Water Authority Grants Exclusive Deal to Collection Agency

by Mike Bevel, CollectionIndustry.com

A Pennsylvania county is handing over debt collection to Accounts Recovery Bureau of Wyomissing.

The Reading Water Authority made ARB the sole provider of bill-collection services for the authority. Previously, according to the Reading Eagle, those services had been provided by both ARB and Accounts Management Services Inc., 938 N. Eighth St.

Authority member F. Lynn Christie said having two collection agencies can lead to confusion, and ARB has a 90 percent success rate in collecting payments from delinquent customers, which last year brought in more than $3 million.

The exclusivity deal was contingent upon ARB securing office space in the city, whether through purchase or lease, Solicitor Michael A. Setley said.

ARB officials said the exclusivity deal allows the company to move to downtown Reading, as well as expand its operations. It is in the process of acquiring a smaller firm with 40 employees.