
Live online public course with Simon Blair
Collections FoundationsWednesday 3 and Thursday 4 March 2027
Six hours of live training for anyone who has to chase overdue payments. You’ll learn a clear structure to open with confidence, negotiate workable terms and close with a commitment, without damaging the relationship.
Two live 3-hour sessions with Simon Blair, plus a certificate. Book one ticket or several for your team.
- ACXPA certified course
- Live, expert-led training
- Certificate included
Trusted by leading organisationsHundreds of businesses, from local councils to national brands, have chosen CX Skills to upskill their teams. See who we’ve trained
What’s in it for you
Calmer calls that end in a commitment
Most people are never taught how to ask for money. They sound too soft and get no commitment, or too forceful and damage the relationship.
Collections Foundations gives you a clear, repeatable structure for every conversation about an overdue account, so more calls end with a payment or a plan the customer will keep.
- Clear commitments on more calls
- Fewer escalations and complaints
- Calmer, more confident callers

Understand the customer
What people need under financial stress, and how emotion drives behaviour.
Open with credibility
A first impression that builds trust and sets clear expectations.
Find the real situation
Questions that uncover what the customer can actually do.
Negotiate workable terms
Plans that meet business needs and respect the customer’s situation.
De-escalate upset customers
Stay calm and professional when emotions run high.
Close with a commitment
Confirm the agreement clearly and end on a positive note.
The course
Two live sessions: the conversation, then the tough calls
Collections Foundations covers eleven modules across two 3-hour live sessions. Session 1 builds the structure of a productive collections call, and Session 2 tackles upset and difficult customers.
It suits dedicated collections staff just as well as people who only chase payments now and then.
Both sessions are practical and interactive, with role plays, group discussion and live coaching.
- 2 × 3 hoursTwo live sessions
- Online or onsitePublic online; private either way
- Public or privateOne ticket or your whole team
- CertificateFor everyone who completes
What people say about training with Simon
The content was clear, practical and highly relevant to my … role. Simon was very knowledgeable and made the presentation fun and interactive. I enjoyed the role playing, which will assist me in effective communication strategies, negotiation and assist in managing overdue accounts.
Highly recommend Simon, his extensive knowledge and experience makes for really engaging and fun training sessions. He has an absolute passion seeing people excel at phone and sales skills.
Simon taught skills you probably use every day but brought format and structure to it. Makes you highly aware of how we form conversations and steer them in a direction where you get results.
What’s covered: eleven modules
Role plays, group discussion and live coaching across two 3-hour sessions.
The Psychology of Customers
What customers want and need during financial difficulty, and how emotion drives behaviour.
- Needs during financial difficulty
- How emotion drives behaviour
- Setting the right tone
How to Engage
Create a first impression that builds trust and sets clear expectations about the process.
- Strong first impressions
- Trust and credibility
- Clear expectations
Better Conversations
Assess the customer’s situation and steer the conversation toward a solution.
- Questions that uncover needs
- Listening for the real situation
- Steering toward solutions
Negotiation & Problem Solving
Agree payment terms that meet business needs while respecting the customer’s situation.
- Workable payment terms
- Overcoming obstacles
- Sustainable solutions
How to Educate
Explain the collections process clearly, so customers feel supported and informed.
- Explaining the process
- Checking understanding
- Key information, clearly
Closing with Impact
Confirm the agreement and leave a positive last impression.
- Confirming the agreement
- Thanking the customer
- A professional close
The Psychology of Complaints
How financial stress shapes behaviour, and how to reduce tension.
- Emotion under financial stress
- Reducing tension
- Guiding the conversation
Empathy and Intent
Acknowledge emotions, then move the conversation to problem-solving.
- Acknowledging emotion
- Empathy with assertiveness
- Moving to solutions
Handling the Most Difficult Customers
Vocal and behavioural techniques to de-escalate hostility, without losing professionalism.
- De-escalation techniques
- Managing hostile behaviour
- Staying professional
Group Practice
Realistic role plays to apply every skill in a safe environment.
- Realistic scenarios
- Coached role plays
- Building confidence
Online Communication
Respond to payment concerns by email and chat with clarity and empathy.
- Clear written replies
- Empathy in writing
- A professional tone
Training a whole team? Talk to us about a private course
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Getting sign-off?
Everything your manager needs, in one PDF
Download a two-page fact sheet for Collections Foundations: outcomes, modules, format, price and options, ready to forward or attach to an approval.
Course fact sheet (PDF)
Outcomes, modules, format, price and how to book, ready to forward or attach to an approval.
Download the fact sheetPrefer to talk it through?
Not sure which course or format suits your team? Get in touch and we’ll help you choose.
Talk to usWho it’s for
Who is Collections Foundations for?
Anyone who has to talk to customers about money they owe, from dedicated collections teams to people who only chase the odd invoice.
Collections and accounts receivable
Managing overdue accounts and payment plans every day.
Contact centre and service agents
Handling collections calls alongside service enquiries.
Small business owners and admin staff
Chasing invoices without damaging the relationship.
Hardship and complaints staff
Supporting customers through billing disputes and financial stress.
Utilities, government and healthcare
Balancing empathy with financial and regulatory requirements.
Team leaders and supervisors
Coaching staff through sensitive financial conversations.
Looking for the full range of sales training? See all sales courses
Reviews
What participants say about our sales training
Verified reviews from people who’ve completed our sales, collections and retention training.
374 verified reviews across all CX Skills courses
Read every reviewSales, collections and retention training courses · 23 reviews
On Google · 39 reviews
Independently verified
Pricing
Pricing and payment options
Six hours of live training with Simon Blair and a certificate, for $485 per person ex GST. Book one ticket or your whole team, and pay by card or invoice at checkout.
Places are limited to keep the sessions interactive, so book early to secure your place.
- Save 15% when you book 3 or more tickets in one transaction
- ACXPA members pay $363.75 per person, a 25% saving (see below)
- Card or invoice: choose how to pay at checkout
- Certificate for everyone who completes
- Training a whole team? Private courses run live online or onsite for groups of 5 or more

Official ACXPA training partner
Want to save $121.25 on this course? ACXPA members pay $363.75, not $485, plus a year of self-paced courses, tools and live expert support
- 50+hours of live expert access a year
- 65+tools, templates and resources
- 18calculators
- 25%off CX Skills live public courses
ACXPA members save 25% on this course and every CX Skills live public course.
ACXPA membership is a practitioner-built toolkit for anyone who has to chase overdue payments: self-paced courses, a complaints framework for calls that turn difficult, coaching tools and live expert access every fortnight, for a full year.
What you get as a member, all year round
- Self-paced courses on being assertive, difficult customers, complaints and managing stress, each with a workbook, quiz and certificate, plus one-minute refreshers for team huddles
- The Complaints Handling Hub: a 7-step framework, staff cheat sheets and logging tools
- Coaching tools, including the Agent Performance Matrix, which plots each person on quality versus productivity
- 480 Customer Response Templates with Business Membership
- Live expert access: monthly Roundtables and a fortnightly Open Mic with ACXPA’s founder
FAQs
Collections Foundations FAQs
Format, pricing, content and who the course suits.
Who should attend?
What’s covered?
When are the sessions?
What if I can’t make these dates?
Is it only for dedicated collections teams?
Will we get a script?
How much does it cost?
How is it delivered?
Will the course definitely go ahead?
Do participants receive a certificate?
Is the course ACXPA certified?
Is there a lower-cost or self-paced option?
An ACXPA membership is another option: members save 25% on live public courses and get 12 months of tools, templates and live sessions.
Can I get something to share with my manager?
How do I book?
Talk to us
Questions about training your team?
Book a call to talk it through, or send us a message and we’ll get back to you.
Book a callDownload the fact sheet
Prefer the phone? Call +61 3 9008 7287 (Mon–Fri, 8:30–17:30 Melbourne time) or email hello@cxskills.com.au.
Ready to book your place?
Secure your tickets for 3 and 4 March, or talk to us about a private course for your team.





















