Debt Collections Industry Terminology & Glossary
Contingency Collections
Contingent Collections simply means if we are unable to collect on an account placed with SRA, you don't pay us.
Early Out
SRA's Early Out program allows your customers an early way out of the collection process by quickly resolving the debt owed to you. Best used on accounts less than 90 days old. All money collected from SRA's Early Out service is paid directly to you.
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, is designed to promote accuracy and ensure the privacy of the information used in consumer reports.
Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA)
A federal law that sets guidelines for collection agencies to follow when attempting to collect a debt from a consumer.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
National standards to protect the privacy of personal health information.
Pre-Collect Service
This service helps to separate accounts that require minimal collection efforts from those that require extensive efforts.
Primary Collections
Delinquent accounts that have never before been placed with a professional collection agency or collection attorney.
Secondary Collections
Delinquent accounts that another collection agency or collection attorney has previously attempted to collect on your behalf.
Skip Tracing
A method SRA uses to find debtors who have moved or who can no longer be reached at their billing addresses or phone numbers.
Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
In an effort to address a growing number of telephone marketing calls, Congress enacted in 1991 the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). The TCPA restricts the making of telemarketing calls and the use of automatic telephone dialing systems and artificial or prerecorded voice messages.