insideARM Announces 2008 Best Places to Work in Collections

Comment from Bartley Ventures LLC on December 4, 2008 at 12:46PM EST

Congrats to the winners! We wish you continued employee satisfaction and success in 2009!

Comment from thecheeseman on December 4, 2008 at 12:47PM EST

The best place is Brown and Joseph, hands down

Comment from Anonymous on December 4, 2008 at 12:52PM EST

The best place to work for service, employee benefits and resutls is...

American Financial Credit Services, Inc. in Indianapolis, IN

Comment from Anonymous on December 4, 2008 at 1:03PM EST

CBE always tries to lead the pack - doing the right thing!!

Comment from Anonymous on December 4, 2008 at 1:09PM EST

Which of these companies if any is in California/ Arizona?

Comment from Anonymous on December 4, 2008 at 1:24PM EST

Brown and Joseph My company has worked with B&J and did not have a good return on our files. I have also had several friends who worked for B&J and had a horrible expanse (money taken away, talked down too, inappropriate management, absentee owners, a manager that explodes/w/derogator, discriminates against woman)

Comment from Comet on December 4, 2008 at 1:30PM EST

This "survey" was and is ridiculous. Has no basis of fact as the number of surveys returned was in the minority and those that were are obviously skewed. I suggest ARM become creative in their attempt to get reader involvement.

Comment from Patrick Lunsford on December 4, 2008 at 1:36PM EST

To Comet:

How can the survey have "no basis of fact?"

We publicized the program for weeks and weeks and gave companies every opportunity to participate. Ultimately, it came down to whether a company wanted to take the time to participate.

The results were based on employee responses as well as an in-depth questionnaire filled out by each company's management. The process was actually quite thorough.

Note that a vast majority of companies that participated did not make the list. Meaning, there were plenty of negative surveys filled out by employees.

Patrick Lunsford Senior Editor insideARM.com

Comment from Comet on December 4, 2008 at 1:47PM EST

It has no basis of fact because less than half of those eligible chose not to respond. Therefore your list lacks credibility as many quality companies didn't participate. And, there are numerous as good or better than those on your list.The survey was way to time consuming and had/has no value other than accumulating information for ARM. No response is necessary. Thank you.

Comment from Patrick Lunsford on December 4, 2008 at 1:53PM EST

Again, companies chose not to participate. We were very up front about the process being long and arduous.

We can't rank companies that choose not to participate.

Also keep in mind that this is the first year, and I can understand many companies opting not to participate until they see how the results will be used. Hopefully, many of the companies that did not participate will do so next year.

And as for value to the companies, they got a full breakdown of the results. That data IS of value for those wishing to understand how their employees view the company and for benchmarking purposes. But again, the only way to see those results is to participate in the survey.

Comment from Anonymous on December 4, 2008 at 2:01PM EST

Credit Protection Association rocks!!!!

Comment from brooke franklin!!!! on December 4, 2008 at 2:23PM EST

Professional Account services = cool.

Comment from OneHappyWorker on December 4, 2008 at 2:32PM EST

CR Software, LLC is a wonderful place to work.

Comment from Anonymous on December 4, 2008 at 2:33PM EST

My company participated and made the list. There were extensive questions to answer by the employees. The fact that ours made the list verifies what the employees here know...It's an AWESOME place to work!!!

Comment from Tiffany on December 4, 2008 at 2:35PM EST

I love PASI = Professional Account Services : )

Comment from Lezlee C on December 4, 2008 at 2:36PM EST

P.A.S.I THE BEST, PERIOD.

Comment from Snow on December 4, 2008 at 2:37PM EST

Crown Asset Management, LLC is definately a top notch company. Over the years, I have had many interactions with their staff and they have a great group of people there. It's the kind of company I would want to work for. I hope they are # 1.

Comment from LCP on December 4, 2008 at 2:40PM EST

PREMIERE CREDIT IS THE BEST, HANDS DOWN

Comment from Anonymous on December 4, 2008 at 2:41PM EST

Premiere Credit is the best collection business in the United States period. No comparison, great benefits and management.

Comment from m! on December 4, 2008 at 2:43PM EST

As someone who took teh survey, I have to say that it had no incentiev for an employee to take the time I thoroughly complete.

I like my company, but filling out the survey was detracting from my efficiency, so I had no reason not to just give amazing marks all the way down and go about my business.

Comment from JMP on December 4, 2008 at 2:48PM EST

I COULDN'T THINK OF ANY OTHER JOB I WOULD WANT TO WORK MORE THAN PREMIERE CREDIT. WE'RE NOT JUST FRIENDS BUT WE ARE FAMILY

Comment from ;o) on December 4, 2008 at 2:55PM EST

CollectionCenter Inc. made the list...of course!! This is an awesome company to work for. Great leadership that is founded with compassion and understanding. I think that this survey was and is very useful to all-just goes to show when a company sticks together as a whole, the result is always possitive!!! GO CCI!!! WE ARE AWESOME!!!

Comment from Anonymous on December 4, 2008 at 3:01PM EST

I have worked for a few different companies so I have experiences to base my opinion... Premiere Credit is a fairly new company and seeks out the most qualified people for the positions resulting in high quality knowlegable staff. Employees are given ample opportunity to try different positions within the company to find a good fit their skill set. This and excellent leadership to direct the company go a long way to becoming the best company to work for.

Comment from ATC on December 4, 2008 at 3:02PM EST

PREMIERE CREDIT: HAS THE BEST MANAGEMENT TEAM. THEY REALLY CARE ABOUT THE REPS SUCCEEDING.

Comment from **A very happy member or a great, professional team!** on December 4, 2008 at 3:07PM EST

I have worked for 14 years in the collection field and at 4 different companies. I have been very lucky to work for 3 good collection firms but I have been BLESSED to work at Professional Account Services, Inc. From senior management to the newest person on the team, everyone is made to feel like an important member of the team. This company should be the model that other collection companies strive to mirror. I have been with PASI for over 4 years now and look forward to growing with an exemplary organization!

Comment from Gary on December 4, 2008 at 4:13PM EST

Clovis & Roche' should never leave this list. The owners are awesome and the team is extraordinary. No one is better and there are no better people in this world I'd rather work with and work for. I haven't even been here a year, but I've learned so much here. From our Metarie office to our Hammond office and all the way to our California office, Clovis & Roche' deserves this and will continue to deserve it because our drive is to do the best we can in the only way we know how. . .fully committed. Rock on Clovis & Roche'!!!

Comment from Deanna on December 4, 2008 at 4:17PM EST

What makes Clovis & Roche one of the Best? The People! We're tenured, there's teamwork, consistent recognition of a job well done, we're always on a quest to learn more & get better. We work hard, but have a great time doing it. It's been a pleasure working with you all!

Comment from Anonymous on December 4, 2008 at 4:44PM EST

How about a survey for collection companies IT teams and how serious (or non) their management staff takes Network and DATA security.

Comment from Anonymous on December 4, 2008 at 4:47PM EST

Should there also be a "worst places to work" list? That could provide real insight to people who are looking to get into the industry as well as to management of different companies to see what they are doing well and not as well with regards to HR issues.

I am curious who some of the nominees for "Worst place" would be (obviously I am thinking of one in particular).

Comment from Anonymous on December 4, 2008 at 4:52PM EST

The have PCI standards that IT Teams should be following anyway. No survey needed for that.

Comment from OneHappyWorker on December 4, 2008 at 5:11PM EST

CR Software, LLC is a wonderful place to work.

Comment from Brian Flynn/CollectionSalesAdvisor.com on December 4, 2008 at 5:20PM EST

As a prior Industry Customer, Agency Owner and now consultant I find the effort and its qualified results worthy of continuation and refinement. There is some value to all who are interested in the results...even those who may not agree with its findings. Congrats to the finalists.

Comment from KLP on December 4, 2008 at 5:22PM EST

PREMIERE CREDIT IS THE BEST OF THE BEST..........GREAT MANAGEMENT STAFF

Comment from Brian Flynn/CollectionSalesAdvisor.com on December 4, 2008 at 5:23PM EST

As a prior Industry Customer, Agency Owner and now consultant I find the effort and its qualified results worthy of continuation and refinement. There is some value to all who are interested in the results...even those who may not agree with its findings. Congrats to the finalists.

Comment from Sonny on December 4, 2008 at 6:53PM EST

This is wonderful! I'm delighted to hear so many positive responses from industry employees. This is also a statement about the industry we are in.

I look forward to next year when hopefully many more companies will compete. It seems to me that biggest winners are all the companies that took the time to hear what their employees said and how they felt about their work situation. Presumably all businsess want to build a loyal and productive staff. Those that ignore this opportunity are really missing the boat...

Comment from Anonymous on December 4, 2008 at 10:27PM EST

Clovis & Roche is the perfect example that this contest is flawed. I happen to know the employees were badgered constantly to participate and had to say good things, because they were afraid there was some way managment could find out how they truly felt. There is no longevity in that collection staff, out of maybe 18 collectors, there are only 4 or 5 that have more than 2 years there. That is a whole new collection staff. If they are so wonderful, why the turn around? No one in management there, including the owners has any commercial collection background. AND,their current collection manager has only been there 7 months. Do your homework, it's easy to find out. And why is the commercial agency in line with all these retail agencies?

Comment from Lethal on December 5, 2008 at 10:25AM EST

This space should not be used to bad mouth or put others down.

Comment from Classic on December 5, 2008 at 10:58AM EST

In response to the Anonymous comment about Clovis & Roche, You're obviously a disgruntle employee that no longer works for the company. I've worked in collections for a little more than nine years and I've been at Clovis & Roche for three years. The collection industry period has a lot of turn around when it comes to collectors. Some people got it and some don't. You obviously don't. Being a collector takes someone who is very intelligent and a real thinker. You have to be a people person that can think outside the box and come up with quick responses. You have to be a planner and a visionary, able to multitask and be quick witted with the gift of gab. There will be a large turn around until you get the team that fits. That's what we in our Management team. This is a wonderful place to work with people that really care about you. We have more than 50 years of combined commercial credit experience. Do your homework. You took time out of what should be a busy schedule to write something bad about an outstanding company. Maybe you should be trying to figure out why you're so negative, and how that negativity is really holding you back in life. Good Luck finding yourself.

Comment from The Voice of Reason on December 5, 2008 at 3:30PM EST

In response to the horrible comments about Clovis & Roche': Anyone who will write something so negative about an extremely good company has to have issues. I don't know if you were fired or you quit, but whatever the case, obviously you couldn't cut it in a challenging line of work. Clovis has the best people and we laugh all the time because the personalities of the employees are extremely diverse and wonderful. We have a sense of humor and you obviously don't. If we are so horrible, why have we been in business so long? To you, Mr. or Ms. Negativity, let me say this one thing. Good luck flipping burgers and maybe if you had a better attitude, you'd still be working in one of the best places in which to work in collections.

Comment from anonymous on December 5, 2008 at 9:35PM EST

I would say to all regarding the responses by Clovis & Roche' employees to anonymous' statetments. Does thou protest to much? Why doesn't Clovis & Roche have a "client service divison"? You know for old clients that place for years, OH, that's right Clovis & Roche doesn't have any old clients that place.Why do you think that is?

Comment from SERIOUSLY? on December 5, 2008 at 9:35PM EST

If the company you work for is so great, why complete a survey to tell you that?

Comment from Anonymous on December 6, 2008 at 8:29PM EST

Pretty much the only company that deserves to be on this list is CDI. Sorry, 75% of these agencies I've never heard of...

Comment from Anonymous on December 8, 2008 at 8:14PM EST

Comment from Anonymous on December 4, 2008 at 1:09PM EST

Which of these companies if any is in California/ Arizona?

CONRAD ACCEPTANCE and CONRAD CREDIT CORPORATION are headquartered in California. www.conradco.com

Comment from Anonymous on December 9, 2008 at 10:47AM EST

American Profit Recovery is the Best!!!! End of Discussion!

Comment from DebtCollector on December 14, 2008 at 11:14PM EST

It's hard to say what is what. I loved my former employer, "Ocwen Loan Servicing". We truly kicked butt for the United States Department of the Treasury. In my opinion, I had the best management team I could ever hope to work for and they always catered to their top producers. But now if a survey were to have been taken, I'm sure 90% of my former co-workers wouldnt have had many good things to say about the company because many of them were fired for not meeting or exceeding company goals. It's not always a "Garden Party" for everyone involved and in the immortal words of Rick Nelson..."You can't please everyone so you gotta please yourself!" Collections jobs are a dime a dozen. Go out and find one that fits.

Comment from Anonymous - 13 yr Employee on December 17, 2008 at 1:01PM EST

Credit Protection Association tops this list just based on the sheer longevity of its employees. They are obviously doing something right, from management all the way down. I'm proud to be associated with this company.

Comment from Anonymous on February 16, 2009 at 10:58PM EST

I have to say I've worked for Premiere Credit of North America for a few years now and the opportunity they gave me was the best! In my current position, they ensured that I have all the tools I need to succeed. The owners, management team, and all collectors and skip tracers are harde workers and kick butt everyday!!! Premiere Credit is the best place to work hand down!!!!

Comment from Anonymous on February 16, 2009 at 11:00PM EST

PREMIERE CREDIT IS THE BEST PLACE TO WORK!!! ALL EMPLOYEES KICK BUTT EVERYDAY!!!!!