Debt Management Course

This programme is designed for people who wish to gain an understanding of principles and practice of controlling credit and managing debt in commercial organisations.

You will learn methods of controlling credit, methods of credit checking, examining the use of the courts and debt management agencies in recovering debt and how to collect debt by letter and telephone.

Distance Learning Support

As a valued student of Start Learning you will have the facility to use our personal tutor service.  At Start Learning we have a friendly team of highly qualified and experienced tutors.  A tutor will be allocated to our student for 12 months, starting from when study materials are received.  The tutors are contacted via email and are responsible for marking assignments and guiding you through the course to ensure you are ready for your examinations.

Entry Requirements

There are no entry requirements for this course. At Start Learning we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and study further, so we try to keep our entry requirements to a minimum.

Recommended Hours of Study

It is recommended that approximately 90 hours of your time should be allocated towards study for the Debt Management and Credit Control Course.

Course Contents

Unit 1 - Credit Control: Credit - Cutting down on credit - Bad debts - Sales discounts - Is my customer credit worthy? - Credit application form - Trade references - Bankers references - Credit checks - Credit insurance - Credit control routines - Terms and conditions of sale - Interest – Invoices - Aged debt analysis and debt turn - Debt recovery through the courts - The Courts and their powers of collection - 3 track system - Statutory demands, Insolvency and Bankruptcy - Winding up petitions - Voluntary arrangements - Administration orders - VAT and Tax relief for Bad debts - What VAT relief is available? - How to claim relief - Tax relief

Unit 2 - Debt Management Agencies: Credit checking agencies - An explanation of what credit checking agencies do - The information they hold - How to use their services - Factoring companies - A history of factoring - An explanation of how their products work - The services they can offer - Specialist Legal Services - What services are on offer - How to use their services effectively - The Courts - How and when it is appropriate to use the courts - Advice on applying for legal resolution - The 3 track system - Small Claims Track - Fast Track -Multi track - Costs verses Settlement – Is it worth it? - Debt Collection Agents - Bailiffs - What are they? - What are the costs involved? - What are their collection powers? – Sheriffs -What are they? - What are the costs involved? - What are their collection powers? - Private Debt Collections agents - What are they? - What are the costs involved?

Unit 3 – Communication: Telephone Communication - Telephone skills - Handling problems and objections - Dealing with difficult customers and controlling anger - How to gain commitment to pay - Written Communication - When to choice written forms of communication - Email verses letters – When is each format appropriate? - Sample letters - Request for payment - Demand for payment - How to deal with customer responses - Common responses and excuses - How to reply to customer responses - How to gain commitment

Qualifications

Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive a Level 3 Award in Debt Management and Credit Control.

Awarding Body

NCFE is recognised as an awarding body by the qualification regulators ('regulators') for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The regulators are the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) in England, the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS) in Wales and the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) in Northern Ireland. The course is recognised in Scotland by the SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority).

Language of Course

English

Assessment

This course is marked through a process of continuous assessment guided by your tutor following NCFE guidelines. This means that your qualification will be awarded according to your performance on assessments rather than by taking an examination.