Wescot appreciates that an effective tracing solution also provides an opportunity for customer re-engagement

Under the regulatory framework ushered in by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), never before has it been so important for organisations to ensure that they have an effective and fair tracing system in place. It is no longer the case that a ‘one size fits all’ approach is appropriate when it comes to tracing activity; businesses need to ensure that appropriate treatments are applied to individual cases and that adequate provisions are in place to ensure that third parties are not contacted in error. In particular, there are likely to be significant repercussions for those organisations who repeatedly contact the same third parties in error, both from a compliance point of view and, more widely, in terms of damage to that organisation’s reputation. As Wescot is well aware, it is important to treat actual customers fairly. It is equally as important to try and avoid distress for third parties who may be approached by mistake.

One problem faced by businesses is over how to identify a genuine ‘goneaway’ situation. The new regulatory regime reflects this. The issue is also relevant when it comes to determining whether reasonable attempts have been made to make contact with a customer before any formal action is taken to recover the debt. It is no longer acceptable for an organisation to plough on regardless with formal action and ignore the fact that a customer has failed to respond to letters sent to him and that he has failed to answer telephone calls.

wescotAlso of relevance is the fact that the way organisations interact with customers has changed dramatically over the last few years. In many b2c relationships, the vast majority of contact is online. If it is a longstanding relationship which suddenly turns into a non-contact scenario, the challenge faced by a business is to consider whether the last known physical address and telephone details for that customer are correct. In this climate, many businesses are likely to benefit from effective early arrears reconnection services. Not only can this approach maximise the chances of recovery, it can also increase the chances of rehabilitating the relationship between the customer and the organisation. Businesses are likely to benefit from approaching a company with a proven track record in customer tracing. Wescot for instance, employs a highly experienced locate team coupled with an effective validation process – both of which combine to help re-establish contact between customer and client.

Wescot understands the changes in the collections niche that have occurred in recent years

Since 2008, a number of important factors have posed challenges for creditors and debt collection agencies. For one thing, there is of course the broad economic picture to consider. The last five years have seen the most significant and prolonged economic downturn since the 1930s. On the one hand, this means that many consumers have struggled with decreased levels of disposable income over recent years. At the same time, concerns about the financial services sector as a whole has led to tighter regulation and a greater emphasis on compliance.

Against this backdrop, it may be natural to assume that recovery rates would have decreased over the last five years. From the point of view of one of the leading UK debt collection agencies, Wescot, this has not in fact been the case. While there was an initial decline in the immediate aftermath of the unsecured portfolios collapse of 2008, recovery activity for this particular company actually improved markedly (when compared to a fixed 2006 benchmark).

wescotBy looking closely at the way this company operates, it is possible to see how it has managed to achieve considerable success against what may be regarded as a ‘difficult’ financial landscape. For one thing, the company aims to treat customers fairly and to engage with each customer in an effective manner. In this way, it is possible to open up a constructive dialogue and to come up with a realistic repayment plan. This is in marked contrast to the bad practices that previously earned the sector a bad name and which Wescot has always rejected. Such practices include poor tracing methods – including doing little or nothing to verify customer contact details to try and ensure they are as up to date as possible. Other examples of bad practice include aggressive letters, an excessive number of phone calls and uncontrolled doorstep visits.

So far as Wescot is concerned, such practices are unfair, ineffective and very often counterproductive in terms of reaching a satisfactory outcome for all parties concerned. For one thing, this type of behaviour runs contrary to the current compliance regime. Equally as important, this type of approach eliminates the possibility of a meaningful relationship being rebuilt between the organisation and its customer. It also significantly undermines the ability of the collections agent to engage in a meaningful way with the customer and to bring about a satisfactory resolution to the situation.

Wescot knows over-reliance on ‘smart-data’-based tracing solutions may increase the incidence of mis-trace scenarios

wescotFor the credit services industry (and particularly those parts of the industry whose activities include tracing customers with whom organisations have lost contact), changes to the housing market over recent years have had significant implications. The high loan-to-value mortgages and interest-only deals that were common prior to the 2008 downturn have now either disappeared completely or have become an extreme rarity. This means greater numbers of people are living in short term rental arrangements or else are living with parents or other family members under informal arrangements for longer periods of time. For the consumer credit industry, this means it is often harder to differentiate genuine ‘goneaway’ scenarios from those situations where an individual is intentionally ignoring all attempts to make contact.

This has led to the development of what is referred to as ‘smart-data’-based tracing solutions. Whilst such solutions can provide a useful tool in those situations where an organisation is seeking to re-establish contact with an individual, they have their limitations (especially if used in isolation). What’s more, as Wescot points out, there is a marked correlation between the growth of these products and the incidence of mis-tracing. The company places a strong emphasis on treating customers fairly, which means it understands the need for organisations to pay due care and attention to the source and accuracy of the data they hold on customers and how they check and then go on to use that data. Avoiding mis-trace scenarios is an important part of this.

One potential cause of high mis-trace levels is the fact that the majority of organisations use the same type of credit reference agency (CRA) trace lead-generation data tools. It is very often the case that the same data sources are accessed on multiple occasions. If that information happens to be incorrect, it is easy for multiple mis-traces to occur. Wescot welcomes the fact that CRAs are taking steps to address this problem. One useful idea devised by the CRAs is a shared information line to deal with those instances where a mis-trace is identified. In such circumstances, all CRAs will be able to update their records to highlight incorrect data. This should reduce the chances of repeated mis-traces against an individual. For businesses looking for a locate solution with a proven track record, Wescot is worth serious consideration. The company combines tracing expertise with up-to-date validation processes to deliver results on behalf of clients and to treat customers fairly.

Improving Trace Procedures

wescotAn integral part of collecting debts is the trace procedure, which is why companies like Wescot are able to find the customers and begin the collection process. Given that the company will only receive payment from a client once the collection has been made, it is important that the trace procedure is as efficient as possible. Customer’s residency is a common issue with tracing as residency is far more fluid and transitional than in years gone by. With the rise in people renting as opposed to getting a mortgage, customers are able to move around a lot quicker, which makes for a large number of mis-trace results if data sources are not cleansed regularly.

Another significant change to the way that debts are collected is the switch from the Office of Fair Trading to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as to which body regulates debt recovery and management. The FCA has enforced new rules regarding the image of the industry as a whole and how customers are treated once they have been found. ‘Goneaways’ is the term used for customers who cannot be contacted and it is estimated that 30-40% of those who have not replied are in fact a goneaway. The FCA has ruled that companies can no longer ignore a goneaway customer.

There is one important way in which companies such as Wescot can continue to thrive despite the fluid nature of customer residency, as well as not only abiding by the rules as set down by the FCA, but embracing them. Contacting customers is the only sure way to validate the data as presented by a credit reference agency (the common database provider that many debt recovery agencies use). A potential solution to this growing problem of goneaways is using a service that relies on live customer contact. This will ensure that the company is in line with the FCA’s requirements to improve customer service.

Tracing costs money as much as it costs the company time to complete a successful trace. By creating a new live customer contact product, debt recovery companies will see a greater improvement in a number of aspects.

Wescot Minimise Mis-Tracing through Data Strategies

Dramatic changes in mortgage lending in the UK, such as the loss of 110% of value loans and the reduction in availability of interest only packages has led to an increasing number of people either renting property or living at home or with other family members for longer periods of time. This in turn has created a situation where tracing in the debt collection industry has also changed, with true goneaways becoming harder to spot than ever before. Members of the Credit Service Association are undertaking huge volumes of tracing, with some form of data cleansing occurring at the point of load across some 70% of all wescotnew businesses. When compared to the figure of just 40% as recently as 2007 this shows a significant increase.

Throughout the tracing market, there have originated a number of new products offering smart-data tracing solutions, yet these fall into the category of indicative lead generators and there can be seen a direct correlation between the increase in the use of these and the growing number of mis-traces. As the regulation of credit services and debt collection moves this year to the Financial Conduct Authority from the Office of Fair Trading, mis-tracing will become a key area of focus. Where poor solutions are allowed to enter the product delivery chain, those who hold approved-person positions can now expect to be held accountable. The CSA is now seeking the promotion of higher standards across the industry.

Wescot is the largest debt collecting agency in the UK today, servicing over five million client accounts annually and employing more than 650 staff. The aim of Wescot is to deliver favourable outcomes, creating arrangements between individuals in debt and clients which take circumstances into account and to provide each client with the products which suit their individual needs whilst simultaneously protecting their brand and their image. There are strict compliance standards in place when it comes to the ethical collection of debt, many of which Wescot helped to evolve and implement as market leaders. The compliance standards in place far surpass others in the industry and have been recognised by both Trading Standards and the Lending Standards Board.

Wescot | Importance of Training to Great Customer Service

At Wescot, learning and development is a key aspect for the business moving forward. The landscape of the credit industry is changing, it would be short-sighted of Wescot for the company to not devote a lot of time and effort into developing the staff and preparing them for the new strategies necessary to overcome these obstacles. This is in addition to the customer service driven training that all Wescot employees receive upon arriving at the company and continue to develop throughout their time at the debt recovery agency.

Customer satisfaction is one of the main business objectives at Wescot. This goes for their clients, i.e. the companies that are still owed money, as well as the individuals that Wescot are tracking down for remuneration. To this end, there is a dedicated learning and development team at Wescot to ensure that every staff member is on the same page, no matter who a customer talks to at Wescot they will experience a great customer service and knowledgeable reception.

The industry of credit management is facing a turbulent future with the result of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) taking over as a regulating body. Companies that operate in this sector, like Wescot have had to adopt new strategies and business models in order to comply with the more stringent rules imposed on them by the FCA. The learning and development department have been busy too, making sure that their training programmes in the future will focus on the new legislation regarding debt recovery. It is only through working together as a team at Wescot that the company will continue to maintain their lead as the UK’s largest debt recovery company.

wescotConstant training and learning is also important to motivating a workforce. The more time that Wescot dedicates to improving the skills of their employees then they will feel more engaged with the company. This translates to a better, more efficient workforce and will contribute to the success of Wescot as a whole.

Mike Rustill is Wescot’s learning and development team leader and he brings a wealth of experience in managing in house training to the company, an asset to a company with so many staff members to keep developing.

Wescot – Money Advice Scotland annual conference

Money Advice Scotland hosted its 24th Annual Conference in Glasgow in June 2013. The long-standing event is seen as an important and informative event which is utilised by many people from varying backgrounds. The 24th Annual Conference addressed many different issues, but dedicated a lot of the event to the changes within the financial world and the regulatory process.

One of the key issues at the event concerned the changes in bankruptcy legislation, which will have a major impact on many people and businesses within Scotland itself. Also on the agenda at the conference were discussions relating to welfare provision with particular emphasis being placed on the effect that it will have on the consumer. Many of the changes that have recently been put in place were discussed at the event with many debating who will be the ones to benefit from the changes. The event gave like-minded people the opportunity to meet in one place and talk about issues concerning credit and debt.

The introduction of the Financial Conduct Authority was also addressed at the conference which was once again sponsored by Wescot, one of the largest debt collection services in the United Kingdom. The Financial Conduct Authority has been set up to deal with the conduct of large banks all the way down to small businesses and traders and it is hoped that this new authority will play an important role in the transparency of financial issues in the future.

wescotMany of the leading industry experts were on hand at the conference to offer their expert opinion and discuss relevant aspects concerning the current financial sector. The event once more played host to exceptional keynote speakers such as Margaret Curran MP, who discussed the changes to the welfare system whilst Paul Lewis of the BBC chaired the opening day’s events.

Wescot have been sponsoring the event for many years and are extremely proud to be associated with such a dedicated and comprehensive event. Wescot employ over 650 staff throughout the United Kingdom and are considered to be one of the leading debt recovery agencies in the United Kingdom. The fact that the company sponsors such a prestigious event is proof itself that Wescot are leading players within the financial sector and have a keen interest in the current issues.

Wescot | The Problems with Mis-tracing

Wescot is the UK’s largest debt recovery company. With offices in Glasgow, Hull and Saltcoats, Wescot employs over 650 people to service the 5 million accounts they receive each year. An essential part of the process of closing an account is to actually track down the people who owe money to Wescot’s clients. Committed to delivering a quick turnover with high customer satisfaction, Wescot utilise a dedicated tracing program that relies on accurate data from several credit reference companies. When this information is incorrect or not validated, this slows down Wescot’s operating time and create unnecessary costs to the business.

wescotMis-tracing as it is known, is on the increase, partly to do with the high number of people who cannot afford to purchase a home. House prices are restrictively high in the UK and as a result, many people either live in rented accommodation or stay living with family for longer. As a result, tracing has become a lot harder, tenancies typically last for six months and because the tenant only has to find a new empty property to move into, people can change addresses quickly. While the tracing service that Wescot provides is efficient, the fluid population movement in this country is proving to be a problem.

In order to overcome this large problem, credit reference agencies (CRAs) have to be diligent when it comes to recording information. False information can result in a mis-trace very quickly and this is costly to businesses like Wescot. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is taking those CRAs to task who are mishandling information and as such the process is becoming easier to avoid mis-traces. Good news for Wescot, however the debt recovery company still faces mis-traces that are largely as a result of miscommunication between the CRAs.

If one CRA finds invalid information on their database, this can be removed but up until recently, they were not required to inform the other CRAs. Because Wescot are thorough and believe in the protection of their customers, when tracing they often use multiple sources. However, when the sources are not communicating with each other, this can produce misleading information.

Under the supervision of the FCA mis-trace frequencies are being dealt with, so that in the future, companies like Wescot can move forward unhindered by this nuisance.

Wescot | New Developments for Debt Recovery Firm

With an evolving future for debt recovery, it is important that companies who operate in this industry do everything they can to adapt to the new changes and remain at the head of their game. One of the major factors that is affecting the industry at the minute is the change in regulations, as debt recovery now falls under the jurisdiction of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA have implemented a number of stricter rules to regulate the way companies operate when recovering debts for their clients. Furthwescoter to this is the decrease in average disposable income, which will increase the amount of time it takes for companies to recover debts and thus increase running costs. To overcome these obstacles, Wescot has changed the way they work in a variety of ways.

In businesses such as debt recovery, there is a need for a high volume of correspondence using traditional mail. A hard copy that informs customer that they need to repay their debt is far harder to ignore than an email that might never be read. The disadvantage to using letters is the cost of sending out large volumes, as well as the time it takes to create the mail. Adare is a company that has developed new software called ‘SmartEdit’ which dramatically reduces the time it takes to change small details on letters and therefore speed up the delivery. The debt recovery company is making full use of the SmartEdit technology to alter documents quickly and use preapproved templates to rapidly produce the volume of letters they require.

One of the greatest changes that the FCA have made to the debt recovery is a demand for a more efficient complaints management process. Equinti, a software and IT company from the UK that provides automated procedures that will speed up their background processes has been contracted by Wescot to automate their complaints system. Equinti’s Perito software revolutionises complaint management as it can prioritise important complaints as well as provide user definable fields to further increase efficiency.

The final change for Wescot is the employment of Claire Larson as Operational Risk Manager. It is hoped by the debt recovery company that Larson will be able to shake up the risk management systems at the company to deliver far greater results in the future.

Wescot | Tracing Services Available

Wescot is the UK’s largest debt recovery companies, with three office locations in Glasgow, Hull and Saltcoats, the company employs 650 people to help process the 5 million accounts they receive every year. Wescot’s primary service is to help clients who face unpaid loans get their money back from their customers. By adhering to the new, stringent regulations in place from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Wescot have ensured that in the many years they have been operating they not only deliver a high service to their clients, but go a long way to protecting the needs of the account owners that they correspond with.

Recently, Wescot have been involved in a philanthropic endeavour, when they were approached by Swift Advances, a loans company. Swift specialise in delivering niche loans to people who would otherwise struggle to receive credit from high street banks wescotand other creditors. In this case, however, they required Wescot not to recover debt for them, but to help trace people who were eligible for remediation payments from the Swift Group. By using the same techniques that the debt recovery company uses to trace customers that have yet to pay up, Wescot were able to trace 80% of the people that Swift owed money to.

The exercise was a success, and a spokesperson from Swift Group said that they had 2000 customers who all needed tracing and the ‘process was extremely effective and involved minimum effort on our part.

Wescot were able to trace so many people by using the original contact details that they had left with Swift Advances while taking out a loan. They are then able to use those details to trace anyone who had left the original premises, or if all contact had been lost and even if residency at a given address is yet to be verified. While in this instance, the techniques employed by Wescot enabled many people to receive remediation payments, they are keen to point out that they are equally applied to recovering loan payments for their clients.

Even in a constantly shifting environment in the UK where people often change addresses throughout their life, it is testament to Wescot’s ability in tracing customers that they could find 80% of Swift Advances’ clients in a short space of time, delivering satisfaction to the client.