Experienced full time Administrator based in our Macclesfield office to join our small team.  Experience of credit control would be a real advantage, together with file handling and database diary system.   This is a very hands on role and therefore an excellent telephone manner and customer services skills are essential.  Full or Part time hours are available.  Salary negotiable dependent on experience.
Secretary

To join our Secretarial team – either full time or part time hours are available.  Must have several years experience in a secretarial position preferrably with audio typing.  Good communication skills are essential for this role.   Salary negotiable dependent on experience.

For further details on either of these positions, please contact Julie Williams by email on julie@debtcollect.co.uk.

2) Accurate credit checks.
It would be extremely unwise to give customers credit without actually checking the amount in the first place. Either, sign up with a reputable credit reference agency as this could save you thousands of pounds in the long run, and if the credit risk score is particularly poor then only deal with such customers on a cash only basis or via credit card transaction. Also check that you are not dealing with a Company that has Directors which have been involved with a previously failed Company as this again would be extremely risky. Know who your customers are as well, for example Jack Russell Limited or Mr Jack Russell and Mr John Russell t/a Jack Russell Associates. These are examples of two types of business where one is a Limited Company and the latter a Partnership. You may also be dealing with a business which is a Sole Trader or Sole Proprietor.

3) Is your invoice accurate?
Make sure that you show your terms of payment clearly on your invoice and also quote if you have retention of title to your goods. This is particularly applicable to businesses who are supplying goods rather than services. Ensure that your Company’s registration number is quoted as well as the VAT registration number so that the validity of your invoice cannot be challenged on these points.

4) Effective credit control and telephone follow up.
Always telephone your customer once your invoice has been sent out to make sure they have received it so they cannot use this as an excuse for non payment. Make sure that you have the contact name of the customers Director, Credit Controller, or the person responsible for signing their cheques and authorising payment. Have a properly structured telephone follow up system. Suspend the customers account as and when necessary, although do try and maintain good relations as far as possible. Do you really want to have a customer who pays you regularly way after their normal terms and have caused you a lot of time in the chasing thereafter? Perhaps they would be better off working with your competitors!

5) Statutory Demands.
These can be extremely useful with debts that are undisputed and are over £750. It is important however that they are personally delivered rather than just sent by Royal Mail so that there can be no dispute over whether the demand was actually received by your customer. This is where experienced Legal Process Servers are both a necessary tool and are extremely cost effective – Jack Russell can provide you with such a service on a Nationwide basis for generally around £75 – £95 + VAT.

6) County Court Proceedings.
Again, it is worth running a further credit check before proceeding to such action just incase your customer has already become insolvent. Furthermore, although such action can be taken online we would encourage you to use your local County Court service, not only to try and preserve some of the local courts that are fast going out of existence due to government cuts, but more importantly that from our experience they provide a much better and reliable service. Make sure you include not only the Statutory or Contractual interest that you are entitled to within your claim, but also the appropriate compensation fee under the Late Payment Act. Jack Russell can once again assist you with all of these tasks.

In summary, it pays to have a proper and effective Credit Control and Debt Collection system in place. If you have any further enquiries, please contact us on the above number or alternatively via email on info@debtcollect.co.uk.

Whilst trade credit has become common amongst suppliers there is no reason for any business to be starved of cash with proper forecasting, funding lines and an efficient and effective debt collection team. But how many businesses actually want to specialise in debt collection? Surely the main aim of any business is to manufacture and sell or provide services for a price that makes money. Unless your core business is debt collection it can be hard taking time away from the core operations to make sure you get paid on time.

And this is where many companies turn to professional debt collection agencies for help.

There are many levels of service available to help small businesses stay on top of their debtors. Although there is no substitute for having a small credit control person or team looking after the raising of invoices and cash allocation getting expert help to focus on collecting cash can be a real bonus. Specialist agencies have staff that are trained in the latest techniques and use the very latest software to help them track down and collect from past due customers.

If your account is big enough you can even get a tailored service designed to seamlessly fit your business so customers are not aware that they are being contacted by an external agency. Even smaller companies get the benefit of trained competent collectors chasing their debts and usually on a no recovery no fee basis.

One thing that specialist organisations that focus on debt collection have is slick procedures and reporting. They will never miss a scheduled activity or phone call so customers cannot use age old excuses of not being contactable. Personal visits can also be arranged if necessary.

Another advantage of a specialist agency is that they can collect monies in a variety of ways. CHAPS, BACS, credit or charge cards as well as cash can be accepted where your business may not have the capability to process at cost effective rates. And they will chase all the way to insolvency if necessary ensuring that some recovery is made in virtually every case.

So there should be little need for your business to become a bank and fund others at cost to yourself. Outsourcing some or all of the credit collection process can add value to the business at a relatively small cost. Your reputation as a no nonsense operation will also spread amongst your clients helping to generate higher on time payments.

Finally, customers realise that whilst they may be able to mess you around in the hope that you will see further new business opportunities, they cannot do that with a professional debt collection company.

Choosing a credit collection company is like making a credit card comparison – there are lots to choose from so taking time to find one that has the right ethos and fit for your business is worth the effort. Once established, the long term relationship should yield dividends and take a considerable burden away from the business.

• 18th August 2011 – Business Network Lunch at the Lowry Hotel, Manchester
• 18th August 2011 – Business Network Evening at Macclesfield Chamber
• 25th August 2011 – Business Networking in Windermere
• 31st August 2011 – Manchester Curry Club
• 5th September 2011 – Networking in Kettering
• 6th September 2011 – Kettering Breakfast Club
• 7th September 2011 – London Chamber of Commerce Network Evening at Tower Hill
• 8th September 2011 – Networking in Northampton
• 18th September 2011 – Great North Run in Newcastle for Charity – All proceeds welcomed!
• 28th September 2011 – Manchester Curry Club
• 29th September 2011 - Institute of Directors Breakfast Event in Manchester
• 6th October 2011 – Business Exhibition at the Castle Green Hotel, Kendal, Cumbria (Afternoon)
• 12th October 2011 - Institute of Directors Breakfast Event in Manchester
• 9th November 2011 – London Chamber of Commerce Network Event
• 16th November 2011 – Business Network Event at Newby Bridge Hotel, Cumbria (12 noon)
• 16th November 2011 – Chamber of Commerce Network Event near Preston (Early Evening)
• 23rd November 2011 – Business Network North Event at Manchester City Football Club
• 28th November 2011 – Networking in Liverpool (Afternoon)
• 30th November 2011 – Manchester Curry Club
• 2nd December 2011 – Lancaster Chamber Networking Lunch
• 14th December 2011 – Business Network North Lunch at Manchester City Football Club

Further events will be posted as and when we get current information.

If you can’t make it to any of the events and would like information on bad debt recovery, please feel free to contact us at info@debtcollect.co.uk or call Kerry direct on 07966 275454.

Process Serving Flyer

If you would like something similar to this for your own business, please contact Kate Fox at Fox Graphics on 01260 252264

Unfortunately, they have become the victim of savage cuts, which in our opinion, is going to considerably weaken the Court Service and we are reliably informed that there is already a 6 week backlog in certain post being dealt with which is a reflection of the problem. Perhaps consultation with County Court users such as ourselves would have been a far more sensible course of action rather than just simply closing Courts with the impact of Businesses having a more reduced and slower service as a result.

Jack Russell would like to thank all of the hard working staff at the Salford County Court for the excellent service they have provided over the years and we will all be sad to witness it’s demise. Having used various County Courts over the years, we would easily put Salford County Court in the top 3 performers. We would welcome both our Clients and other Court users’ feedback on this matter.

There were changes to 30 types of Civil Court fee out of the 200 plus fees in operation but most of these changes relate to applications to enforce County Court Judgements that have already been obtained for outstanding debt claims. HMCS has stated that these will be recoverable from the defaulters but the main problem of course is to get them to pay in the first place!

Please contact our Legal Department for more detailed information.