Reversing Tables On A Collection Agent

Published: Jan 15, 2004

Application

It's almost impossible to operate a business for any length of time without encountering a bullying collection agent who was hired over a slight disagreement or misunderstanding or someone operating a near-fraudulent scam.

When your operations are well-above board you can be quite inexperienced at the game collectors play.

You can learn to play their game very quickly. Listen very carefully to the form of attack. The more patient you are, the more information you can gather. Take notes. These will be your clues for your counterattack.

There's a psychological theory that people usually attack with what they fear most in themselves.

Some Reversing Methods to Consider

Locate the collector's home base. Mount an obvious surveillance. If you can develop a menacing appearance, wait for him/her to leave the office and intimidate the subordinates.
The element of surprise can be very unnerving. Timing and voice volume replaces the violence you see on TV.
Do a simple search on this person's background. You'll be surprised how many shady characters and skeletons you can find in the collection business.
It's possible you can find a competitor or someone with a score to settle with bully. This person may possess obsure information the collector would rather not spread around and, especially, not to the people who hired him/her.

Stories

The Trial Recipe Book

such a common scam -- you fill in your story while waiting for mine

Outcomes

Time spared for more productive functions.
The collection agent who purchases delinquent accounts for ten cents on the dollar could soon realize he/she is not going to squeeze a profit from your file.