The “Getting to Know” series is sponsored by Applied Innovation. Applied Innovation is helping to shape the future of accounts receivable management. Product development is driven by customer feedback, agency profitability and compliance and includes platforms addressing client portal access, document management, payment negotiation, Regulation E focused electronic payment authorizations and TCPA communication authorization platforms. Partner with a company who understands your business challenges and evolves to provide cutting edge technology to overcome those challenges and achieve success.
Ross and Rachel may have been on a break, but there aren’t any breaks for people like Paul Lengyel these days as the industry preps for the enactment of Regulation F. Thankfully, Paul has three decades of experience to rely on, and a track record of loyalty. Read on to learn more about Paul, why he loves deadlines, and why baseline has an entirely different meaning to him.
Name: Paul J Lengyel
Job Title: Compliance Manager
Company: ONLINE Information Services
Length of Time at Current Company: 6 years and 2 months
Length of Time in Industry: 30 years
How did you get your start in the industry?
I answered an ad for a third party debt collector. No experience necessary. Will train the right candidate. Four months later I was promoted to collection manager and I was on my way.
What is your career highlight so far?
Accepting my current position at ONLINE Information Services. I have had two great jobs in my 30-year career. This is the second one.
When or how are you most productive?
When working against a deadline.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
John Bedard. He is constantly sharing his knowledge with us. You are hard-pressed to find a webinar of relevance without him on the panel.
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
I am not sure I do anything particularly better than anyone else, but I take a lot of pride in my teaching and training ability. One of my favorite parts of my job is when I get to teach and share my knowledge of collections and compliance with others.
What do you like most about this industry?
You get 30 days to prove yourself every month. One day to rest/regroup. Then you do it again.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
The baggage we all have to carry because of the bad actors in this business.
Describe a typical work day.
In by about 7am. Investigating complaints and disputes. Responding to lots of emails. Draft and revision of company polices and procedures as they relate to compliance. Monitoring of phone calls. On webinars seemingly every day to keep up with the Reg F changes. Lots of them. Reading compliance updates online. Going to a couple meetings during the day.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
Teaching tennis at a county club or resort.
The Getting to Know Series is Sponsored By:
What is your guilty pleasure?
The television show “Friends”. And yes, Ross and Rachel were clearly on a break.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Do what you can, with what you have and do it now.
What are you currently reading?
Vince Flynn – “The Third Option“
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?
I have the two best dogs in the world. Bubba and Finnegan.
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
Xerxes Martin of Malone Frost Martin.
The “Getting to Know” series is sponsored by Applied Innovation. Applied Innovation is helping to shape the future of accounts receivable management. Product development is driven by customer feedback, agency profitability and compliance and includes platforms addressing client portal access, document management, payment negotiation, Regulation E focused electronic payment authorizations and TCPA communication authorization platforms. Partner with a company who understands your business challenges and evolves to provide cutting edge technology to overcome those challenges and achieve success
