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What is a collections, customer service and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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The person in charge of collecting past-due bill payments is known as a collections customer service or collections agent. Therefore, your job as a collections customer service agent would often include compiling a list of those who haven't paid their bills. You will also sort the list by the seriousness of the offender's crime.

It is also your job to track down consumers' locations using background checks, credit bureau information, and loan paperwork. Maintaining efficient communication with both internal and external customers is also part of your job. Plus, you are to use negotiation skills to achieve collections while still maintaining the client's goodwill.

Those interested in this position often need to practice intuition, rapid thinking, problem-solving, and communication abilities. As for educational requirements, a collections customer service agent needs to have a minimum of a high school degree. However, having a college degree can also be an advantage. The average annual compensation for collections customer service agents is $31,007.

ScoreCollections, Customer ServiceUS Average
Salary
2.6

Avg. Salary $32,870

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.9

Growth rate -8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.49%

Asian 3.85%

Black or African American 11.36%

Hispanic or Latino 20.35%

Unknown 4.17%

White 59.79%

Gender

female 70.67%

male 29.33%

Age - 46
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46
Stress level
7.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
4.9

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Collections, customer service career paths

Key steps to become a collections, customer service

  1. Explore collections, customer service education requirements

    Most common collections, customer service degrees

    High School Diploma

    33.3 %

    Bachelor's

    26.5 %

    Associate

    22.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific collections, customer service skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Strong Customer Service45.00%
    Customer Service11.91%
    Payment Arrangements5.34%
    Credit Card Payments4.20%
    Delinquent Accounts3.71%
  3. Complete relevant collections, customer service training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New collectionss, customer service learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a collections, customer service based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real collections, customer service resumes.
  4. Research collections, customer service duties and responsibilities

    • Monitor all assign accounts by reviewing the client's aging, manage all potential bad debit, DSO, aging.
    • Provide excellent verbal, written, oral communication skills, attend ongoing training of collections and FDCPA regulations and guidelines.
    • Provide excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and customer service skills via telephone.
    • Research accounts to verify credits and debits make are accurately post against supporting documents showing timely reflect within the FDCPA guidelines.
  5. Prepare your collections, customer service resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your collections, customer service resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a collections, customer service resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable collections, customer service resume templates

    Build a professional collections, customer service resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your collections, customer service resume.
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    Collections, Customer Service Resume
    Collections, Customer Service Resume
    Collections, Customer Service Resume
  6. Apply for collections, customer service jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a collections, customer service job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first collections, customer service job

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Average collections, customer service salary

The average collections, customer service salary in the United States is $32,870 per year or $16 per hour. Collections, customer service salaries range between $27,000 and $39,000 per year.

Average collections, customer service salary
$32,870 Yearly
$15.80 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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