All careers

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.

What you’d do

  • Record information about financial status of customers and status of collection efforts.
  • Locate and notify customers of delinquent accounts by mail, telephone, or personal visits to solicit payment.
  • Locate and monitor overdue accounts, using computers and a variety of automated systems.
  • Arrange for debt repayment or establish repayment schedules, based on customers' financial situations.
  • Advise customers of necessary actions and strategies for debt repayment.
  • Answer customer questions regarding problems with their accounts.
  • 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.

Skills that matter

  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Persuasion
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Writing
  • Critical Thinking

How to get there

Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

Also called

  • Collector
  • Debt Collector
  • Patient Access Specialist
  • Patient Account Representative
  • Account Representative
  • Accounts Receivable Specialist (AR Specialist)

Related careers

See all careers

  • Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks

    Authorize credit charges against customers' accounts. Investigate history and credit standing of individuals or business establishments…

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents

    Determine tax liability or collect taxes from individuals or business firms according to prescribed laws and regulations.

    Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

  • Customer Service Representatives

    • Bright Outlook
    • Numerous Job Openings

    Interact with customers to provide basic or scripted information in response to routine inquiries about products and services.

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Tellers

    Receive and pay out money. Keep records of money and negotiable instruments involved in a financial institution's various transactions.

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Billing and Posting Clerks

    Compile, compute, and record billing, accounting, statistical, and other numerical data for billing purposes.

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

    • Bright Outlook
    • Numerous Job Openings

    Compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete.

    Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree