Debt Settlement Account Identification. Segmenting Portfolios for Strategic Recovery

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1 Segmenting Portfolios for Strategic Recovery

2 DS3 can identify debt settlement accounts in your portfolio and segment them for strategic recovery and a reduction of costs. Over $7B has been settled in the last 3 years. Since its inception, the collections industry has developed complex and comprehensive strategies to optimize the collection of accounts in their portfolios. At times, it may seem like there are as many strategies as accounts in a portfolio. Today, the strategies are tested for tenths of a percent improvement. Here, we would like to introduce you to one that may have much more impact. Regardless of what you or your organization thinks about debt settlement, incorporating strategies that address this population of accounts will affect your recovery rate and costs. We want to be clear upfront: DS3 isn t advocating debt settlement or endorsing any debt settlement company or solution. Instead, we seek to provide the financial industry with the data and services necessary for managing the population of debt settlement accounts that reside in creditors existing portfolios. DS3 isn t advocating debt settlement or endorsing any debt settlement company or solution. Instead, we seek to provide the financial industry with the data and services necessary for managing the population of debt settlement accounts that reside in creditors existing portfolios. We re in the business of pioneering highly strategic solutions for settling highly recoverable accounts. If your organization chooses to address this population of accounts in your portfolio, DS3 can provide a set of tools that will allow a collection organization to promote a better focus on the more difficult collection populations and reduce costs for these debt settlement accounts. Debt Settlement: The Landscape There are some important data points to keep in mind when thinking about beginning any kind of relationship with a debt settlement company: Over $7 billion in face amount settled over the last 3 years 1 60% liquidate over the first 3-5 months of agreement Average settlement is 38% A recent survey suggested that 40 percent of participating collection organizations use debt settlement as a tool in their collection efforts. There was also a significant shift in adoption, most impressively among credit card issuers, with a 63 percent adoption rate. Additionally, roughly 60 percent of debt buyers and legal recovery firms now report working with the debt settlement industry. 1 Settlement numbers based on industry trade group estimates. DS3 An American InfoSource Affiliate DS3 and insidearm.com

3 Challenges of Working Within the Debt Settlement Space Many who choose to not work with debt settlement companies cite reputational issues an allegation made even more challenging when the FTC s concerns with the debt settlement industry are considered. Those concerns have been addressed with a tightening of regulations. The FTC has cleaned up this industry. Now, the focus may swing in the direction of the consumer. Some believe the CFPB may suggest that allowing the consumer to settle the account in the manner the consumer chooses, is in concert with their charter. Additional challenges: Debt Settlement companies inform their clients: ü Do NOT send Cease & Desist ü Do NOT respond to mailings ü Do NOT talk to collectors Coordination with hundreds of individual debt settlement companies can make those relationships challenging for an organization to manage Collection and record retention of Power of Attorney prior to settlement With these points in mind, there are still opportunities for collection organizations to establish working relationships with debt settlement companies. It s very important, though, to have a strategy in place before establishing that relationship. Importance of a Debt Settlement Strategy Working smartly with debt settlement agencies, collection organizations can realize some financial benefits: It can guarantee that you are receiving your fair share of debt settlement dollars ü If you re not working with debt settlement agencies, know that other creditors are. You re losing out on current quarter recoveries. Lowers your staffing costs and agency fees ü By removing these accounts from your collection/recovery pool, collectors can be redeployed to focus on other accounts and initiatives Increases recoveries through segmentation ü Accounts offer a higher rate of return in a shorter period of time in debt settlement, when handled correctly Again, though: to realize these successes, it s important to make sure that you have a strong strategy in place and a thorough understanding of the kinds of paper in your various portfolios. DS3 An American InfoSource Affiliate DS3 and insidearm.com

4 A Key Component of a Debt Settlement Solution While DS3 is not advocating debt settlement as a solution, we do offer tools for those who have made the decision to pursue that avenue of recovery. DS3 utilizes the most comprehensive database of accounts worked by debt settlement companies. DS3 can scrub your inventory to pristinely identify highly recoverable settlement opportunities that would go otherwise unnoticed. Remember, consumers are counseled not to tell creditors they are enrolled in a program. DS3 captures consumers who have attained a contract with a debt settlement organization through direct feeds from these same debt settlement companies. The database is continuously updated to accurately identify creditor s accounts in debt settlement. Once identified, DS3 will service matched accounts at a contingency fee more reasonably priced than traditional debt. Leveraging direct relationships with the majority of debt settlement companies, DS3 can submit, negotiate, and follow up on settlements in an expedited fashion, allowing you to accelerate accounts into payment programs and transact in less time. How it works: DS3 scrubs creditor portfolios to identify highly recoverable settlement opportunities with consumers enrolled in Debt Settlement programs DS3 retains settlement authority up to 70% forgiveness Majority of accounts liquidate over the first 3-5 months of agreement (60%) Monthly liquidation projections provided after initial 90- day servicing period Arms- length transaction eliminating direct contact with DSAs DS3 negotiates and follows up on settlements DS3 notifies client of customers that exited their Debt Settlement program DS3 An American InfoSource Affiliate DS3 and insidearm.com

5 These charts suggest that there can be a marked portfolio value difference between portfolios sent to suit versus those settled: Conclusion Debt settlement is simply one of many options available for collection organizations and creditors who are attempting to collect on past due accounts. A thorough understanding of the accounts your agents are working, and a business relationship with a company like DS3 that offers database tools for account servicing, can be key components to making this solution work for your organization. DS3 An American InfoSource Affiliate DS3 and insidearm.com

6 About DS3: An American InfoSource Affiliate DS3 specializes in providing the data and services necessary for managing the population of debt settlement accounts that reside in a creditor s existing portfolio. DS3 offers a set of tools that enables collection organizations to simplify the debt settlement process, reduce costs and agency fees, and focus efforts on the more difficult collection populations. DS3 identifies debt settlement accounts with an industry- best database and deploys servicing strategies to maximize returns from this population of accounts. With SOCII and PCI compliant operations, DS3 is confident in its ability to surpass the brand protection expectations of its clients when servicing accounts in debt settlement. About insidearm.com insidearm.com provides the most credible platform for service providers to reach potential clients, and is also uniquely qualified to help ARM businesses with their own websites, social media programs, and overall marketing strategies. The mission of insidearm.com is to shift the public conversation about the ARM industry in order to help creditors and collection professionals reduce risk, lawsuits, and bad press; we d like to change consumer perception that speaking with collectors should be avoided. With more than 70,000 subscribers, our website and newsletters reach collection agencies and law firms, debt buyers, credit grantors, suppliers of technology and services to these groups, regulators, industry investors, and many other interested parties. DS3 An American InfoSource Affiliate DS3 and insidearm.com