Collection Services
Washington Collectors is a debt collection agency providing credit collection services. We recover the monies on past due accounts from all types of consumer receivables for our multi-industry customers so they may realize the maximum value of their debt portfolio accounts. Our company is licensed by the city of Pasco and accredited to work in the states of Washington, Oregon and Idaho with affiliates throughout the United States and Canada. We are bonded by Alexander & Alexander and have liability insurance through Employees of Reinsurance Corporation of Kansas City.
Client Servicing Department
We have a professional and competent staff, including bilingual employees in each department, and all our trainers and supervisors are credit industry certified.
Our client servicing department is dedicated to reviewing your accounts, responding to your questions and assisting your own internal collection staff. A report of all your accounts can be generated, reviewed and delivered to you on a regular basis so that you are kept current on our activity and recovery.
Collection Service Tools & Techniques
Upon assignment for collection the 1st notice, “Notice of Default,” as required by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, is sent to the consumer, which includes the federal validation statement. The account is then referred to a collector who will make follow-up calls.
Our collection units include collectors that are trained in the latest and most innovative collection and skip tracing techniques. All accounts are personally handled by phone contacts and mail via computer programming, which recycles the accounts every ten days for collection review or as designated by follow-up methods for scheduled payments. Accounts are reviewed for legal activity when other collection efforts have been exhausted.
We utilize the latest products available such as search engines via satellite that have been integrated with our collection package to enhance activity on each account. These tools include Qwest, 411, Credit Bureau headers and nationwide real property records on the internet. We also use SmartDial predictive dialer equipment. Some of the other state-of-the-art industry approaches we employ include:
Computerized Collection Systems
- Semi-Annual Progress Reports
- Certified Account Representatives
- Collection Seminars
- A Small Balance Unit to handle accounts with balances less than $100
- We advance legal costs and have attorneys on retainer
Compliance and Legal Department
Our office is in compliance with all state and federal laws, including but not limited to the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, Gramm-Leach-Bliley and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
We currently utilize the services of three attorneys licensed in the state of Washington and another one who represents us in Oregon. Our in-house legal and compliance staff are well-versed and experienced in legal collections and available to assist you with any legal questions you may have pertaining to your accounts. Our legal supervisor has handled collection litigation for over 28 years and has direct contact with our attorneys.
Reports and Records
Our recovery rate for the previous year was 33.7%, which is 12-15% higher than the national average of 19.8% (according to the American Collector’s Association).
We have customized computer software that tracks and reports on all aspects of handling collection accounts, and we actively retain seven years of collection history in our system, including number of accounts, amounts assigned, payment transactions, status changes and all legal activity.
Monthly remittance statements display the name of the consumer including their account number, the date of each payment, the amount paid and which portion is paid to you relative to the amount we retain. This statement of activity will also provide you with the remaining balance of your accounts and the current status code for all accounts with activity during the month. We are also happy to provide a semi-annual report listing of all your accounts for a three year period and a complete inventory report can be provided at any time upon request.