The next step is to make drafts for all accounts on which white tabs have appeared ten days, that is, on the 10th drafts are made for all accounts with white tabs over the 30th. Blue tabs are then substituted for white. If the draft is returned, a red tab is substituted. The red tabs indicate accounts past due, which are subject to such action as may be considered advisable. This ledger sheet, with the adjustable tabs, insures attention to collections, regardless of the method of filing.
Handling Drafts. When drafts are used extensively, considerable detail is involved in handling the records. Any method that will reduce this detail means a material reduction in the expense of conducting the work of the collection desk.
The usual method is to write the draft and register it in a draft record book. Then the necessary record is made on the collection card. A draft register is used that there may be a record showing the aggregate of drafts outstanding, and the number and amount in the hands of each bank—where drafts are sent direct, instead of through a local bank. The next step is to write a letter of advice to the bank. This method necessitates writing the names of the bank, the drawee, and the amount of the draft three times—on the draft, letter of advice, and draft register.
By the use of properly designed forms, this duplication can be avoided. Fig. 21 shows a set of forms designed for the purpose. A is the original draft, B is the letter of advice to the bank, C is a letter of advice to the drawee, and D is the office record. The draft, A, is attached to the letter of advice, B, and is detached by the bank. The four forms are so printed that the date, name of the bank, amount, and name and address of the drawee register perfectly. The blanks are properly spaced for use in a typewriter, and all copies are made with one writing.
Copies A and B are mailed to the bank, and C to the drawee. From copy D the record is made on the collection card, after which it is filed in a card tray, under the name of the bank. This keeps copies of all drafts sent to each bank together, and the total of all drafts outstanding is quickly obtained on an adding machine. When payments are made, or drafts are returned, these copies are removed from the files. Frequent reference to the file insures the necessary follow-up on banks that are slow in reporting.
Installment Collections. Probably the most difficult class of accounts to handle from a collection standpoint is installment accounts. Payments are quite irregular, both as to time and amount, and frequent changes of address make it difficult to keep track of debtors.
Fig. 22. Contract for
Installment Sales
The collector of installment accounts must have the faculty of meeting and satisfying all sorts of people. He is obliged to listen to hard-luck tales without number, and while sympathizing with the customers, must be patiently persistent. If unable to collect the dollar due, he will accept a half-dollar to keep the account active. So long as he collects something, each time a payment is due, he is in a position to make the debtor feel the importance of the contract, but let one or two collection days go by without a payment, and the debtor has the upper hand. He then feels that he can stand-off the collector whenever he happens to have other uses for his money, a condition which becomes increasingly frequent.