ACA International has conducted the Top Collection Market Survey in the United States for more than 40 years. This survey provides collection professionals with information about viable client markets. The information contained in this report includes annual dollar volume of gross collections and new business in the select 12 month period, average balance, number of accounts placed, average age at time of placement, and recovery rates. Healthcare claims - hospital and non-hospital and other information is organized according to specific market of origination, such as auto, banks and finance companies, telecom and utilities, checks, commercial, credit cards and retail, credit unions, government and student loans.

As the collection industry diversifies into a variety of new market opportunities, this research information is more valuable than ever to collection agencies. In the past, however, getting substantial data to compile meaningful statistics was increasingly difficult.

Collecting this valuable data can be time consuming for both ACA International and the agencies who are providing it. Due to the importance of this survey, and to better serve our clients, Columbia Ultimate lends a hand by offering functionality in The Collector System to assist users in participating in the ACA's Top Collection Market Survey.

Once The Collector System is setup, the data pertinent to the Top Collection Market Survey can be extracted electronically and sent to an independent research company that will compile the information and present aggregate totals and a report summary to ACA International. ACA International will be administering this survey in January of 2007. All agencies that participate in the survey will receive a free electronic copy of the report when it is completed.

Agencies interested in participating in the Top Collection Market Survey before the January 2007 launch date should contact the ACA. For assistance in updating The Collector System with this new Top Collection Market Survey functionality, contact Client Care directly at 1-800-488-4420, option 1, or via email at clientcare@columbiaultimate.com.