If customers do not respond, collectors turn the account over for legal action. Most collectors handle administrative tasks for the accounts assigned to them. For example they keep records of contacts. Some fill out daily reports to keep their supervisors apprised of their progress. In some companies, collectors receive payments and post them to the accounts.
Collectors often use computers and a variety of automated systems to keep track of overdue accounts.
Collectors is in the Business, Management, and Finance Career Cluster. Worker Characteristics Ability to read written materials, such as payment histories, and find errors Ability to persuade other people to change their opinions Ability to use words well when talking or writing Ability to work with numbers, as when calculating payments Desire to protect people and companies that are owed money Collectors should be able to remain calm when dealing with upset people. In addition, they must be willing to follow-up on the same case several times. It is helpful if collectors have a pleasant personality. Occasionally collectors need to be aggressive in order to get customers to cooperate.