Debt collection of debts owed to small business owners can be tricky, especially if the debtor is a consumer. Consumer rights are outlined in the Fair Debt Credit Practices Act (FDCPA) and Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Third party debt collection agencies are held accountable to follow the law, and can be sued if they violate consumer rights.
At the same time, creditors have rights too.
Small business owners really get hurt when they do not get paid. Small business owners are members of the community. Much of the time, they are providing a product or service to a neighbor. They are dependent on their local reputation for future business and are often reluctant to pursue debt collection. Some small business owners let the debt remain uncollected. Sometimes they hire debt collection agencies like mine.
When I tell people that I am a debt collector, I get some interesting reactions.
I am a socially liberal Democratic. When I tell some fellow Democrats what I do, they respond with horror, “How can you do that?” Meanwhile, my Republican friends will ask me, “How can you be a debt collector and a Democrat?” Both statements are based in stereotypes, some based in reality, others not.
To me, debt collection for small business owners is apolitical. I do not know or care about the politics of my clients or the politics of the people who owe my clients money. What I care about is the rights of my small business customers to be paid. My small business customers have bills of their own. They have employees who need to be paid. When small business owners do not get paid, the impact to the local economy can be swift.
As a debt collector, I stand at the intersection of the rights of both sides – consumer and creditor. The creditor is my customer. I advocate for the rights of the creditor, while respecting the rights of the consumer. If I cannot build trust with someone who owes money, my chances of collecting are slim.
A strong business economy benefits everyone. My job is to help my small business owners stay in business, and that is a something all political parties can get behind. 
