Two Approaches to Debt Collection

by Becky
(Northern Kentucky)

I work in a medical office in the billing department and have frequent interaction with our debt collection agencies. First of all I would like to report that we have changed agencies several times due to the ineffectiveness of some of the techniques used by our past agents.

We have certainly found that the overbearing, threatening and high pressure techniques of some of our past agencies rarely work. Yes, an occasional debt is collected in that manner, but more often people become so frightened or angry they simply change phone numbers or ignore the mailings.

Our office received numerous calls from patients who were being harassed. This can actually aggravate their medical conditions leading to severe consequences.

Recently we have changed to an agency that is much more low key, yet more effective. We are receiving almost no calls from patients with complaints. The trick here I believe is the collection agency is more willing to work out a compromise solution with our clients, rather than the pushy threatening manner of previous agencies, this one offers to work with the clients, coming to a solution that benefits both parties.

It is much better for our medical office to collect partial payments rather than no payments at all. We're now quite pleased with this new approach to bill collection and so are our patients.