Debt collectors walk fine line – to great effect
The business of debt collection is a sensitive one. Letters sent from afar often fail to convey the personal nature of a financial relationship, leaving people to think late payments are of no great bearing, or that if they did want to explain themselves there is no one to listen.
But turn up in person and feelings can easily boil over, causing debtors to dig their toes in.
Following the careful path inbetween is Coast to Coast Investigations, a collections, surveillance and documentsserving agency whose network across New Zealand and Australia is comprised almost entirely of former police officers.
Based in North Canterbury, the company’s director, Richard Hoekstra, says the diplomacy skills employed by Coast to Coast Investigations are critical to a successful outcome.
‘‘You could go to a lawyer and pay $350 an hour to have a chat and then only send out a letter. But what’s the point of that when most people have already sent out letters?’’ he says.
‘‘We’ll actually go and see the person at their work, at their home – many of our agents are ex-police officers so they know the best way to do this.
‘‘You don’t have to go to a lawyer for debt recovery.’’
Having incorporated Clement Collections and Just Collections into the long-running Coast to Coast Investigations, the company has a database of more than 90,000 debtors. This provides valuable information for credit and background checks.
Clients range from multinational firms pursuing hundreds of thousands of dollars in arrears, to Australian authorities looking for people who have crossed the ditch, right down to parents chasing loans from poorly organised children.
Hoekstra says by being firm but not confrontational, Coast to Coast Investigations often gets debtors to realise the seriousness of a situation and a settlement is reached.
‘‘We get debtors who say, ‘Thank you for leaving me with my dignity intact, now can you help you me with my debts?’ Because often it does run in a chain.’’
A lawyer who works closely with the company provides legal assurances and can elevate proceedings to the court level if necessary. A ‘‘very good rate’’ is available to the company due to the amount of work they send his way, Hoekstra says.
As approved private investigators, Coast to Coast also handles a wide variety of surveillance and reporting work.
This might include checking the accuracy of ACC claims, finding out if a spouse is being unfaithful, or gathering evidence of an employee stealing from a business.
Document-serving is also available in all locations across New Zealand and abroad.
‘‘We tailor our services to your needs, whatever that may be,’’ Hoekstra says.
To find out more, contact Coast to Coast Investigations on
0800 463 578, email office@c2c.nz or visit c2c.nz.