season. During this time, people spend more money on gifts, travel, dinners, hosting, etc. Everyone’s a little cramped on time and finances, especially if they take time off from work. However, businesses are also impacted by the holidays. Customers fall behind on payments or completely forget to pay the bills. Don’t shy away from collecting what is rightfully yours. Keep your business running smoothly with timely and consistent flow of income. Southwest Recovery Services has listed some tips on how to approach the debt collections conversation during the holidays.
Understanding, but Steadfast
Everyone is stressed out during the holiday season and have many responsibilities to attend to. When you are reaching out, make sure you are empathetic towards their situation, but be adamant about the payment. Don’t try to sugarcoat anything and be clear about needing to collect the money without wavering. You can negotiate a payment plan that works for them, but don’t put it off. Avoiding the conversation extends the age of the debt, which makes it a lot more difficult to recover.
Maintain a Good Client Relationship
Your business’s reputation is very important for your sales. You don’t want to damage the relationship you have with your clients by getting in an argument about money that is due. When approaching debt collection, remain professional and respectful. Try to work out an agreement for a timely collection. Money is a sensitive issue, and we recommend receiving professional training before dealing with recovery. There are rules and regulations to follow in order to practice ethical collections.
Communication Is Key
During the holidays, people have millions of things running through their minds. It’s understandable that they may forget to make a payment or two, but to avoid these scenarios, focus on strong communication techniques. Send regular reminders about the upcoming bill(s). You can do this through emails, texts, or even mail. If they have forgotten to pay, send them more reminders about the unpaid bills. If you can’t get a hold of them, give them a call. It’s a lot harder to avoid a phone call than texts.
Get Commitments
If you are still struggling with getting your clients to pay, change the direction of the conversation. Ask them when they will be able to pay the unpaid bills. If they are unsure, ask them for an estimate of a date when they should have sufficient funds. If they know when they will have the money, try to get them to schedule an automatic payment. Or, get your clients to commit to a date when they will be able to discuss their finances better and a payment plan. This will move your conversation in the right direction, and they are aware that you will be contacting them again with an agenda.
Outsource to Southwest Recovery Services
The most efficient solution is to outsource to a debt collection agency like Southwest Recovery Services. Our agents have been recovering debt for many years, and they have worked with all kinds of clients. They know how to approach the conversation of debt collections and how to navigate it. We use every available strategy to collect, and we don’t charge any upfront fees. Get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can assist your business.
