County Considers Collection Agency

by Mike Bevel, CollectionIndustry.com

Jackson County, Alabama, is considering hiring Allied Collection Agency to collect on delinquent solid waste accounts. It would seem that residents like the convenience of curb-side pick-up more than they like to pay for curb-side pick-up.

Prior to the Allied option, the county issued warrants for the arrest of individuals who did not pay their garbage bills. However, warrants written are not necessarily warrants served, and this has been an ongoing problem for Jackson County.

Randy Webster, sanitation director for the county, stated that some of the commissioners have a problem with treating non-payment for garbage service as a criminal offense and that the county is dependent on the health department, sheriff?s department and court system as reasons that the current warrant system is not ideal.

Webster then suggested hiring Allied Collection Agency to collect on delinquent accounts ? freeing up jail space and easing the burden on the sheriff?s department. ?I am presenting another alternative,? Webster told the Daily Sentinel. ?We are struggling not to go up on rates because of a 29 cent fuel increase. This is an alternative to that. There is money right here.?

Webster said the collection agency could be used in addition to the current warrant system to help collect as much money as possible from delinquent accounts.

The commission tabled taking action on the collection agency plan, authorizing the county attorney and Webster to set criteria for accounts to meet before they are sent to the collection agency.