Collection agency: what is it, how do they work and what rights do they have?

Often, bankers, trying to influence negligent debtors, mention collectors in conversations with them. If the borrowers continue to ignore their responsibilities, fail to repay the loan, or conceal the case, the case is actually transferred to a specialized organization that collects problem debt using its own methods. What is this collection agency, what are the features of its work, and why does just the word “collectors” evoke horror and fear in most Russians? Let's figure it out.

Collectors - who are they?

A collector is a person who, within the framework of the law, collects debts or conducts negotiations between the bank and the debtor in order to repay loans and other debts.

Both one person and an organization (collection agency) can collect debts on a professional basis, and the second option is more common. The reason is that it is difficult to take and reclaim money from a person who, for whatever reason, does not want to give it back. For this purpose, special psychological (and sometimes physical) technologies have been invented, which are more convenient to use not alone, but with the help of appropriate specialists. Psychologists, analysts, and finally, the threatening type of “power support groups”.

This, by the way, does not mean at all that the main task of the debt collector is to intimidate the debtor. Most often, banks and other organizations (insurers, utility companies, etc.) sell bad debts incurred by people who have neither property nor sufficient income to collection agencies. It is possible to give such a debtor a heart attack, but there will be no real monetary effect from this. Therefore, collectors often act as tough financial consultants. They advise citizens from which institution they can borrow funds, where to get a job, which relatives to ask what to sell to repay the debt.

The textbook image of a collector with a soldering iron in his hand and a set of idiomatic expressions is now rarely seen. Although initially there were many of them. The first collectors in Russia appeared in the early 2000s, and then they were really engaged in intimidation and extorting (including physical) debts from anyone.

Legislative regulation of the activities of collectors began in 2014, and in 2016 the law on collection activities was adopted (“On the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of individuals when carrying out activities to repay overdue debts and on amendments to the Federal Law “On microfinance activities and microfinance organizations" dated 07/03/2016 N 230-FZ). According to it, for example, a person with a previous conviction cannot work as a debt collector.

Terminology and definition

Important! Please keep in mind that:

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If there is a slight delay, the bank’s credit expert begins the process and finds out what the reason for the delay is. He invites the debtor to the bank, negotiates and offers solutions (refinancing, debt restructuring). If the client does not get in touch or ignores the requirements of the banking institution, then the next step is to contact collectors.

To better understand who a debt collector is, you should know what rights and responsibilities he has. Many people, at the mention of this word, begin to worry, associating them with people who extort money from debtors through blackmail and threats. Such cases do happen, but it should be remembered that every employee of a collection organization is obliged to work within the law.

A debt collector is an agent who deals with the debts of undisciplined borrowers who do not want to return the funds received for a time. As a rule, collection companies work with debts ranging from 30 to 200 thousand rubles, since cases of debt collection above this amount are usually carried out through the courts. Banks transfer information about their debtors to collectors if delays in payments exceed 3 months.

Collectors first appeared in Russia in 2004, and initially the methods of their influence were indeed somewhat aggressive. However, at present, these companies are trying to act within the law, so they mainly use methods of psychological influence. Currently, collectors are a kind of financial consultants whose duty is not to intimidate the client, but to explain to him the need to repay the debt in a short time, so as not to have problems with the court in the future.

What is a collection agency

Banks are reluctant to work with single collectors, especially if it is not about selling debts, but about cooperation under an agency agreement. In addition, a large part of debt collection work is the collection and analysis of information about the debtor. Therefore, most often, debtors are pestered by representatives of collection agencies - organizations that deal with the entire range of actions to collect money.

There are three types of collection agencies:

1 Cooperate with the bank under an agency agreement for a percentage of the collected amounts. Typically the agency fee reaches 25%.

2 Exist as divisions of banks. In recent years, this has rarely happened, and even before, collectors were most often hired by retail banks with a high percentage of approvals for questionable loans. Most of these credit institutions have long since died in Bose.

3 They buy out entire packages of problem debts from banks at a significant discount (up to 50% of the real value) under an assignment agreement (instead of the bank, the borrower ends up owing to the collection agency). Then he collects debts in every possible way. It is in this category, by the way, that the majority of “black collectors” remaining on the market fall into, for whom the law adopted in 2020 is not written.

In addition to the debt collectors themselves, the collection agency usually has a lawyer on its staff (one or more, depending on the size of the organization). Often, collectors have to deal with the complex ownership structure of companies in which the debtor participates, as well as recommend actions to the latter that involve the need to sell the property. In this case, you simply cannot do without a lawyer. A legal adviser is also necessary in the process of an agency acquiring bank debts.

In addition, the staff may include an office manager, psychologist, financial analyst, accountant and other specialists. Former employees of law enforcement agencies - the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Department of Economic Crimes, etc. - are usually hired as the main personnel. They do not hesitate to communicate harshly with clients.

By law, the number of a collection agency should not be less than three people. There is no maximum staff size limit.

Modern collection agency = call center?

If earlier collectors could afford to act outrageously, then after the law tightened the screws, now there is not a peep, not a thing to say.

In many agencies, collectors are given psychological training, where they are taught that they are now great psychologists. A minority of collection agencies now practice home visits of employees to debtors. Most have become call centers.

There are exceptions - those who still allow themselves to threaten or use violent actions, but this is already outside the scope of the law. You yourself are to blame: impunity and forgiveness are the best way to provoke more daring offenses.

The nuts continue to be tightened. In particular, on March 16, 2020, a bill was introduced into the State Duma that would oblige debt collectors to communicate about debt only with the debtor himself, and not with his family members or acquaintances.

What rights do debt collectors have?

According to the law, collectors have the right to establish contact with the debtor by any means. This means that the collector can use any information he has about the whereabouts of the debtor. Phone numbers (including those of relatives and friends), addresses, social media accounts, places of work, and so on - all this can be used to establish contact with a person who is behind on debt payments.

After finding out this information, collectors have the right to:

Send SMS messages to the debtor about the existence of a debt and the need to repay it. At the same time, insults are unacceptable.
Send letters to the debtor by regular mail and e-mail with information about the debt and an offer to return the money. The text must also be within the bounds of decency established by the laws of the Russian Federation.
Call the debtor on existing telephone numbers no more than twice a week, once a day or eight times a month and report the existence of a debt, and also insist on its return. You cannot call before 8 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends. In the evening, call times are limited to 21.00 and 22.00 respectively.

They can also call the debtor’s relatives in cases where they are guarantors for the loan.

Meet with the debtor in person at the same time intervals no more than once a week. At the same time, no physical interaction is allowed - only conversations. A citizen has the right to refuse to meet with a debt collector or to communicate with him through his representative.

Collectors have the right to sue the debtor to recover money or property from him. However, in reality this rarely happens, because if there is something to collect from a person, the banks file a claim long before the debt is sold to collectors. And if there is nothing to take or the documents on the debt are “raw,” then no one will waste time on litigation.

Fraudulent debt collection schemes

As a rule, it is very problematic to agree with debtors on the return of money. To increase the effectiveness of their activities, collection agencies may resort to dishonest methods, using long-established schemes.

Black collectors - who are they?

Black collectors are small organizations, the number of which usually does not exceed 10 people, most of whom are former representatives of law enforcement agencies. Banks turn to them for help when a client has a large debt that cannot be collected legally. They are called “black” because they can resort to the most severe illegal measures.

Prohibited tricks of scammers - how debt collectors break the law

Very often, debtors complain about violations of their rights provided for by law. For example, agency employees resort to the following illegal actions:

They threaten to use force or exert physical force. This is prohibited by Federal Law-230.
Cause harm to debtors. It can be physical, psychological, career (when an employer receives false information about its employee), or property.
Damage or destroy private property. For example, they puncture tires on a car, break windows in an apartment.
They exert psychological pressure - they threaten with violence and other negative consequences.
They call at night. During the period from 22:00 to 8:00, calls regarding debt repayment are prohibited by law.
Too common. It is prohibited to visit the debtor more than once a week.
Mislead the client or those around him. For example, they say that the debtor has already been sued, that this could end very badly, and so on.

If debt collectors violate the law, the borrower has the right to go to court.

What debt collectors are not entitled to

The law clearly defines the limits of actions of collectors, beyond which they cannot go. Here's what debt collectors are prohibited from:

Invade the debtor's home without permission.
Threaten the debtor, his family, acquaintances, colleagues, and so on.
Cause damage to the property of the debtor, as well as third parties (for example, painting walls in the entrances with threats against the debtor).
Contact minors or incompetent (including disabled) debtors or relatives of the debtor in any way (including those permitted by law).
Call the debtor's colleagues. Collectors often ignore this point, but the law prohibits the disclosure of personal data, which includes information about the financial condition of citizens. Another thing is that it is not easy to draw a clear line between informing the violator’s colleagues about his debt and disclosing information about financial insolvency.
Describe the property. Some debt collectors abuse the lack of awareness, especially among older citizens, about their rights and, for “preventive purposes,” during personal visits, make a list of things in the apartment. Only bailiffs have the right to do this within the framework of a court decision.

If desired, the debtor may, 4 months after the debt arose, send the creditor a notice of refusal to cooperate with debt collectors. Ideally, the creditor then has the right to immediately file a claim for debt collection in court, but in reality, most often, collectors switch to relatives, acquaintances, and especially the debtor’s guarantors.

We also recommend writing an Application for revocation of permission to process personal data, which must be sent to the bank. This is especially true if collectors act on behalf of the bank. Such a statement prohibits the bank and other persons to whom it could transfer your contact information from using them in the future, or, more simply, in this way you prohibit the bank and collectors from calling you and coming to your home. Only correspondence by mail.

Law on the work of collectors

On January 1, 2020, a law limiting the rights of collectors came into force in the Russian Federation. It is designed to protect the rights of Russian citizens and suppress the illegal activities of some collection agencies.

Work on collecting debts from the population, in accordance with the norms established by law, can only be carried out by agencies included in the State Register of Bailiff Service. Unregistered companies and individuals who engage in unauthorized collection activities face certain fines or criminal prosecution.

New rules for the work of collectors regulate the forms of interaction between the intermediary and the debtor. The law, which affects all aspects of such activities, is designed to protect the population of our country from manifestations of authoritarianism and callousness on the part of debt collection specialists.

How do collectors work?

The algorithm for debt collectors usually consists of three stages.

Stage 1. Debt collection at an early stage (from 30 to 90 days, so-called soft-collection).

At this stage, the debtor is reminded of his existing debt via SMS, and the reasons for the debt and the possibility of repaying it are clarified over the phone. You should not expect that collectors will, like good uncles, set you on the right path. Everything happens harshly and persistently: “Did you find the money? No? Why? Do this and that,” and next time everything repeats. Collectors are not affected by your words that a debt of 10,000 rubles is nonsense, and there is no point in spending so much time on you for the sake of it.

Stage 2. Collection at a later stage (over 90 days, hard-collection).

Here the collectors already invite the debtor to come to the office “for a conversation.” When he refuses (this happens in 99% of cases), they visit him themselves. According to the law, the debtor himself decides whether or not to allow such guests into the house (see also: What to do if collectors come home).

In order not to rely on his wishes, collectors resort to various tricks - for example, they come to the debtor at work, from where he cannot escape, even if he wants to. The conversation usually turns out to be very tough and is accompanied by a demand to immediately sell the existing property and repay the debt. Also at this stage, collectors call loan guarantors and tell horror stories about what happens to those who do not pay their obligations.

Stage 3. Collection in court.

The duties of the collector include preparing documents for the debtor for submission to the court. Among them are the final calculation of the debt, taking into account all penalties and fines, and the generation of reports. Using this information, claims are drawn up in court. It rarely reaches the third stage: if the debtor has property, collectors usually “convince” it to sell it to repay the debt in the first or second stages.

An example of a collection “script” (scenario) of a conversation. Click on the block name to expand the text:

First block - survey

Claimant. Hello. Are you Alexey Petrovich Ivanov?

Debtor. Yes it's me.

Claimant. I'm from the collection agency "Horns and Legs". My name is Petrov Ivan Sidorovich. According to loan agreement No. 35 and information from Oguretsbank, you have a debt of 150,000 rubles overdue for 3 months. Do you know about this?

Debtor. I can't pay now. I lost my job, I only have enough money for food, I have a small child.

Claimant. Wait. First, let's clarify your contact information. Give your mobile number.

Debtor. 8 111 2222

Claimant. Home phone?

Debtor. You understand, I can’t pay now, I have no money, this conversation will lead nowhere.

Claimant. Wait. Who do you live with?

Debtor. With mother, wife and child.

Claimant. Work phone?

Debtor. Why do you need this?

Claimant. So does he exist or not? Or do you just not want to pay?

Debtor. I'm not working right now.

Claimant. At all? Are you sitting at home?

Debtor. I'm looking for a job.

The second block is obtaining consent for payment

Claimant. Are you going to repay the loan? Or did they take it so as not to give it back?

Debtor. I will, of course. It's just not possible right now.

Claimant. Do you think the bank forgot about its money?

Debtor. No. I’m telling you: if I find a job, I’ll give it to you.

Claimant. You have made a contract. The bank won't wait. I can’t see from here whether you’re looking for a job or hanging out with the bank’s money. The money must be returned. The bank will take them anyway - it always takes them from everyone. Only if you don't give it now, you will have more problems. Therefore, now I need to decide whether you will repay the debt voluntarily or whether I need to start the forced collection procedure. Will you voluntarily repay or sell your property through the court for repayment?

Debtor. Of course, voluntarily.

Claimant. When?

Debtor. As soon as I get a job.

Third block – offering payment options

Claimant. You've been getting settled for three months now. You live dependent on your wife. Did I understand correctly that her job is the only source of income for your family?

Debtor. Well, I sometimes work part-time, but that’s not enough. It seems like something is starting to hatch.

Claimant. Are you trying to deceive me now? Are you hoping for a reprieve? Will not work. The longer you wait to return, the sooner you will create a lot of problems for yourself and your family. And only you will be to blame for them.

Debtor. What should I do?

Claimant. I have many clients. Almost everyone has problems. But they solve them. They find work, sell cars, property, borrow from friends and acquaintances, rent out apartments. And you don't do anything. And you hope that the bank will forget about you.

Debtor. I say: I’m looking for a job, as soon as I find it, I’ll start paying immediately, I’m an honest person.

Claimant. I can't see from here whether you're honest or not. You don't pay or try to find money. After 30 days, the bank will send the documents to the court. You need to hurry now. Look for ways to repay, preferably in full. Otherwise, you will wait for the bailiffs to wake your children up in the morning. They will trample in your apartment. Neighbors will be called as witnesses. Is this what you want to wait for?

Debtor. No. I will try.

Claimant. I told you where other people get money. Either you start actively looking for money, or wait for problems. Big problems. I'm not saying goodbye.

Career prospects

It is currently not possible to obtain an appropriate education: no higher educational institution simply trains such specialists. If you want to work as a collector, choose professions from the fields of economics, law and pedagogy.

Although there are special courses at collection agencies that provide the opportunity for those wishing to undergo specialized training and subsequently conduct collection activities.

Working as a collector, a person discovers positive qualities in himself that can be useful to him in later life. The accumulated knowledge can allow specialists, upon completion of their career, to change their occupation and get any job related to finance and direct sales.

Who are “black” and “gray” collectors?

This market segment, after the adoption of the law on regulation of collection activities, was finally forced out of the legal space and is now a type of fraud or extortion.

“Black collectors” are usually associated with various semi-legal purchases, pseudo-pawnshops and microloan offices. There, citizens who are obviously insolvent (but have valuable property - for example, real estate) are convinced to borrow money, charge crazy interest rates on them, and then “set” debt collectors on people who are in debt. The task of these “specialists” is, if possible, to deprive the debtor of valuable property. Through intimidation or even violence.

“Grey collectors” are not directly associated with crime, but they do not shy away from illegal methods when trying to collect bank or other “legal” debts. The press writes about them, telling terrible stories about children of debtors scared to death by threats, about apartment locks filled with foam, about entrances painted with obscene phrases about debt-ridden residents, about beaten fathers of families.

You can distinguish unscrupulous debt collectors by the following characteristics:

They do not comply with the requirements of the law (in terms of the number of calls, the content of conversations, etc.);
They refuse to show documents and identify themselves;
Attribute other people's functions to themselves (try to describe property, use violence);
They don’t try to come to an agreement, they immediately turn to threats.

Primary requirements

There are quite a lot of people willing to fill vacant positions in collection firms these days. The current demand for this profession has led to the fact that applicants for the position of collector undergo a thorough selection when applying for a job.

Previously, former military personnel or representatives of law enforcement agencies, who were capable of demonstrating aggression when collecting debt, often got jobs in such companies. Currently, the requirements for collectors have changed dramatically.

The main condition is the presence of a certain higher education: in the field of economics, finance or law. Priority in employment is given to those people who have experience in these areas related to the return of debts to creditors. However, quite often there are cases when people with a diploma in psychology or even a teacher are engaged in collection activities.

Specialists in collecting overdue debts should have information about accounting rules in Russia and study the law on the work of collectors that regulates their work activities.

Also, applicants for this position need computer skills, the ability to work with various databases, and knowledge of the basics of psychology.

How to communicate with a debt collector

First of all, understand that a debt collector is not a bank employee. For him, you are a person who deliberately does not pay his obligations. During training, each collector is provided with a so-called script - a script for a conversation with a debtor.

There are different people among debt collectors. Most people don't bother thinking deeply about the nature of debt. They strictly follow the script, asking the same questions and mechanically recording the answers. Therefore, shouting at the collector, scolding him or sending him to hell is pointless, he will simply write down your answer, comment sternly on it and ask the next question. In the same way, it makes no sense to ask to “get into position.” A collector is a hired employee, he has his own responsibilities. He cannot postpone the repayment period. He is theoretically capable of listening to your tearful pleas, but he has 100 people like you. Listening to everyone can drive you crazy. Therefore, if you start demanding that the collector stop bothering you and wait, he will simply ask you again when you pay.

Here are some useful tips for normal communication with debt collectors:

1 It’s better to pick up the phone. The collector, by default, assumes that you are a willful defaulter, and if you still refuse to talk, the debt collector immediately moves on to the hard option: he comes to visit, to work, etc.

2 If there are objective reasons for non-payment of a debt, it is better to tell about them immediately (briefly and to the point): they were fired from work, a relative fell ill (they had to pay a lot of money for treatment), their apartment was robbed, etc. Then the collector will press less and offer more. True, this does not work for everyone. Some debt collectors listen, record, demand immediate payment, and ask the next scripted question.

3 No need to deceive the collector. Yes, he doesn’t believe you initially. However, if you said that you would pay by Saturday, and on Saturday you stopped answering the phone, you will not have to expect anything good from the debt collector in the future. The conversation will be more rude, and the collector will be more persistent.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the profession?

The main advantages include the following:

prevalence of collection agency services. If you have the skills that match the job description, finding a job will not be difficult;
relatively high wages due to remuneration as a percentage of the repaid debt;
the opportunity to increase the amount of knowledge in the financial sector, gives the right to subsequently move into a related industry with a minimum of restrictions;
achieving an understanding of the intricacies of human psychology. It will be useful not only at work, but also in everyday life or personal relationships.

As for the negative aspects of the specialty:

Quite a negative attitude of most of society towards collection agencies. Despite the legal regulation of the activities of such firms, the methods of work of collectors before the introduction of amendments are still remembered by Russian citizens. Even those people who have never had debts to creditors still have a rather ambivalent attitude towards debt collectors;
constantly being in a near-stressful state - calm conversations with debtors are unlikely to be achieved. You almost always have to endure rudeness, coldness, or outright threats from your interlocutor. Friends are unlikely to praise you for your chosen profession. It’s good if they don’t start treating you differently after employment;
Despite the relatively high income, it largely depends on success with repaid debts. It is not always possible to collect borrowed funds, so there is a high probability of financial difficulties arising.

In addition, it is worth noting dubious prospects in terms of career growth. There is often a high turnover in collection activities due to the lack of opportunities to develop in this direction. However, if there is a strong desire to stay in this area, the claimant can achieve a management position in one of the departments or head an agency.

What to do if a debt collector threatens?

The line between a harsh warning and a threat is difficult to draw. However, using the following table, you can distinguish the legal behavior of a debt collector from the illegal:

Collector threatens	Collector warns
Pay back the debt tomorrow, or we’ll break our arm and say that’s what happened.	Every day you receive penalties; by the end of the year you will owe not 200 thousand, but half a million.
Aren't you afraid for your son, he goes home from school alone?	We will call constantly, and we will never get tired - until you pay.
Let's tell your daughter's classmates about your debts, they will laugh at her.	If you don’t pay, we will file a lawsuit, you will have to pay a bunch of fines and penalties in addition to the main debt.
Your husband will be met at the entrance by some people with brass knuckles.	The court can deprive you of all your property for debts
Go out, read, there is something interesting written about you at the entrance, the neighbors have already read it.	For debts, you can be evicted from your apartment in court

But how to act if the collector threatens and does not warn?

Threats by phone

Unlike the old days, now collectors usually respond to serious threats on the third or fourth call. Most often they threaten to influence children and disclose information about the debt. Don't forget that the conversation is being recorded, so there is no need to be rude in response. If technically possible, record the conversation yourself. Specify the name of the collector and the name of the agency. Check the amount of your debt and the period of overdue. As soon as the other person starts insulting you, tell him that the conversation is being recorded (this can be done even if you are not actually recording anything). It is better to hang up only if the collector refuses to introduce himself.

You can contact law enforcement agencies with the recording (or without it). At the same time, you need to understand that the presence of a debt is in no way connected with the fact of insult and does not justify it. The human rights of a debtor are exactly the same as those of a creditor. The legislation provides for several articles under which you can file a claim against a debt collector who abuses threats:

“Threat of murder or infliction of grievous bodily harm” (Article 119 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
“Extortion” (Article 163 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
“Violation of privacy” (Article 137 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

But keep in mind that it will be very difficult to prove the seriousness of the threats.

It is more effective to write complaints to Rospotrebnadzor, the prosecutor’s office at your place of residence and the National Association of Professional Collection Agencies, indicating the dates and content of the threats. You can ask the operator to block the collector’s number only after submitting the mentioned complaints. However, there is not much point in blocking: every self-respecting collector has several phone numbers.

Threats in person

The collector has the right to meet with the debtor no more than once a week. Communication should take place without the involvement of strangers (unless, of course, the debtor himself wants neighbors or colleagues to stand nearby and listen).

The options for a personal conversation with a threatening debt collector are:

Do not open the door, talk through it. In this case, it is advisable to record the conversation on a voice recorder (for example, a telephone recorder). First ask your neighbors to listen too and then, if necessary, become witnesses.
Talking on the landing. This option is suitable if the debtor is not trying to hide anything from the neighbors. The collector is unlikely to seriously threaten, risking being heard by dozens of people.
Have a conversation in the apartment, turning on the recorder. This is the least acceptable option, because if the collector decides, so to speak, to move from words to deeds, it will be difficult to appeal to others. If possible, ask relatives or neighbors to call the police at the first sound of a fight. Do the same if visitors decide to take or damage your property. Collectors have no rights to do this; only bailiffs can describe things by court decision.

In all cases, be sure to ask the collector to show your passport (you can demonstratively rewrite the data), as well as a copy of the assignment agreement (if the bank sold your debt to collectors) or an agency agreement.

If a collector comes at you because of a debt to which you have nothing to do (this often happens), inform him about it in the correct form, explain the reasons - for example, you bought a SIM card, which, apparently, previously belonged to the debtor , or the apartment where he used to live. If the threats continue, do not hesitate to call the police. In addition, an effective way would be to file a complaint with Rospotrebnadzor, the prosecutor's office, the already mentioned National Association of Professional Collection Agencies (NAPKA), as well as the Central Bank. See below for how to write such complaints.

Is it worth contacting anti-collectors?

An anti-collector is not the antithesis of collectors, but a lawyer who helps the debtor protect his rights, reducing payments if possible. The interest of such a lawyer is the opportunity to earn a percentage of the amount of the debt written off.

Such specialists are especially willing to take on situations in which a relatively small debt has accumulated into a huge debt due to the creditor’s tricks, various fines and penalties. For example, for a long time, crazy penalties, fines, and penalties were accrued, the amount of which is easy to challenge in court. This is especially true for microloans.

A man borrowed 30,000 rubles from a bank, and after a couple of years of non-payments, 300,000 came up; this is exactly the amount that collectors demand from the debtor, although it contradicts the current legislation on microloans. Collectors do not delve into such subtleties; their task is to obtain the required amount, and not to figure out where it came from (although really serious agencies understand and offer the debtor options). Anti-collectors sue creditors, win cases and receive a significant amount from a happy client (who only has to repay the loan body without accrued penalties). Agree, paying an anti-collector 100,000 is better than paying a collector 300,000.

Pros and cons of the profession

Working as a collector has its positive and negative sides. The advantages of this profession are considered to be the possibility of fruitful work in a team and the presence of a creative component in the activity.

Despite the fact that communication between collectors and clients proceeds according to a pre-planned scenario, each specific situation can be filled with its own uniqueness.

The work of these specialists involves frequent trips to meet with debtors on their territory. Collectors are constantly learning, adopting experience from their colleagues, and mastering the nuances necessary to work with people.

The disadvantage of the profession is the stressful nature of such work. Debt collection specialists often have to listen to insults directed at them and see the tears of debtors who are unable to pay debts to creditors on time.

Sometimes there are cases when working as a collector (reviews from borrowers indicate this fact) awakens negative qualities in representatives of this profession.

How to become a collector

After the activities of collectors received legislative registration, this profession became much more attractive. In 2020, in the Russian Federation, according to the Federal Tax Service, about half a million organizations indicated “collection services” as one of the types of activity when registering. About one and a half hundred professional collection agencies are officially registered in accordance with the new law, and this number is increasing every month. The demand for truly qualified employees is also growing.

What should a collector be able to do?

The main work of a collector is constant conversations with debtors. Not sincere, but rather tough, sometimes rude. At the same time, it is necessary to be able to competently talk about the existence and composition of the debt, offer possible repayment options, and explain the legal consequences of non-payment. You also need to not be afraid of conflict situations and be able to resolve them.

In addition, the duties of the collector include the following functions:

Collection of information about the debtor within the framework of the law;
A full range of work with overdue debts (calculation of amounts and terms, informing the debtor, preparing a package of documents for submission to the court);
Preparation of financial reports for debtor clients

Who can become a collector

There are not many collectors with many years of experience in this profession, so most often candidates are selected from related fields. The requirements are something like this:

1 Education

Legal, economic, military, pedagogical, psychological. Preference is given to those who have graduated from universities in specialties related to work in law enforcement agencies. Also a plus will be completed courses for collectors - these are now organized at large collection agencies (for example, FASP) or in specialized training centers (for example, DA.Collection).

2 experience

The best option is an employee of the debt collection department in any bank. Other former employees of banks and law enforcement agencies are also in demand. They willingly hire stress-resistant callers from any field (with a legal or economic education).

3 Skills

Firstly, of course, communication skills are extremely important. If you are afraid to talk to people or don't like it, there is no point in going to debt collectors. At the same time, the candidate must have a low level of empathy. If you feel sorry for every debtor, you will quickly fall into this category yourself, left without income (read about collectors’ salaries below). The ideal option is to have the skills to communicate firmly with antisocial elements or with disloyal clients.

Skills in using various computer programs and Internet sites are important. In particular, reference and legal systems, databases, services of government bodies (Federal Tax Service, Federal Bailiff Service and others).

Knowledge of general accounting principles. It is clear that specialists will understand the intricacies of corporate intricacies (if the debtor owns large assets), but if we are talking about an ordinary debtor who was fired from work, the collector must be able to calculate his debt.

In the capitals, knowledge of foreign languages will be a big plus. Moreover, if a collector can speak the languages of the peoples of Central Asia or the North Caucasus, he simply won’t be worth it. But English at Intermediate level and above is also considered a good option.

Mobility is considered an important skill: the work of a debt collector involves traveling, and sometimes the debtor has to be caught in the most unexpected places.

How bank debts end up in collections

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Collection functions in some banks are performed by specially created debt collection units. For example, VTB and SB have such services. If the number of debts is too large and the bank’s security staff is small, then collection agencies come into play.

Any overdue debt is a significant loss for the bank, and therefore its employees immediately take measures to collect debts as quickly as possible. Debt restructuring, refinancing, mortgage holidays, etc. are offered. But if the effect is not achieved, then the debt is given to collectors - either for ransom or for a fee. When purchasing a debt, the agency evaluates its prospects, taking into account the risks and possible profits, and takes (or does not take) it for sale.

In terms of content, a conversation with a debt collector is similar to a conversation with a bank employee who offers help in getting out of a difficult situation and reminds you of a likely recourse to court to collect the debt. There really is such an opportunity, and it is stated in the loan agreement. But going to court is not entirely beneficial for the bank, because the process can drag on for a long time. Especially when it comes to pyramid schemes, where people take out a loan to pay off a previous loan. Therefore, in order to help out at least part of the debt amount, the bank transfers the debtor to collectors.

Let's sum it up

The profession of a collector for Russian society is gradually ceasing to be something frightening with an illegal scent. The activities of collectors are within the scope of the law. However, there is still a great chance to stumble upon “gray” or even “black” pseudo-specialists. To prevent this from happening, try not to take out loans if there is even the slightest doubt about your ability to repay them. Create financial safety nets. Stay away from microloan offices, or at least read our article about the possibility of refinancing such loans.

For those who happen to meet, there is only one piece of advice: don’t be afraid. Honest debt collectors are not dangerous, although communication with them is unpleasant (but this is your own fault - there is no need to accumulate debts). And dishonest people can be dealt with with the help of the police.

Those who want to become collectors themselves must be prepared for complex psychological conflicts. Driven into a corner, debtors often take out their anger on the debt collectors. People with a fine mental organization have nothing to gain from this profession. Everyone else needs to remember that the end does not always justify the means, and excessive rigidity is not a guarantee of repayment of the debt.

Video for dessert: How the new law on collectors works

Where do they teach

Professional training in the specialty “Collector” is not provided. Debt collection agencies often train future employees themselves or recruit qualified applicants. These include lawyers and former law enforcement officers.

In Moscow there is a special school for training collectors, in which everyone is offered the “Training for Great Dane Collection” program. Upon completion of the course, the graduate receives a standard certificate. Also, holders of psychological, legal, and economic education can try themselves in this profession.