Page:Roy Ralph Hottman - Practical Collection Procedure (1923).pdf/17

Rh necessary information without seeming to do 80, or in a letter, to secure the data courteously and tactfully, at all times leaving the debtor or would-be-debtor in a favorable state of mind, impressed with the good-will of the house, the benefits of remaining on good terms with them, and carrying away with him a wholesome respect for the house and those connected with it. At no time must he be swayed by personal motives nor personal enmity in han- dling credits, but should always be open and fair-minded, and governed by the sole idea of building up the business of his employers, making his decisions accordingly.

A knowledge of business law—at least to some extent— is essential, He should be familiar with the bankruptcy laws, negotiable papers of all kinds, contracts, bulk sales laws of his state and other states, ete. He should know the status of the account of a bankrupt who either through carelessness or for reason, has failed to secure a discharge from bankruptcy, how often the same party is by law al- lowed to file a petition in bankruptcy, the statutes of limi- tations, the securing of judgments, the exemptions allowed by the various states, etc., etc. There are many good books devoted to these different subjects, which may be obtained at any library, and which will well repay the student who will attentively read and study them. ,

The credit man should also be a good collector, equally apt personally, or through correspondence. In the larger corporations the credit and collection departments are sep- arate, but they are so closely allied (in the smaller corpora- tions they are often one and the same) that a good knowl- edge of collecting is essential.