Recoupa

 
Recover Outstanding Rates
in an Outstanding Way!
by helping Ratepayers to
avoid unmanageable debt

before debt recovery

without legal action

or after failed legal action


"This is the best innovation I've seen in Local Government for a long time"

General Manager of a NSW Council, July 2020.


The problem we solve
5 quick case studies
While Councils are reluctant to take debt recovery action during the transition from Covid-19…
many Ratepayers are accumulating unmanageable levels of debt.
Doing nothing now will create a delayed multiplier effect later
poor cashflow and tough debt recovery problems for Councils…
and even tougher problems for Ratepayers.
Recoupa's people and processes* Engage Ratepayers now and Assist them to Recover.
we call it Engage.Assist.Recover.
Councils compassionately help Ratepayers get up to date, before debt recovery and without legal action
Ratepayers are relieved to make affordable arrangements.
Less stress and workload later
(for everybody)
* A 7-stage methodology with tools and resources. Developed refined and proven in 327 difficult financial and social situations referred by NSW Councils.
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How we help

Engage

Assist

Recover

We recoup and recuperate
  • Visit Ratepayers to share respectful, compassionate, rational help
  • Assess financial situations, assess hardship, introduce Financial Counselling
  • Make payment plans and start people suffering chronic financial stress on their recuperation journey
  • Recoup payment more quickly, without slow expensive legal action
  • Reduce collateral damage within communities

"Thank you so much for helping me to sort this out
I have been worrying about it"

Typical of relieved gratitude expressed by most Ratepayers.

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When we help
Before debt recovery…
Recoupa engages with Ratepayers to resolve issues before Council refers them to debt recovery

or

After debt recovery…
Recoupa intervenes after debt recovery to resolve old and difficult situations - usually after many legal stages and debts have been outstanding for a long time

"Why haven't we always done this?"

Revenue Coordinator of a NSW Council, June 2020.


Why we help

Councils are moving towards greater sustainability

For more than 80 years Councils have relied on legal action through the Courts to recover debts.

But legal actions are slow and expensive. They cause as many problems as they solve.

Suing Ratepayers without prior contact is now considered financially and socially unsustainable.

Financial Sustainability
a Triple Bottom-Line

Sustainable for Councils

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Ratepayers pay their rates more quickly

Council cashflows fewer legal costs

Council is known for sustainable practices

Sustainable for Ratepayers

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Ratepayers easily pay rates in full without expensive legal costs

Ratepayers and their families suffer less financial and emotional stress

Sustainable for Communities

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Struggling families are relieved of high legal costs

Social impacts of chronic poverty in the community - in schools, health, crime & more… are reduced

"This is more effective than the legal actions we used to take
and much less expensive for Ratepayers"

Financial Services Manager of a NSW Council, August 2020.

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Four ways we help
Ratepayer engagement
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1 - Early-Stage Intervention

Visit Ratepayers to compassionately help them prior to debt recovery

Calculate and make payment arrangements, complete all the required forms and deliver them to Council

Introduce Financial Counselling

Mediate to resolve disputes

Report to Council with recommendation

2 - Late-Stage Intervention

Visit Ratepayers who are unresponsive to legal action, often suffering chronic distress

Introduce 3rd-party experts, e.g. Financial Counselling, Legal Services, Health Services…

Compassionately start Ratepayer’s financial recuperation

Report to Council & monitor recovery


Risk reduction & Council briefings

3 - Sale of Land management

Full project management of the Sale of Land process. From triage of the properties to be sold, through to settlement.

Visit owner-occupied properties before Council resolution, seek payment, report risk assessment to Council

Attend the Sale of Land auction to reduce risks, handle queries, remove rogue buyers and more…

4 - Council briefings
Brief Councillors on Sale of Land for unpaid Rates prior to Council resolution being presented
Brief Councillors on changes and trends in debt recovery, and support proposed changes in policies
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"This is great example of how a stitch in time saves nine"

Mayor of a NSW Council, July 2020.

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Teamwork
Supporting your Debt Recovery Agency
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We are willing to sub-contract through Council's existing Debt Recovery Agency

Council's Debt Recovery Agency continues to coordinate and manage Council's work - we complement their services

Councils have fewer relationships to manage, billing and other processes are more simple and efficient


Those case studies again
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