A lifetime of learning

"Credit Quirks" (Creditkronkels) is a regular column in the professional journal of the VVCM (Dutch Association for Credit Management). Written by Ultimoo Incasso's Managing Director, Arjan Stigter, the column explores trends, news, and other compelling topics from the world of credit management.

I think everyone of a certain age can say in hindsight that they have been learning for a lifetime. The early years are spent in school, often ending with a degree that no one ever uses again. You have to decide at a young age what you want to be when you grow up.

Thanks, Bill Gates!

For instance, I graduated as a computer programmer before entering military service. There, I learned how to race a Land Rover through the woods and, well, I learned how to drink. Great times, but when I finished my service in 1989, computers—or PCs, as they were now called—had a mouse. A mouse??? What on earth were you supposed to do with that? In short: my knowledge was gone. My programming skills had been superseded by MS Windows. Thanks, Bill Gates.

But not to worry, in 1989 there were plenty of jobs... not! It took about 100 handwritten application letters to eventually find something. After four months working as a mailman and a chemical analyst (because I had once studied chemistry in school), I landed an interview at Dun & Bradstreet. My signature barely fit at the bottom of my letter, but the future manager saw no problem with that. After all, I knew "a thing or two" about computers. Thanks, Ed!

Helping People with Financial Problems

At D&B, I found myself in the world of credit management. What? Credit management? Yes, credit management. And as it turned out, I actually enjoyed it. I learned an immense amount on the job at D&B, holding almost every position in the 'order-to-cash' cycle. But the most enjoyable was definitely the role of collector in the debt collection department, where I started in 1993. It was a job where you could make your clients happy, but also help people who were facing financial difficulties—even back then.

Speechless...

Over the past decades, we have learned in our profession that a harsh tone, difficult jargon, and rapid legal enforcement are unnecessary. We’ve learned that an amicable solution can truly be achieved, if you are willing to try. In short: in my 35 years in this field, I have learned a lot, and I’m still not done. For instance, I am now learning that legislators don't always get everything right in advance. The Wki (Debt Collection Quality Act), for example, states that an employee at a collection agency must hold a vocational degree at MBO3 level.

Well, that leaves a number of colleagues who have been with us for over 20 years absolutely speechless. As it stands now, they would no longer be allowed to perform the work they have spent a lifetime mastering. Fortunately, I have also learned that even a government can retrace its steps. I am going to fight hard for this.

Arjan Stigter
Managing Director, Ultimoo Incasso