Bill and Account Collectors

Locate and notify customers of delinquent accounts by mail, telephone, or personal visit to solicit payment. Duties include receiving payment and posting amount to customer's account; preparing statements to credit department if customer fails to respond; initiating repossession proceedings or service disconnection; and keeping records of collection and status of accounts.

Median Annual Wage: $33,700

Education: High school diploma or equivalent (74%); Less than high school diploma (10%); Associate's degree (7%)

Projected Growth: Faster than average (15% to 21%)

Related Job Titles: Collections Manager; Collector; Patient Account Representative; Debt Collector; Account Representative; Credit Clerk; Patient Access Specialist; Telephone Collector; Accounts Receivable Specialist; Biller

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Source: O*NET OnLine information for Bill and Account Collectors.

More Office and Administrative Support Careers

  • Locate and notify customers of delinquent accounts by mail, telephone, or personal visits to solicit payment.
  • Advise customers of necessary actions and strategies for debt repayment.
  • Persuade customers to pay amounts due on credit accounts, damage claims, or nonpayable checks, or to return merchandise.
  • Confer with customers by telephone or in person to determine reasons for overdue payments and to review the terms of sales, service, or credit contracts.
  • Locate and monitor overdue accounts, using computers and a variety of automated systems.
  • Answer customer questions regarding problems with their accounts.
  • Record information about financial status of customers and status of collection efforts.
  • Trace delinquent customers to new addresses by inquiring at post offices, telephone companies, credit bureaus, or through the questioning of neighbors.
  • Sort and file correspondence and perform miscellaneous clerical duties, such as answering correspondence and writing reports.
  • Perform various administrative functions for assigned accounts, such as recording address changes and purging the records of deceased customers.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Bill and Account Collectors.

  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
  • Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Bill and Account Collectors.

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