Last updated on March 12th, 2025 at 12:12 pm
Debt Collectors often get a bad rap, and though this may be totally understandable, I am not so sure that the bad rap FOR ALL debt collectors is completely deserved.
Here’s what I mean…
The debt collector has a job to do, just like anyone else, and their main responsibility when performing their job is to:
EXTRACT AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE FROM THE DEBTOR (that’s you) TO SATISFY THE PAST DUE DEBT FOR THEIR CLIENT… PERIOD!
That’s it!
If the debt collector does not succeed at collecting money from debtors, then the debt collector won’t have a job for long.
I know, not much sadness will be felt over this statement, if any at all, but, the debt collector is still just a person trying to do their job.
Debt Collection is not ‘customer service’, it is stressful, it is not pleasant, it is not easy, but it is a job nonetheless.
If you can see the debt collector as a person just trying to do their job then you may experience better success when having to deal with a debt collector.
Now I do realize that there are debt collectors out there that treat people terribly, and who are abusive when performing their jobs, but there are legal ways under the law for you to deal with these undignified characters, and we will cover how to legally deal with these type of bad debt collectors a bit later.
Trying to improve your credit may sometimes come down to negotiating with a debt collector and it is important for you to be able to control the conversation and steer the negotiation process in your favor.
You see, if your past due account has been placed with a collections agency, you are going to have to deal with a debt collector whether you like debt collectors or not, and if you can befriend your debt collector, then the debt collector may be your ‘gateway’ to a favorable outcome to your bad debt situation.
In other words, if you can befriend your debt collector, then you may be able to achieve a positive result when trying to satisfy your past due account.
Your sole mission, when speaking to a debt collector, must be to effectively communicate and negotiate the repayment of your past due account with the debt collector so that you can achieve a positive and favorable outcome for your past due debt… PERIOD.
Sharpening your communication and negotiation skills can prove to be most effective when speaking with a debt collector.
Keep in mind, when speaking to a debt collector, you are simply speaking to a person who is trying to do their job, so that they can earn a pay check at the end of the week, so that they can feed their family and pay their bills.
It’s just a job.
If you can convince yourself into believing that you are speaking to a ‘person’ and not a ‘debt collector’ you may be able to effectively persuade the debt collector to empathize with your personal financial situation.
Once you are able to shift your mindset, you can then place yourself in a position of controlling the conversation, and by doing so, you can successfully give yourself the best chance to negotiate re-payment terms or a settlement offer that is satisfactory to you and the debt collector.
Now, in the event that you find yourself speaking with a debt collector who is not properly trained and has very little ability to be empathetic, you may find it difficult to communicate rationally with this type of person.
If you find yourself sensing that a particular debt collector is not willing to listen to you, always remember:
YOU ARE IN CONTROL!
You can always ask to speak to someone else, request to speak to a supervisor, or call back later in the day and try again.
Debt collectors must adhere to the FDCPA, and if they do not, they may be subject to severe consequences.
There is no need for you to become adversarial as the goal for both parties on the phone is to come to a sensible resolution to your bad debt situation.
However, if you remain focused on the primary goal of trying to find a resolution to your bad debt situation, you will find success more often than not.
To find out more about dealing with abusive debt collectors, check out this article: How to Handle Abusive Debt Collectors
