As fixtures of American pop culture, superheroes have been idolized by people of all ages since the 1930s — from kids sneaking comic books into class, to adults viewing newspaper comic strips on New York City subways. Their origins have been traced to the gods of Greek and Roman mythology that formed the foundation of fictional history.
The transition of superheroes from gods to humans is partly explained in biblical writings where kings were thought to be the “sons of the gods.” Those rulers conquered lands with armies such as the Roman legions, a further embodiment of humans as superheroes.
The legionary ranks included commanders, centurions directing units called cohorts, and other officers. Each centurion appointed a second-in-command known as an optio whose job entailed protecting the rear of the cohort. This unwavering officer was the inspiration behind the naming of Optio Solutions, LLC.
Optio was founded on the belief that American businesses needed the services of a debt collection agency willing to take the most essential requirements of the industry to a level of proficiency never before achieved. These factors — “the four pillars of success” — were researched and carefully considered until a seamless strategy for each component was developed: compliance and certification, security and technology, brand protection and delivering consistent results. They also form the benchmark for all successful debt collection agencies.
Compliance and Certification
With federal regulations setting the bar high, agencies should address compliance with the help of ACA Certified Credit and Collection Compliance Officers, ACA certified collectors and legal teams. Companies must be committed to following the letter of the law as defined by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and more.
They should also achieve certifications such as SSAE 16 SOC I Type II audited financial reporting and Professional Practices Management System (PPMS) by ACA International.
Security
Consumer records and data are best protected with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard PCI DSS 3.1 (PCI DSS 3.1) and compliance with SSAE 16 SOC I Type II as well as in-house systems such as 24-hour CCTV security, strict badge-only access, employee background checks and drug screenings.
Brand Protection
Proactive debt collection agencies help their clients increase brand equity and maintain a positive public identity by applying a consumer-centric approach and garnering invaluable feedback via consumer surveys. Supported by the fulfillment of compliance, certification and data security, these efforts focus on addressing the needs of each consumer, increasing their satisfaction and encouraging them remain engaged in the payment process.
Debt collection professionals must represent client interests with impeccable integrity while ensuring an exceptional no-pressure experience for consumers around every turn.
Debt Collection Agency Results
Debt collection agencies “live and die” by the old baseball adage, “you’re only as good as your last at bat” — produce a satisfactory return on investment for clients or lose their business. It is critical for them to deliver consistent and measurable results in a broad spectrum of industries while utilizing experience, advanced account management systems and transparent interactions.
They should have experience managing first- and third-party portfolios, letter strategies, the latest call-center methodologies and strategic planning. It also helps to have a legal team that is well versed in all aspects of collection law including consumer protection and privacy, federal rules and regulations, litigation and contracts.
In the final analysis, clients are the beneficiaries of favorable results and a consumer-centric approach that promotes consumer retention and lifelong relationships. This is the essence of successful debt collections, and settling for anything less is simply unacceptable. Contact Optio Solutions today to learn how it can help your organization with an individualized program.
