Resources
Post a Job
 Special offer 

Jumpstart your hiring with a £100 credit to sponsor your first job.*

Sponsored Jobs posted directly on Indeed are 65% more likely to report a hire than non-sponsored jobs**
  • Visibility for hard-to-fill roles through branding and urgently hiring
  • Instantly source candidates through matching to expedite your hiring
  • Access skilled candidates to cut down on mismatched hires
*The £100 Sponsored Job credit offer is only available for new accounts in the UK that post a job and expires one year after account creation. Upon expiration of the credit, users are charged based on Sponsored Job budget. Terms, conditions and quality standards apply **Indeed data, United Kingdom, Q2 2024

Credit Controller Interview Questions

Edited by Indeed Employer Content Team
Last updated 6 December 2024
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Credit Controller interview questions and answers.

  1. Tells us about your experience of collecting overdue payments from customers. See answer
  2. What qualification and experience do you have that makes you eligible for this job? See answer
  3. Do all payment collections require legal action? How do you separate such situations? See answer
  4. Describe your typical workday as a Credit Collector. See answer
  5. You have a customer who is continually failing to make overdue payments. Are you comfortable consulting your team members? See answer
  6. How do you motivate customers to pay their debts on time? See answer
  7. As a Credit Controller, have you ever negotiated and compromised with a customer? Give an example. See answer
  8. You call a customer who hasn’t paid for five months in a row. The customer talks about their financial difficulties and gets emotional over the phone. What will you do?
  9. Sometimes, a Credit Controller’s job can be stressful. Some customers may get aggressive. How do you deal with such situations?
  10. One of our long-term clients has a good repayment record. However, they’ve missed four consecutive payments. Will you treat them like all other defaulters or follow an individual approach?
Show more questions Show fewer questions

Ready to get started?

Post a job

Ready to get started?

Post a job
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

10 Credit Controller Interview Questions and Answers

You call a customer who hasn't paid for five months in a row. The customer talks about their financial difficulties and gets emotional over the phone. What will you do?

For a Credit Controller position, emotions have no place. While it's good to show empathy with customers, applicants need to stick to the company's rules, and customer emotions shouldn't affect their decision making. What to look for in an answer:

  •  Knowledge of acceptable settlement offers
  • Concrete interpersonal and listening skills
  • Negotiation skills

Example:

"I will first listen to why the customer is defaulting payments. After hearing their concern, I will give them better repayment solutions and reach a common consensus without affecting the relationship. If the customer still doesn't agree to pay, I'll tell them about the legal actions that may follow after the call."

Tells us about your experience of collecting overdue payments from customers.

Use this question to understand the applicant's approach to collecting overdue payments without spoiling the relationship with the customer. Their work history must showcase high payment collection without damaging your company's reputation. What to look for in an answer:

  • Relevant work experience
  • Proven track record of collecting overdue payments
  • Knowledge of industry-approved collection strategies

Example:

"In my last job, I collected overdue payments for clients who didn't have an exceptional track record with the company. I worked closely with a Credit Controller Manager to collect overdue payments without using legal or scare tactics. I'm knowledgeable of the industry best practices and tactics to collect overdue payments."

Sometimes, a Credit Controller's job can be stressful. Some customers may get aggressive. How do you deal with such situations?

Few customers like to receive calls from 18205923credit controller13.03credit control10.72bookkeeper9.11finance7.03accounts2.6219656517479711000.0027287.7851000.00YEARLY556181542025-09-012025-09-302025-08-012025-08-312025-10-05Credit Controllers. Some will hang up, ignore calls, start crying or get aggressive. This question tests the applicant's ability to not take the customer's attitude personally. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to handle stress and frustration
  • Ability to overcome customer emotions and perform their duty
  • Knowledge of specific steps to collect payments

Example:

"For customers that ignore or hang up on my calls, I'll call them once or twice again before sending an official letter. If a customer threatens me, I'll give them a warning, and if they're still abusive, I'll lodge a Police complaint. I never let customer emotions override my duties. In my previous job, I handled such scenarios, and I'm capable of working under stress."

What qualification and experience do you have that makes you eligible for this job?

Use this question to learn about the qualifications and experience of the applicant. They should possess relevant qualification, and their experience must relate to the credit-control industry. What to look for in an answer:

  • Relevant degree and qualification
  • Knowledgeable of the role and responsibilities
  • Experience collecting payments

Example:

"I've completed the level three certificate in financial studies. In my previous job, I set up repayment plans and used to work with Debt Counsellors. I also used to check credit reports and trace debtors who default payments. I'm also experienced at starting legal proceedings for customers who continually default payments."

Do all payment collections require legal action? How do you separate such situations?

Credit Collectors cannot threaten legal actions unless their company has given a warning. Missing one or two payments rarely calls for legal actions. Credit Collectors must know situations that require legal action. What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience collecting payment without threatening customers
  • Knowledge of payment collection best practices
  • Ability to follow your company's protocols

Example:

"Payment collections don't necessarily require legal action. In my previous job, a customer who defaulted five consecutive payments went missing. With permission from my manager and authorisation of the company, I informed the family members of the customers regarding possible legal actions. I always use legal action as a last resort to collect overdue payments."

Describe your typical workday as a Credit Collector.

This question helps you understand whether the applicant's experience aligns with your job requirements. Look for answers that speak of performing tasks in line with your job description.

  • A proactive approach to work
  • Research about your company and job description before the interview
  • Relevant work experience

Example:

"My average shift starts with a quick meeting with the manager giving updates on current collections. This used to help set goals for the day. Once back on my workstation, I review customer accounts that require follow up. I then call these customers, maintain their file and start legal proceedings after authorisation from the manager for customers who continually default their payments."

You have a customer who is continually failing to make overdue payments. Are you comfortable consulting your team members?

18205923credit controller13.03credit control10.72bookkeeper9.11finance7.03accounts2.6219656517479711000.0027287.7851000.00YEARLY556181542025-09-012025-09-302025-08-012025-08-312025-10-05Credit Controllers make difficult decisions every day, and there may be instances where they might have to take a second opinion from their team members. Use this question to gauge the team collaboration skills of the applicant. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to work in a team
  • Ability to work alone
  • Knowledge of when to ask for help

Example:

"I'm a team player and love working in a team, though I prefer making tough decisions on my own. In my previous job, a customer was not making payments and making threats towards me. I wasn't sure whether I should report the matter to the Police, so I spoke to another 18205923credit controller13.03credit control10.72bookkeeper9.11finance7.03accounts2.6219656517479711000.0027287.7851000.00YEARLY556181542025-09-012025-09-302025-08-012025-08-312025-10-05Credit Controller who helped me make the right decision."

How do you motivate customers to pay their debts on time?

Use this question to get a glimpse of the applicant's personality. Look for answers that showcase how easily the applicant connects and communicates with customers. What to look for in an answer:

  • Respect for customers
  • Communication and persuasion skills
  • Ethical work behaviour

Example:

"I try to explain to customers the importance of paying debts on time. I emphasise the fact that timely payments reduce the interest, and they don't have to pay more unnecessarily."

One of our long-term clients has a good repayment record. However, they've missed four consecutive payments. Will you treat them like other defaulters or follow an individual approach?

18205923credit controller13.03credit control10.72bookkeeper9.11finance7.03accounts2.6219656517479711000.0027287.7851000.00YEARLY556181542025-09-012025-09-302025-08-012025-08-312025-10-05Credit Controllers have to make tough decisions. Use this question to understand how an applicant is likely to treat your long-term customers. What to look for in an answer:

  • Professional negotiation tactics
  • Excellent customer service
  • Creative problem-solving skills

Example:

"As it's a long-term customer, I'll follow the individual approach. Instead of calling and reminding them about the payment, I'll first send two automated email reminders in a gap of 3-4 days. If the customer doesn't reply, I'll call them and negotiate a repayment option plan."

As a Credit Controller, have you ever negotiated and compromised with a customer? Give an example.

Credit Controllers reduce your company's financial liability. In doing so, they may have to change the repayment terms, lower the interest rate and do everything possible to collect overdue payments from non-responding customers. What to look for in an answer:

  • Result-oriented work approach
  • Patience and excellent customer service
  • Ability to judge when to compromise with customers

Example:

"I had a client who was always regular with their payments but defaulted payments because of an increase in the interest rate. So, I worked with them and offered a deal to defer the interest rate on late payments. This kept the debt payment in the customer's budget, and I could recover the money without losing a valuable customer."

Three individuals are sitting at a table with a laptop, a disposable coffee cup, notebooks, and a phone visible. Two are facing each other, while the third’s back is to the camera. The setting appears to be a bright room with large windows.

Ready to get started?

Post a job

Explore Interview Questions by Title

No search results found

    Related articles

    How to conduct a job interview
    Read article
    Best practices for virtual interviews
    Read article
    How to write a candidate rejection email
    Read article