We often use jargon in the debt collection industry. Our terminology is intended to clarify our work and draw legal distinctions between our clients and their debtors.The good news is that most of our jargon is simple to learn. The more you know, the easier it gets to understand our services and your rights as a creditor or debtor.The difference between a debtor vs creditor is one of the most common questions we get. It’s also the basis of our industry, so we’re going to go over the meaning of each term in this article.
What is a Debtor?
A debtor is an individual or business that owes money to another entity (the creditor). You are a debtor if you have borrowed money or if you have received goods and services that you haven’t yet paid for.
Debtors have certain financial obligations. This includes repaying the debt according to the agreed upon terms (e.g. paying interest, repaying the debt by a certain date, making regular instalments, etc.).
For example, Garments Galore is a clothing manufacturer. They order fabric in bulk from Fantastic Fabrics.
These fabric orders are large and can be worth tens of thousands of dollars. To help manage their cash flow, Garments Galore pays for the materials in two instalments.
The first instalment is paid before the fabric is delivered. The second instalment is paid once Garments Galore has finished their manufacturing run and sold the completed garments to their customers.
This means Garments Galore is the debtor of Fantastic Fabrics until the second instalment is paid.
Even though Fantastic Fabrics is not a bank or lending institution, they have provided goods before receiving full payment, and Garments Galore is legally required to pay its debt.
What is a Creditor?
A creditor is an individual or business that has lent money to another entity (the debtor). You are a creditor if you have provided money, goods or services to someone else and they haven’t yet paid.When you think of lending money, you probably think of major banks and lenders. But any individual or business may be considered a creditor. Banks, lenders, businesses, suppliers, service providers, and even friends and family can be creditors.
For example, Auto Loans Inc is a private lending institution. Auto Loans Inc is approached by Barbara, who’d like to buy a new car.Auto Loans Inc checks Barbara’s credit history and is satisfied that she will be able to repay the loan. They lend Barbara the money and both parties sign a contract saying that the loan will be repaid in regular instalments over the next 4 years.Auto Loans Inc is the creditor of Barbara until the full amount of the loan is repaid.
Secured vs Unsecured Creditors
There are two main types of creditors: secured and unsecured. The distinction between the two is based on the type of debt you are owed:
- Secured debt is any debt that is subject to a “security” interest. With a secured debt, the debtor is able to borrow money by using an asset (such as a house or car) as collateral. Typically, this means the creditor has a right to repossess the secured asset if the debtor doesn’t repay the loan.
- Unsecured debt is any debt that isn’t subject to a security interest. Unsecured debts include things like personal loans, credit cards, or goods and services a debtor has received but hasn’t yet paid for.
Secured and unsecured creditors both have a legal right to recover the money they’re owed.
Protect Your Business with Debt Recovery from Dynamic Commercial Collections
While you probably think of banks and lenders as “creditors,” there’s a good chance your business acts as a creditor for many of your customers. Playing the role of creditor is a great way to expand your business and build trust, but it can put you in a vulnerable position.If your business is left holding bad debt then it’s time to contact Dynamic Commercial Collections. Dynamic Commercial Collections offers professional debt recovery services in Brisbane, Bundaberg and Perth. We work with individuals and businesses, providing expert debt collection and field services that maximise your returns.We take pride in using the latest technology and ethical recovery tactics to collect outstanding debts. That’s good news for your business, and it’s good news for your debtors. Contact us today for a consultation and to find out more about recovering the debts you are owed!
How to Manage Your Risk as a Creditor
Reducing your risk is the best thing you can do as a creditor. Here are a few tips on avoiding client debt:
How Creditors Recover Money from Debtors
If you or your business is acting as a creditor and your debtor can’t or won’t repay their debt, you can recover your money in a few ways:
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