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Technology boost for debt agencyUK, May 03, 2007 - The Merthyr Tydfil family behind one of Britain’s most successful debt-and-fine collection agencies is using number plate recognition technology to drive its ambitions. Swift Credit Services, based in Dowlais, has bought two vehicles equipped with cameras which record the number plates of all passing vehicles. It immediately checks a nationwide register to see if the car has been involved in traffic offences for which fines are still unpaid. The team then clamps the vehicle and collects the fine. If the sum is not paid in full the car is taken to a pound. Swift managing director Huw Lloyd-Lewis described Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and associated software as “probably the most revolutionary system to be introduced into parking enforcement in the UK”. Scanning and matching takes less than a second. At the same time, Swift has also upgraded its call centre with management software which enables callers with a touch telephone to make payment without the need to speak to an adviser. Callers can pay 24 hours a day, every day of the year. He said, “The results have been absolutely fantastic. The technology has been really working. We are very excited about the introduction of ANPR. “This will lead to further improvement in the efficiency of our recovery operations and offer us a distinct competitive advantage over many of our competitors. We are also very pleased with the significant improvements we have made to our call centre as a consequence of our additional investment in new technology. “We are confident that we will deliver a higher standard of service to callers and most importantly make it even easier for defaulters to pay. " Swift Credit Services has been established for since 1974. The company employs around 140 people at its headquarters in Merthyr Tydfil and its regional offices in Milton Keynes and Chester. The company acts for government departments, local authorities, commercial landlords and financial institutions. The company’s website is now bilingual and it has recruited Welsh-speaking bailiffs. Mr Lloyd-Lewis is excited by the potential of the new equipment to transform the way the industry works. While on their way to addresses the drivers frequently find other vehicles with fines unpaid. “The vans can work in the hours of darkness as well,” he said. “We spend a lot of money on IT to make sure we ahead of the game. “We are probably in the top five in people-size.” His father started the business in 1974, he said. “My brother was involved for couple of years but wanted to study law and now works as a solicitor. “I’ve been running the business for 26 years. I’m as excited now as when I first took it on. “I’d obviously like us to get larger but I want to grow at the rate where we’re keeping our clients happy as well".
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