Posts Tagged ‘new zealand debt collection’

New Debt Collection Solutions for New Zealand

Friday, June 26th, 2009

The NZ Blacklist website (www.nzblacklist.com) provides an efficient market mechanism for tendering bad debts or delinquent accounts. The site, free to use for creditors, was designed as an open, market-driven exchange that is crucial for efficient account placement to collection agencies.

With easy credit all but wiped out and late payments on the increase, creditors are looking towards new solutions for recovery of delinquent accounts. An innovative 21st century solution designed by ‘New Zealand Blacklist’ not only provides a unique nationwide solution, but also streamlines the process in which creditors place delinquent accounts with third party services.

“NZ Blacklist will reduce costs, reduce collection cycle times, and expand the services of debt collection agencies
for the benefit of creditors”, said Marc Robinson, NZ Blacklist Director. “Using the latest Internet technology, NZ Blacklist will provide an efficiency and transparency unavailable in today’s collections environment.”

With a largely unregulated collections industry operating across New Zealand, creditors are presented an abundance and variety of choice when seeking a Credit Management and Collection services. Robinson, states “Accounts departments will generally have access to the Internet. NZ Blacklist provides an online network of debt collectors that is available to accounts departments and creditors at their convenience with NZ Blacklist acting as an online intermediary. With more than 40 Debt Collectors registered on the website located across the entire country, solutions can be found quickly and easily regardless of the creditors or debtors locations”.

The company states it is currently handling debts from one hundred dollars to half million dollar portfolios and that success rates are enhanced through the systems selection processes. “By identifying collection agencies skill sets and strengths then linking them with the creditors needs, we enhance the chances of successful outcomes” Robinson says.

The website plans to further develop its web services in the near future, which also includes an Australian expansion. NZ Blacklist reports that enquiry levels to and from Australia have elevated significantly since the company started in early March and that they are actively discussing options for a similar system supporting both sides of the Tasman.

“We believe that NZ Blacklist is one of the most effective and economic solutions for placement of delinquent accounts and bad debts to third parties in New Zealand today” says Robinson.

Company Debt Collection Soars

Friday, June 12th, 2009

A “relaxed attitude” from kiwi firms to collecting debts is finally changing as pressure tightens on the bottom line according to Dun & Bradstreet.

The credit reporting and collections agency said today the number of debts referred for collection has more than doubled in the March quarter compared to the same period last year, and the average dollar value of each collection has also increased.

Debt collection referrals from Auckland firms increased by 160 percent in the first quarter, while Wellington firms saw a 139 percent increase and Christchurch firms referred 134 percent more collections than last year.

Overall, New Zealand businesses reported 127 percent more debts for collection in the March quarter this year than in the same period last year.

Auckland firms were also the slowest to pay during the March quarter, averaging 51.3 days to settle accounts. Businesses based in Christchurch and Wellington averaged 48.5 days and 29.9 days to settle accounts, respectively.

The value of debts for collection also increased, with the average outstanding debt being chased in Auckland valued at $2300, a 32 percent increase from last year. Christchurch firms saw a 10 percent increase in debt values, with the average debt being $1975.

Wellington firms bucked the trend with debt values declining 46 percent from the March quarter last year to $1500 on average this year.

Dun and Bradstreet general manager John Scott said New Zealand firms have recognised that a relaxed attitude towards debt collections was no longer sufficient in the new business environment.

“When the economy was booming executives were able to take a relaxed approach to their receivables process without suffering significant detrimental impacts. However in the current environment where cash flow is of paramount importance, ineffective management of debtors will only result in your bill ending up on the bottom of the pile,” said Scott.

“As a consequence, cash flow and receivables management have come to the fore as executives have realised the critical role they play in ensuring the sustainability of business.”

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