Debt Collector Kaikohi Nama

Debt collectors help businesses and individuals collect money or goods from people with overdue debts.

Debt collectors may do some or all of the following:

  • keep track of client accounts and contact them to find out why they haven't paid their debts
  • work with clients to implement payment plans
  • organise the repossession of items or legal action against clients to settle overdue debts.

Useful Experience

Useful experience for debt collectors includes:

  • work as a legal clerk
  • call centre work
  • customer service work
  • credit control work
  • work in a bank or insurance company.

Personal Qualities

Debt collectors need to be:

  • good communicators, including with people who are angry or upset
  • good negotiators
  • emotionally intelligent and able to relate different people
  • confident, resilient and self-motivated
  • able to work well under pressure

Skills

Debt collectors need to have knowledge of:

  • the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act
  • relevant sections of the Consumer Guarantees Act and Privacy Act
  • District Court rules and procedures.

Conditions

Debt collectors:

  • usually work regular business hours or do shift work that includes weekends and evenings
  • work in call centres and offices
  • may travel locally or nationally to visit clients.

Subject Recommendations

No specific secondary education is required for this job, but economics, maths and accounting to at least NCEA Level 2 is useful.

 

Related Subjects

Debt Collectors can earn around $48K-$65K per year.

Pay for debt collectors varies depending on skills and experience.

  • Debt collectors usually earn between $48,000 and $65,000 a year
  • Senior debt collectors who manage teams may earn more than this.

Source: Kelly Services, 'Kelly Services Salary Guide 2019', 2019; and careers.govt.nz research, 2020.

Debt collectors may move into team management roles or other finance industry roles.

Years Of Training

There are no specific requirements to become a debt collector. However, employers may prefer you to have contact centre experience or a New Zealand Certificate in Contact Centres (Level 3 or 4).

Debt collectors gain skills on the job and can also study for their certificate while working.

Debt Collector