Why is using a third party for internet collections better than using my own internal or "branded" site?

Most large issuers and collections organizations develop internal "payment" systems which are merely offered as an extension of the direct payment options. Most managers have shared with us that they got an unacceptable usage rate and corresponding negative ROI. By using a third party, you can drive more accounts to the site. Factors that improve utilization are:

1. By using "special terms" verbiage you can imply a value to the debtor for using American Payment Technologies
2. There is greater comfort dealing with a neutral "escrow" party on an obligation with lower fear of excessive pressure tactics.
3. The entire concept of the American Payment Technologies Site is geared toward education related to debt options and providing debtor help and consulting. This concept promotes debtor loyalty and the sincere desire to reach a mutually acceptable solution to the payment of your account.

Back to top

How much does it cost?

During the initial 60 day testing of the system there is virtually no financial risk and no cost for unsuccessful accounts. You are only charged a modest fee on the successful accounts. There are NO One time costs, NO initial setup costs, NO initial training costs, and NO hidden startup costs. There is not even ANY minimum monthly fee applied to the 60 day testing period. All we ask is for a minimum volume of assigned accounts large enough to produce meaningful measurable results. Otherwise, we are both on a meaningless exercise. You will have to quickly adjust over time to the right mix of screen scripting and discounting terms for your industry, delinquency level, and account balance sizes.

If you know the actual costs (netback) for each type and phase of collections then you can set your web discount terms slightly more favorable to you than the netback of the next step of collections.

Back to top

What is the debtor payment flow?

At setup you decide to accept whatever payment methods you prefer, including credit cards, electronic checks, personal check, or phone pay. Payments flow to the American Payment Technologies' escrow clearing account. Here the funds are "aged" depending on the method of payment and then electronically transferred to your account each Monday. Included in the service is an automatic sweep for "Insufficient Funds" accounts with additional collections activities to successfully re-present the transactions. This removes this cumbersome activity from your staff workload and validates the debtor commitment to keep the promise to pay.

Back to top

How secure are the American Payment Technologies systems?

We strive to follow industry standard security best practices in both the development of the site and the hosting thereof. In our first year of operations (2003) we safely flowed over $340,000,000.00 of funds to creditors. If you have further questions related to security please email to

Back to top

How do I evaluate my data results and make changes in the system?

The American Payment Technologies reporting and management system is managed via the internet. You can assign different responsibilities throughout your organization via granting resource rule levels of security. The system logs changes made by every authorized system user. Typically, you assign an administrator login to the IT support staff sending the accounts and receiving the "paid" and "promise to pay" update files. You would be the supervisor login with additional logins for early stage manager and the charge-off/recovery manager. (depending on the size of your collections operation)

Back to top

How do we drive traffic to the American Payment Technologies system?

You can direct traffic to the site in several ways. It is important to note that you do NOT need to have a valid email address for the account to use this service. We suggest that you use ALL methods in order to generate adequate low cost volumes to generate the projected cost savings and recovery net increases. The primary method involves a text message on the monthly statements. Evaluate all your current contact formats - a placement or dunning letter can highlight this option, a message on your inbound IVR welcome announcement and one on the hold message also helps. This should be added to all scripts for talk-offs (especially during an imminently unsuccessful call). We can provide sample scripts and help in easily directing the traffic to our site.

Back to top

Should we modify our existing collection strategy while using the American Payment Technologies system?

We recommend that you continue to use all of your internal traditional collection strategies, and merely add the online American Payment Technologies option as a low cost supplement. However, if the next step in your process involves a transfer to a third party agency or law firm, then you should use our system for at least 45 days prior to the assignment in order to significantly collect the funds at a much lower cost prior to the transfer out. For that 45 day period you should have the discount table loaded so that your netback is above the projected netback with post transferred accounts. You control and determine the discounts and which of your accounts are directed to American Payment Technologies.

Back to top

Would American Payment Technologies, Inc. be considered to be a collection agency?

No. American Payment Technologies, Inc. is an independent third party escrow company and not a collection agency. We don't function or represent ourselves in any way to be directly involved. We provide a friendly and safe third party escrow site for collection agencies and others involved in collecting consumer debt.

Back to top

How have you addressed the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and other laws regulating our business?

You provide all collection related language displayed to the debtor. Typically the text is almost identical to your letters or talk-off scripts. We provide sample default text for your review should you prefer. And since there's no personal interaction, there's no risk of saying anything illegal or inappropriate.

Back to top

Where do debtors go for telephone help?

You continue to field all collection related questions and telephone negotiations. You would post your preferred phone number in the text area of the system. However for issues related to the site, American Payment Technologies provides a Technical Support Help Desk to walk users through any log-in related issues.

Back to top