What is the difference between a Debt Collector and a Collections Specialist?

A strong Debt Collector candidate is someone who is very comfortable speaking with others. They should be good listeners, patient, and willing to help. Debt collection can sometimes be difficult, so persistence is a major key to being a successful Debt Collector. Strong candidates are excellent communicators who don’t shy away from a challenge or give up easily.

Debt Collector Job Description [Updated 2025]

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A Debt Collector, or Collections Agent, is an individual who contacts people with unpaid bills or accounts in search of overdue amounts. Their main duties include notifying the debtor of their unpaid balance, arranging payment over the phone or in-person, and locating or tracing debtors by calling friends, family, and neighbours if the individual is difficult to contact.

Debt Collector duties and responsibilities

There are many daily duties and responsibilities a Debt Collector must perform daily. Some of the most common tasks include:

Keep records of overdue balances and payment plans
Suggest payment plans and options for the debtor to resolve their debt
Follow up on bounced cheques and report any fraudulent payment attempts to the local authorities
Answer customer questions and provide information to help the debtor understand how to resolve their unpaid account
Negotiate settlements on behalf of the lender
Report overdue accounts to collections agencies

Hire your next Debt Collector today.

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Hire your next Debt Collector today.

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Debt Collector Job Description Examples:

Example 1

A-1 Credit Recovery & Collection Services Inc – Collections Officer

Full Time, Permanent, Bonus & Uncapped Commission

Highlights:

· Conveniently located (near 401 and Yorkdale)

· Office environment with casual dress code

· Clean and open area, no shared desks

· Underground parking

· Monday – Thursday, 8:30am-8:00pm

o Agents work 2 shifts 8:30am – 5:30pm and 2 shifts 11:00am – 8:00pm

o Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm

· Full-time position - 39.5 hours/week

· NO Weekend WORK

· Compensation: $30,000-$50,000. 4 merit reviews within the 1st year of service

· Shared benefits after 6 months of Service

· RRSP plan after 1 year of Service

· Vacation Days

· Uncapped bonus and commission!

· Monthly incentives and opportunity for promotion based on performance!

· Paid Training

· Wide range of clients

Job Description:

· Responsible for the collection of accounts receivables

· Communicate with customers by telephone and written correspondence

· Monitor customer accounts and provide timely and effective resolutions to collection issues

· Utilize skip tracing techniques and databases

· Analyze and evaluate financial reports and data

· Determine suitable repayment plans

Requirements:

· High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent

· Must be at least 18 years of age

· Experience in collections or customer service industry is an asset
Bilingual is an asset

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: $16.00-$17.00 per hour

Additional pay:

Bonus pay
Commission pay
Overtime pay

Benefits:

Casual dress
Dental care
Paid time off
RRSP match
Vision care

Schedule:

8 hour shift
Monday to Friday
No weekends

COVID-19 considerations:

To ensure proper physical distancing, plexiglass barriers have been placed between all desks. Facility cleaners will clean and sanitize regularly.
A cleaning routine of all commonly used equipment is done by management throughout the start date: 2022-06-27

Example 2

Dental care
Extended health care
Paid time off
RRSP match
Vision care

Schedule:

8 hour shift
Monday to Friday
No weekends

Supplemental pay types:

Bonus pay
Commission pay
Overtime pay

Ability to ON M6A3B2: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Example 3

Well Established Law Firm located in Mississauga near Square One, has an opening for a Legal Recovery Officerto join their Creditors' Rights Team.

Responsibilities:

Handle inbound/outbound communications;

Perform collection skip-tracing & asset verification;

Manage volume, use checklists and following established operating procedures;

Update files and systems relevant to telephone conversations and actions taken;

Experience:

Previous skip tracing/collections experience (minimum 1 year);

Experience with skip tracing/collections for financial institutions, either internal or external is an asset;

Experience in a Law Firm environment is not required, but is extremely beneficial;

Experience in Alberta, Ontario and/or British Columbia is also beneficial.

Skills:

Professional demeanor and sound judgment;

Strong internet navigation skills;

Strong negotiating skills;

Excellent listening and communication skills;

Proficiency with PC applications including strong keyboarding skills and the ability to work with multiple technological platforms and product systems;

Attention to detail and ability to multi-task; and

Comfortable working independently and within a team environment.

Application Process:

Qualified candidates interested in this position are invited to forward their resume and references in confidence by email. We thank all applicants for their interest in our firm, however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.

Our firm encourages applications from diverse, qualified candidates and is committed to ensuring accessible services and communications to individuals with disabilities

Please note that employment will be conditional on a satisfactory Criminal Background Check.

Work remotely

Job Type: Full-time

Flexible Language Requirement:

French not required

Schedule:

8 hour shift
Monday to Friday
No weekends

COVID-19 considerations:
We would be pleased to discuss this directly with prospective candidates.

Application question(s):

Why are you interested in this position and what skills would you bring to the organization?

Experience:

debt collection: 2 years Location: One location

Example 4

Debt Control Agency Inc (DCA) is one of the most prestigious collection agencies in Canada with its Head Office in Toronto, Ontario and Branch Offices in Laval, Quebec and Kelowna, British Columbia. We have been providing full cycle of collection services from Customers Cure Program and Third Party Collections to Legal Program for over 18 years.

Our clients include many of Canada’s largest financial institutions, utilities, and government sectors. As we continue to grow, we are looking for enthusiastic, self-motivated, career minded individuals with third party collection experience and or sales experience to augment our existing teams.

Due to our ongoing success and growth, we are in the process of expanding our Operations in Laval, Quebec, and must recruit 3 self-motivated, career minded individuals with third-party banking collection experience to augment our existing teams. This position is on-site, and the hours of operation are:

Mondays and Tuesdays 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
Wednesdays and Thursdays 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Fridays 8:00 am - 1:30 pm
One Saturday a month 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Responsibilities

Contacting debtors by telephone for overdue payments and document arrangements
Negotiating payment terms and methods using critical thinking and probing questions to overcome objections
Identify cases for special handling according to company’s and client’s criteria, including legal actions and asset attachment
Accurately document all communication
Compliant with all Provincial and Federal Regulatory Guidelines with respect to the collection industry, Bank’s Policies, Client Specific Directives and Operational Risk Requirements

We are interested in hearing from career-minded individuals with:

Bilingual in French and English
Strong negotiation and customer service skills
Detail-oriented, organized, and efficient working with targets and tight deadlines
Previous collection or sales experience is an asset
Excellent oral and written communication skills, in both languages French and English
Stronger than intermediate computer literacy

Successful Candidates will receive

Competitive salaries based on industry experience
Performance commissions and bonuses
Group Benefit Plan

Debt Control Agency Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, however, only qualified applicants will be contacted

Type d'emploi : Permanent

Salaire : 16,00$ à 20,00$ par heure

Avantages :

Assurance Dentaire
Assurance Maladie Complémentaire
Assurance Vision

Types de paie supplémentaire du poste : En présentiel

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What does a Debt Collector do?

A Debt Collector is responsible for recovering overdue payments from debtors. They maintain excellent records and answer all communications. If they have trouble recovering payment, they may escalate the case to a higher level of collections. A Debt Collector can be employed by a collections agency, utility company, bank, loan company, credit union, or government financing institution.

Debt Collector skills and qualifications

There are several skills and qualifications that are important in a good Debt Collector candidate, including:

Excellent communication skills
Exceptional organizational and record-keeping skills
Strong analytical skills
Excellent negotiation and conflict resolution skills
In-depth knowledge of legal recourse for overdue accounts
Knowledge of software programs and reporting systems used by the company
Ability to multitask and prioritize as needed
Strong attention to detail

Debt Collector experience requirements

Ideal Debt Collector candidates will have previous experience in debt collection or another related finance role. They will have experience dealing with related financial regulations and laws. However, for entry level positions, Debt Collector candidates do not need any prior experience in debt collection, as they can be trained on the job. If the Debt Collector position requires the supervision and training of other employees, look for a minimum of three years experience in candidates.

Debt Collector education and training requirements

A Debt Collector should generally have a high school diploma. In some provinces, such as British Columbia and the Yukon, Debt Collectors require a collections license from the governing body in their province. For the rest of Canada, no licences are necessary.

Debt Collector salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, average Debt Collector pay in Canada is $16.76 per hour. Wages may vary based on factors like geographical location, size and type of industry, and the candidate’s level of experience.

Job description samples for similar positions

If a Debt Collector isn’t exactly what you were looking for, consider some similar job description samples including:

Debt Collector job description FAQs

A Debt Collector may be an Internal Debt Collector, working for a private institution like a utility provider, bank, credit card company, or loan company. They seek repayment of overdue accounts owed directly to the company they work for. If the debtor does not repay the amount they owe, the situation is escalated to Collections Agency Debt Collectors, who are third-party Debt Collectors. They are also often responsible for finding the debtor and getting the payment to their clients.

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Debt Collector Job Description: Top Duties and Requirements

Debt Collector duties and responsibilities

Debt Collector Job Description Examples:

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Example 4

Find your next great Debt Collector on Indeed

What does a Debt Collector do?

Debt Collector skills and qualifications

Debt Collector experience requirements

Debt Collector education and training requirements

Debt Collector salary expectations

Job description samples for similar positions

Debt Collector job description FAQs

Hire your next Debt Collector today

Job Description Examples

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Debt Collector Job Description: Top Duties and Requirements

Debt Collector duties and responsibilities

Debt Collector Job Description Examples:

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Example 4

Find your next great Debt Collector on Indeed

What does a Debt Collector do?

Debt Collector skills and qualifications

Debt Collector experience requirements

Debt Collector education and training requirements

Debt Collector salary expectations

Job description samples for similar positions

Debt Collector job description FAQs

Hire your next Debt Collector today

Job Description Examples

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