Professional debt collection is a compliance discipline. This post highlights what “serious” looks like: data minimisation, respectful messaging, clear evidence and robust vendor governance.
This note treats debt collection as a compliance discipline: when high case volumes meet sensitive data and emotionally charged situations, the risk of mistakes (tone, privacy, evidence) is real. Professional debt collection therefore means: standards, logging, and transparency.
As context: several formal metrics increased recently (2024 vs 2023). That raises the importance of clean processes. [BFS T 06.02.03.02; BFS T 06.02.03.03]
Without going into detailed legal bases, three principles are central:
Data minimisation: process only what is necessary for clarification and recovery (no “curiosity data”).
Purpose limitation: do not re-use data across purposes (e.g., marketing) when the purpose is debt recovery.
Transparency: communications should explain what is being requested, why, and how to raise questions/objections.
Operationally, this means: clean data models, access minimisation, a clear retention/deletion logic and documented processes.
Many complaints do not arise from the claim itself, but from how people are approached.
Professional standards:
Clear content: reference, amount, due date, next steps.
No intimidation: instead, factual information about possible next stages.
Accessibility: simple channels for questions, objections and payment plans.
Error handling: if something is wrong (address, invoice, service), it is corrected — not “pushed through”.
A robust collection system can evidence:
Which documents support the claim (contract, invoice, service evidence).
Which contacts/deadlines were set (who, when, how, content).
Which agreements were in place (payment plan, instalments, conditions).
This matters not only for disputes, but also for quality improvement: what gets paid, where objections arise, which templates work.
When external partners are used, governance becomes more important:
Clear roles: who may communicate what, who decides escalation.
Quality criteria: tone, response times, documentation standard, complaint handling.
Monitoring: sampling, KPIs, audit trails.
Serious debt collection is “professional process design”: data-minimising, respectful and auditable. If you treat it as a compliance discipline, you protect reputation and improve recovery through clear, fair communication. [BFS T 06.02.03.02; BFS T 06.02.03.03]
BFS: Debt enforcement actions by canton (T 06.02.03.02), Excel download: https://dam-api.bfs.admin.ch/hub/api/dam/assets/34907025/master (retrieved 2026-01-23)
BFS: Bankruptcy proceedings by canton (T 06.02.03.03), Excel download: https://dam-api.bfs.admin.ch/hub/api/dam/assets/34907023/master (retrieved 2026-01-23)
opendata.swiss dataset: https://opendata.swiss/de/dataset/betreibungshandlungen-nach-kanton4
opendata.swiss dataset: https://opendata.swiss/de/dataset/konkursverfahren-nach-kanton4
This publication is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax or investment advice. It is not an offer, solicitation or recommendation. It is directed solely at qualified investors in Switzerland and is not intended for U.S. persons.
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In this series
Further reading you may find relevant.
From 1 January 2025, debt enforcement for certain registered debtors can proceed as bankruptcy. We summarise the change at a high level and what it implies for early, fair collection practices.
BFS time series show a clear rise in formal enforcement. We highlight the 2024 YoY changes and the longer-term trend — and explain what you can (and cannot) infer from the data.
Most cases are won or lost before formal enforcement. We outline a practical, respectful playbook: documentation, timing, negotiation and when to escalate — with an eye on recovery rates and reputation.
Regulatory notice
This material is for information purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, an offer, or solicitation. It is directed exclusively at qualified investors and is not intended for US persons.
