Page:Roy Ralph Hottman - Practical Collection Procedure (1923).pdf/69

Rh much his discomfiture. Neighbors or friends of a re- moved debtor wil give very little, if any, information as to his whereabouts to one they know wants to locate him in order to collect a bill.

There is hardly a person, no matter who he be, who has not at least some friends in his neighborhood, even tho they be only children. The representative who gives no evidence of being a collector, upon finding a debtor re- moved, can make inquiries among the neighbors as to his present whereabouts, expressing much concern that he should have left without advising him, and intimating that the matter is of an urgent and beneficial, but con- fidential, nature. It is seldom that one who plays his part well is unable to find the present whereabouts of a debtor, merely through inquiries in the neighborhood. Should the neighbors be suspicious and vouchsafe no information, a phone call to one of the houses next door, sometimes secures the desired results. In making the call, assume an agitated manner, a confidential tone of voice, say that you are calling from the Western Union office, or the Express Co. office, that you have a message to give the debtor who has moved, or a package to deliver to him, but cannot locate him, and desire his present address. Where extreme ur- gency is indicated, the party called up will often give in- formation which he otherwise would refuse upon deliberate thought. The average person if urged quickly, and sur- prised into action, will do what is requested, giving the desired information and pondering afterwards as to whether he should or should not have done it. Creditors frequently are opposed to such methods but where a debtor deliberately attempts to evade a debt through change