Free Report: Credit & Debt Collection Confidence Survey - 4th Quarter 2008

Download this Free Report and Learn:

• The macroeconomic factors influencing debt collection rates including unemployment
• Continued degradation of creditor and debt collection agency confidence of debt recovery rates
• Vendor perception of performance and marketing intentions

Credit & Debt Collection Confidence Survey - 4th Quarter 2008

Important Trends and Analysis of the Accounts Receivable Management Industry

The Kaulkin Ginsberg Credit & Debt Collection Confidence Survey – a quarterly survey of economic and business sentiment in the accounts receivable management industry – has continued to draw the attention of those within and outside the accounts receivable management industry. Commencing in the second quarter of 2008, the nearly 1,700 respondents of the survey continue to provide a telling gauge of opinions within the industry, and the degradation of confidence among industry decision makers.

Unemployment Leads Negative Economic Indicators Affecting Recovery Rates

In the fourth quarter of 2008 we witnessed a continuation of deterioration in the confidence of accounts receivable industry participants from the prior quarter. Influenced heavily by the souring American labor market, Unemployment took the top spot as the economic factor most negatively impacting the accounts receivable industry.

Download Credit & Debt Collection Confidence Survey - 4th Quarter 2008 and gain valuable insight on how unemployment rates are affecting the accounts receivable industry:

• Why there were high job losses in the accounts receivable industry despite high market volume of delinquent or default accounts receivable
• Why unemployment, of all indicators, illustrates the strains of a deteriorating economy on the accounts receivable industry
• How the popular misconception that accounts receivable firms are prospering in this economic climate is proved wrong by job cuts within the industry

Debt Collection Agency Perception of Recovery Performance

Download Credit & Debt Collection Confidence Survey - 4th Quarter 2008 and discover:

• The pronounced impact of the recession among accounts receivable firms as a group
• The decline of self-reported "average" performance by debt collection agencies during the last quarter as "weak" and "very weak" performance increased
• The positive outlook for debt collection rates by accounts receivable firms for 2009
• Why there has been an increase of 56% in debt collection firms reporting rising account placements and debt portfolios for sale
• Why more debt collection agencies have reported modifying their recovery strategy

Economic, Political and Staffing Impact on Debt Collection Agencies

Credit & Debt Collection Confidence Survey - 4th Quarter 2008 and discover:

• What factor was least critical to debt collection agencies
• How the accounts receivable industry reacted to the new Presidential administration and Congress
• The number of debt collection agencies reporting job cuts in the quarter

Creditor Perceptions of Debt Collection Performance

A telling sign some creditors have been able to modify debt collection strategies to mitigate risk during the economic downturn has been the quarter-over-quarter improvement in the percentage anticipating "weak" and "very weak" internal debt recovery performance in the long-term.

Download Credit & Debt Collection Confidence Survey - 4th Quarter 2008 and discover:

• Most of the creditors that participated in the survey outsource at least some part of their recovery or debt collection operation
• The sharp decline in creditors expecting "weak" performance from debt collection agencies
• Increases in expectations of both "average" and "strong" debt collection performance
• A positive outlook on future debt collection rates within the next twelve months by creditors

Economic, Political and Staffing Impact on Creditors

In the midst of the current recession the macroeconomic factors that have hampered the broader economy for a nearly two year period have also produced concerns for creditors in regards to overall recovery efforts.

Download Credit & Debt Collection Confidence Survey - 4th Quarter 2008 and discover:

• How unemployment is the most critical concern of creditors in a harsh economic climate
• What percentage of creditors reported receiving funds via TARP and TALF programs
• The perceived potential effect of the new Presidential administration and Congress on creditors
• Layoff rates among creditors and expectations for 2009