Luxemburger gazette. [volume] (Dubuque, Iowa) 1871-1918, 1917-10-25
The Bill Collector, a Student
of Psychology.
(By the Editor-in- Chief.


The manner In which a person pays
a bill reveals much OF ones character.
IL an obligation has been incurred, hon
esty, decency and Justice demand that
1t he paid when the bill for service rem
dered Is presented. The time to do the
celebrating, the hating Is BEFORE
deciding to ask for goods or services In
a commercial>way Once you have ac-
cepted goods or service on stipulated
terms. 1T is YOUR DUTY To PAY.
And there is no exception to this rule
neither for lawyers or tradesmen,
priests or laymen, sisters or brothers.
1t is q matter Of elementary Justice
and one of the fundamental pillars
that makes business possible.
-
A bill collector has special opportuni-
ties to study characters. When be pre-
sents his bill, the gentleman and Chris
tan simply verifies whether IL is ac-
cording to stipulation and he pays,
adding . friendly remark, showing his
complete willingness to pay his obli-
cations.
How different many others! Some
never denote themselves more truly
than when they are to pay q bill. The
very thought Of parting from money,
and giving it to others, is disagreeable
and irritating, IL not positively CALLING.
IL they do not question the bill or "put
on a our face, or express unwilling
ness. they go further by asking the un-
fortunate collector q number Of super
fluous, insinuating, or ever brutally in
sulting questions. They do not realize
that this is displaying cowardice by
complaining to the AGENT Of another
person. If there Is a remark or com
plant to be made. the Christian gentle
man and real business man does 1t In
a ann intended to respect the per-
son Of the collector. Did you ever col
lect bills, dear reader, and deal with
such characters? It's a revelation
combined with modification and humil-
iation for every human and Christian
instinct.
Collectors are human beings and
usually report TO their employers on
their agreeable and d~isagreeable ey-
~periences with customers. The col
lector for the Catholic Press does the
same, and it Is well for the bosses to
learn what their patrons, customers,
1. e., their subscribers and advertising
patrons think Of the values received.
Usually those who have COMPLI.
MENTS, "~bouQueus'. to deliver do 50
to HEADQUARTERS. Those who
have COMPLAINTS and are no Chris
tian gentlemen show themselves In
their full human nakedness Of soul and
character" to the poor collector. Hc
MUST stand for their abuse. Some of
these characters even go to the extent
! OF asking the collector not to mention
1t to the boss that they said these
y%things!!
God must reward many a bill collec-
tor. No human being can reward or
even protect him. The poor pay Is
not merely the person who refuses t.
come across, dig up, spot down"
1. e., to pay, but much more the one
/, that halts, hens, haws, hesitates. slut.
tiers, questions. seeks to reason, "wrig.
gleS' and goes through q number OF
more or less ridiculous antics before he
pays. He is usually simply tortnrine
himself because he has not acquired
the habit Of paying his bills cheerfully
It's a habit in some cases, but I'm many
1t is also low, downright meanness.
Some collectors, especially in clear
ing houses, could make lists grading
the quality and nature of their payers
Such lists hardly would deserve the
title of complimentary lists. They
are lists Of character qualifications
Naturally. It must not be overlooked
that occasionally collectors are moi
models of p~oliteness In their ways and
manners Of presenting u bill. How
ever, 1t should not be overlooked mol
forgotten that a bill collector. as q rule
IL simply an agent for a second party
! a partnership or firm and is not tn.
{ party to DO held responsible for defle
, iencies or irregularities in the matter
of the original contract OF agreement
for service rendered or goods delivered
The bill collector is not wrong; bis boss
MAY be.
J If you wish to make a special study
3 nf "prac tical dear reader