Debt collectors are here to help your business. That’s the message that the Australian Collectors and Debt Buyers Association (ACDBA) have been trying to push home of late.

The film and television industries have long portrayed debt collectors as violent thugs arriving at the debtors door, a stigma that has to be changed. In reality, the bulk of the industry are highly professional, working out of call centres, with little of the process taking place face-to-face.

With the industry regulated heavily by the ACCC and ASIC, as well as the high cost in sending collectors out for personal collection, the industry has had to adapt and this has been for the better. And the best resolutions come from transparent and meaningful communication.

A recent report from the ACCC regarding complaints in the Debt Collection industry stemmed from disputes the customer had about the debt and not the conduct of the collection agency.

“The debt collection industry has made significant improvements in recent years,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said. “Many in the industry clearly take their compliance obligations seriously and are committed to improving their reputation.”