Legal Debt Collector

Role Summary

The Legal Debt Collector is responsible for recovering outstanding debt by negotiating payment arrangements, managing legally escalated accounts, and ensuring compliance with company policies and relevant legislation. The role requires accurate record-keeping, professional customer interactions, and consistent achievement of collection targets in a fast-paced, target-driven environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Contact customers via telephone, email, and other approved communication channels to recover outstanding debt.
• Negotiate payment arrangements, settlements, and sustainable repayment plans to maximise debt recovery while meeting monthly collection targets.
• Manage legally escalated accounts and assess cases for legal action in accordance with company policies and regulatory requirements.
• Liaise with attorneys, tracing agents, and internal departments to facilitate the legal collections process.
• Monitor legal accounts, follow up on payment progress, and ensure timely resolution of outstanding matters.
• Prepare and issue customer correspondence, including payment reminders, handover notifications, and legal escalation notices.
• Maintain accurate and detailed records of all customer interactions, payment agreements, and account activity within the relevant systems.
• Meet or exceed key performance indicators (KPIs), including collections, interest recovered, legal requests, payment plans, and overall productivity.
• Ensure all collection activities comply with company policies, legal requirements, and industry regulations while maintaining professionalism and confidentiality.

Minimum Requirements

• Grade 12 (Matric).
• Minimum of 2 years' experience in debt collections, legal collections, or a credit management environment.
• Previous experience managing legally escalated accounts will be advantageous.
• Knowledge of debt collection legislation and legal recovery processes.
• Experience working in a target-driven call centre or collections environment.
• Computer literate with proficiency in Microsoft Office and collections or CRM systems.
• Ability to work night shift.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent negotiation and persuasion skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Customer-focused with the ability to manage difficult conversations professionally.
• Strong conflict resolution and objection-handling skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, target-driven environment.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and confidentiality.
• Computer literacy with the ability to navigate multiple systems efficiently.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to team objectives.
• Knowledge of debt collection legislation and regulatory compliance.