Host Bryn Griffiths is joined by Mark Daprato , a board member of the Receivables Management Association of Canada and the organizer of its upcoming National Conference on Nov 14. This year's conference has a bold and thought-provoking theme: "Weathering Disruption in the Financial Services Industry." Mark shares insights into the conference's focus on the massive disruption happening in the finance and working environment, including the impact of AI, the changing economic landscape, and hybrid ...
Oct 31, 2023•21 min•Ep. 46
Delve into the world of estate administration in the digital age with our guest, Ari Brojde, CEO of Estateably. Host Bryn Griffiths uncovers the secrets behind efficiently managing debts, distributing assets, and handling the ever-evolving landscape of managing and closing estates. Ari shares his journey, from recognizing industry pain points to creating a revolutionary software platform that simplifies the process for professionals and beneficiaries alike. Discover the importance of advertising...
Aug 10, 2023•23 min•Ep. 45
Small Claims Court just became bigger, at least in one jurisdiction. In the Canadian province of Alberta, the limit for civil litigation in the Provincial Court system has recently doubled from CAD $50,000 to $100,000. This means Albertans and agents like MetCredit can go to court without a lawyer in the province to collect much larger debts, benefitting from reduced costs and shorter wait times. Tim Browatzke is MetCredit’s Manager of Corporate Integrity and Legal Strategies, and he joins host ...
Jun 06, 2023•18 min•Ep. 44
The Credit and Receivables Management Industry is a complex one. Yet for ages, there was no standardized training or certification for credit professionals. David Hopkyns, ACI, has helped change that in his work as National Director for the Prairies of the Credit Institute of Canada, which today has nearly 2,000 members across the country. The CIC has built a respected roster of certification programs awarding professional designations including Certified Credit Professional (CCP). Earning a CCP...
Feb 14, 2023•20 min•Ep. 43
When debt piles up and becomes unmanageable, what can you do? More people than ever are turning to consumer proposals and even bankruptcy as a way out. The promises you hear in advertisements sound liberating—but is there another side to taking drastic measures? Rhonda Fox-Miles, a licensed bankruptcy trustee since 1999 and Registered Social worker, talks with host Bryn Griffiths about the good, bad and ugly sides of these options, and what else you can do to take care of debt without the long-t...
Jan 12, 2023•23 min•Ep. 42
The Receivables Management world is a magnifier of business challenges. Whenever the economy becomes difficult, the credit world is in for a ride. MetCredit's central region business development manager George Preece is a credit industry veteran who co-founded the Receivable Management Institute (RMA) more than a decade ago. He joins host Bryn Griffiths to talk about improving collections through connecting with peers, regulators and technology leaders — and how you can get on the cutting edge....
Dec 21, 2022•18 min•Ep. 41
If you’re like most people, you seldom answer phone calls from anyone you don’t recognize. And for good reason. A universal surge in spam calls and fraudulent players (usually spoofing outgoing numbers) has tarnished our trust in conventional caller IDs. For a telephone-centric company like MetCredit, this behavioural change has been a huge challenge in reaching consumers. And as has often been the case, technology is the solution. MetCredit has recently partnered with Hiya to display not only t...
Dec 01, 2022•19 min•Ep. 40
Working in the credit industry is an opportunity to make an impact on businesses, individuals and the economy itself. But how do you stay fresh, inspired and on top of your game? Host Bryn Griffiths joins Credit Institute of Canada General Manager Nawshad Khadaroo to talk about how being part of an engaged community provides learning, education and support, while linking you with others who keep the wheels of business turning.
Oct 12, 2022•20 min•Ep. 39
Dun & Bradstreet has evolved a lot in its 173-year history. Now the world's largest trade payment database with over 360 million lines of global trade, it is known by most business people as a risk company for credit reporting. As D&B's director of data acquisitions, Stephanie Flierjans has spent most of her 35-year career with the company. In this episode, she tells host Bryn Griffiths how trade data can de-risk accounts receivable management, and how to create a system that directly re...
Sep 12, 2022•19 min•Ep. 38
A lot of things keep CEOs up at night, from HR and supply chain issues to operational challenges and cash flow. But most often it's cash flow. Host Bryn Griffiths is joined by Martin Hunter, managing partner of URGEO, a company specializing in helping CEOs achieve operational excellence, to discuss why accounts receivable are such a challenge—and how leaders can solve it to focus on their real job! Martin is also the creator of the “What CEOs Talk About” podcast , where he tears down the biggest...
Aug 04, 2022•30 min•Ep. 37
Ever thought of a job in collections? Many successful collectors never did, and now can’t imagine themselves in any other career. Author and trainer Tim Paulsen returns to Overdue Advice to share advice for accounts receivable management teams and collectors—and shines light on the life-changing magic of working in collections.
Jul 26, 2022•28 min•Ep. 36
When a customer decides not to pay your invoice, what do you do? Should you sue, or take the file to your collection agency? It's not always an easy question, and one that lawyer Howard "Howie" J. Sniderman has helped business leaders answer for decades. After listening to this episode, you'll be equipped to make the decision for yourself! Learn how to create emotional distance from the problem, how to know if there's a “pot of gold at the end of the rainbow” if a dispute is likely, and what a l...
Jun 02, 2022•34 min•Ep. 35
What happens when you send an account to collections? What will the collection agency do—and what won't they? What kind of businesses are best suited to use a collection agency? MetCredit VP Business Development and industry veteran David Hopkyns joins host Bryn Griffiths to open the Overdue Advice mailbag and answers these and other questions listeners frequently ask us. Join Bryn and David as they bust myths and provide some surprising revelations. It's an entertaining and eye-opening episode ...
May 18, 2022•26 min•Ep. 34
It's been an incredibly tough two years. At MetCredit, we've always been a people business. In recent years, with competitors outsourcing their call centres overseas, we've taken pride in having real people working from our offices. So the work-from-home orders of COVID-19 threatened our very existence. Many of our contracts with banks, telcos and other large clients prohibited doing exactly what needed to be done to continue our work. It required a marathon of IT work and policy changes, but we...
Mar 01, 2022•20 min•Ep. 33
When does a job become more then a 9-to-5 but something that transforms people's lives? Host Bryn Griffiths talks with MetCredit Collection Manager Quinn Yule and Human Resources & Quality Assurance Manager Greg Hunka about their careers with the company, and how it has changed their lives but the lives of many of those with whom they've worked, in the office and even at the receiving end of collection calls. Find out what it takes to be a collector at one of MetCredit's offices Canada-wide,...
Feb 18, 2022•25 min•Ep. 32
After two years of uncertainty and surprises, what’s next—and how can Canadian businesses plan and grow in such crazy times? MetCredit is a member of more than 50 Chambers of Commerce across Canada, and we love to make use of this great resource. In this episode, host Bryn Griffiths talks to Jeffrey Sundquist, President and CEO of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce and Patrick Sullivan, President and CEO of the Halifax Chamber about how two very different Canadian cities are facing the business ch...
Feb 03, 2022•28 min•Ep. 31
Artificial Intelligence is a more than a hot-button topic lately. It's a group of technologies that is revolutionizing our way of life. From asking Siri on your smartwatch to the emergence of self-driving cars, machine learning and computers that “think” are rapidly working their way into every home, office and garage—as well as our pockets and wrists. Anand Mahurkar spent three years on the advisory team for IBM’s Watson before founding Boston-based Findability Sciences. The AI technology his t...
Nov 19, 2021•22 min•Ep. 30
Ever wondered what it’s like for the people who make collection calls for a living? Meet Ourvashi, Zak and Jay, three collectors at MetCredit. Learn why Jay, a former nurse and father of three, Ourvashi with a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance, and Zak, a university graduate with loads of ambition, decided to work at MetCredit — and thrived in their professional and personal lives. Succeeding in collections takes commitment and tenacity — and these three very different individuals w...
Oct 22, 2021•23 min•Ep. 29
Disputing a bill is not terribly uncommon, and in some cases makes sense. Billing errors can happen, and it’s fair to have them resolved before paying. But imagine claiming you don’t need to pay ANY bills—or even your rent—ever, because you have special status or philosophical separation from your “debtor self” that renders financial obligations null and void. Such are the type of stances taken by people called “Debt Protesters,” despite that their tactics never succeed. Often predatory online f...
Sep 09, 2021•22 min•Ep. 28
Consumer debt collection is delicate business at the best of times. Throw in a global pandemic where people’s livelihoods are in doubt, and it becomes exponentially harder. For telecommunications companies, the question becomes more than ever how to help customers, who need their phones and the Internet to work and function, but many of whom are struggling to pay for other essential services—like food and housing. In this landmark episode, host Bryn Griffiths brings together 3 directors of TRMA ...
Jul 19, 2021•28 min•Ep. 27
What we need is a deep breath to reset how we think about our businesses. Enter Dominic Rubio - a professional business coach, entrepreneur, host of his own podcast called The Profit Toolbelt. While this episode isn’t specifically about credit and debt recovery, we wanted to hear what Dominic Rubino has to say about planning for the future because the first step to debt recovery, is not to have to worry about it - so, planning. Dominic talks about what that means for planning processes, writing ...
Feb 25, 2021•18 min•Ep. 26
Individuals, businesses, industries, and governments have struggled to cope with the pandemic. Understanding what’s happening, why, what the risks and dangers are, and what to do about it affects everyone. It’s glib to say, “things are mess,” or “they’re going to be different.” Of course they’re a mess and they’re going to be different, but how? Our guest this episode is going to try to help us wade through debt and credit in the COVID era. If your income in curtailed, even a little, it can be r...
Nov 19, 2020•18 min•Ep. 25
There’s no need to guess why it’s been months since we recorded a podcast. When the pandemic lockdown happened in March, everyone was scrambling. Well, almost everyone. Businesses without interruption, continuity, or disaster plans, scrambled to make them up as they went along, as if things aren’t hard enough. The fact that people’s incomes were locked down too, complicated matters more. This podcast talks about ways to keep cash, credit, and debt in circulation so your business can prosper. Wha...
Nov 12, 2020•17 min•Ep. 24
If your customers are consumers, this episode is going to be of special interest. We’re going to pull back the curtain and have a frank discussion with debt collection specialists about how they try to resolve people’s debt problems. Most consumer debts aren’t big - a reminder or call from a third-party collection agency like MetCredit is enough of a wake-up call to get paid. For a minority of people, debt is a big problem. And by big problem, I mean a house-sized problem. “House poor” is more t...
Mar 20, 2020•20 min•Ep. 23
Every episode of overdue advice is aimed at providing business leaders perspective on how and why debt collection can have a positive effect on your business’s cash flow and customer relationships. By the time some companies contact MetCredit, the pressure of receivables is extreme. MetCredit can usually start collecting within a few days. If it’s a larger client, MetCredit scales up to accommodate the workload. Recently, MetCredit landed a significant new client. Collection Supervisor Murat Akb...
Mar 02, 2020•19 min•Ep. 22
The financial services sector is built on trust. The clearer the contract, the more trust. In debt collection experience is the currency of trust. Debt collection is a people business after all. And MetCredit's people know their business. If you tour MetCredit's offices, you'll see long time service awards of 5, 10, 15 and over 20 years experience. In business, longevity translates as consistency, reliability, and trust. In this episode of overdue advice, we talk to three of MetCredit's collecti...
Feb 06, 2020•26 min•Ep. 21
When you think about debt collection, you think about a phone call. There was a time when that was more or less true. It's 2020 and the telecom industry has shifted. Cord cutting means landlines aren't as available as they used to be, and there's no phone book for mobile phones. Text messaging have shifted when and where collectors can reach people. Simon Howard is the Canadian Director of Canadian Operations for Illion, an Australian company with a suite of debt "receivables optimization soluti...
Jan 23, 2020•24 min•Ep. 20
We live in the self-help era. From books to YouTube, you can learn about anything, or learn to do anything. Restoring an old radio, or calibrating a robot motor is one thing. How do you build a team? Soft skills are hard. Debt collectors get results, but almost entirely through soft skills. Debt collection is, mostly, one person communicating with another. Shawn Virk is a Vice-President at MetCredit and leads the Vancouver team. He’s had special success in building a positive, safe, supportive e...
Jan 09, 2020•19 min•Ep. 19
Some industries are regulated more than others. The Financial sector is one of the most high regulated sectors in the Canadian economy. And within finance, debt collection is a unique - and often - ignored corner. But it’s a corner with a lot of legal obligations…so today, we’re talking about compliance. When a company is meeting all its legal obligations, it’s in compliance. Regulations are a way to make sure everyone is playing on a level playing field, by the same rules. If you get out of lin...
Dec 27, 2019•19 min•Ep. 18
If you're organized and attentive to your accounts receivable, collections can be an orderly process, but it's still stressful. The general impression is that collections has a negative impact on business relationships. In fact, professional debt collection can reset and improve relationships with clients. What happens when things go really off the rails? We've covered Canada, but we've never talked about the United States. Today we're talking to a collections lawyer, so let's crunch some number...
Dec 13, 2019•19 min•Ep. 17
