Bill and Account Collectors

Bill and account collectors try to recover payment on overdue bills. They negotiate repayment plans and help people find solutions to make it easier to pay their overdue bills.

Duties

Bill and account collectors typically do the following:

• Find consumers and businesses who have overdue bills
• Track down people who have an out-of-date address by using online, postal, credit bureau, and personal sources—a process known as “skip tracing”
• Inform people that they have an overdue bill and try to negotiate a payment
• Explain the terms of sale or contract, when necessary
• Learn the reasons for the overdue bills, which can help with the negotiations
• Offer credit advice or refer people to a debt counselor, when appropriate

Bill and account collectors generally contact people directly to notify them of unpaid bills. They update contact information and record past collection attempts. Keeping these records can help collectors with future negotiations.

The main job of bill and account collectors is to help negotiate a solution that is acceptable to the debtor and maximizes payment to the creditor. After the two parties agree on a repayment plan, the collector regularly checks to ensure that the debtor pays on time. If the debtor does not pay, the collector submits a statement to the creditor, who may take legal action. In extreme cases, this legal action includes repossessing goods or disconnecting service.

Collectors must follow federal and state laws that govern debt collection. These laws require that collectors make sure they are talking with the debtor before announcing that the purpose of the call is to collect a debt. A collector also must give a statement, called “mini-Miranda,” which informs the account holder that they are speaking with a bill or debt collector. Specific rules may vary by industry.

Collectors usually have goals they are expected to meet. Typically, these include a daily quota of calls and success rates.

Bill and account collectors held about 166,900 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of bill and account collectors were as follows:

Many collectors work in a call center for a third-party collection agency rather than for the original creditor. In all industries, they may spend most of their time on the phone tracking down or negotiating with people who have unpaid bills. They also use computers and databases to update information and record the results of their calls.

Collectors’ work can be stressful because some people may become angry and confrontational when pressed about their debts. Collectors must be able to face rejection regularly and still be ready to make the next call in a polite and positive manner.

Work Schedules

Most bill and account collectors work full time. Some work shifts that include weekends or evenings.

Bill and account collectors typically need at least a high school diploma to enter the occupation, and they receive training on the job.

The median annual wage for bill and account collectors was $46,040 in May 2024.

Employment of bill and account collectors is projected to grow 10 percent from 2024 to 2034, decline.

About 13,700 openings for bill and account collectors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.