Debt Collection Strategy:
Changing Your Demands

by Leasay
(Akron, Ohio)

Changing your demands for payment in a way that will make the person owing the debt feel more in control to pay the debt while at the same time meeting your demand for eliminating the debt can be a challenge.

But I have found it not impossible. Normally, demand is made to pay in full, or a lesser payoff amount is offered. Changing your demand for payment takes a little time to first become knowledgeable about certain circumstances.

Are they employed, receive any income, have children, get to know the situation without over stepping your bounds. A single mom with 2 kids, a car note, rent, utilities, will have different financial concerns than a married couple with kids and 2 incomes coming in.

I took that into consideration. First, I sent a personal letter, not a usual demand letter. I acknowledged that they were under stress financially, and I wanted to assist without adding to their stress.

I did not demand full payment, for example: if they owed $1200, I divided that by either 6 or 12(months); at 12 months that would be $100 per month. I requested that they would send a payment of only $62.58. That amount was simply made up, but they were usually so relieved that the demand was not for a full payment they would make it.

I would send a letter after payment was made thanking them, also showed the new balance now only $1137.42, and request a payment of only $37.42 in the next two weeks.

Changing your demand for payment to a different amount each time made the demand less intimidating. My next thank you letter would ask for only $54.72. This method worked very well.