Customer Representative - Lending

Are you searching for a new opportunity? We have an opening for a Customer Representative! You’ll probably know Hastings Direct as a digital insurance provider, but did you know we also have a growing unsecured lending business? We have a competitive product on market-leading systems offering customers guaranteed eligibility and real rates through price comparison websites (PCWs). We have over four million customers but know there’s an even bigger opportunity out there and have ambitious plans to become The Best and Biggest in the UK market. We’ve made huge investments in our data and tech capabilities over the past few years, along with nurturing our 4Cs culture.

Working Hours/ Shift Patterns: You will work 37.5 hours per week on a Monday to Friday 9:00 – 17:30. No weekends or bank holidays.

Training: The main training period runs for the first 4-6 weeks and takes place face to face in the office.

Our approach to Hybrid Working: With hybrid working, you have more flexibility, as you usually only have to visit our office once or twice a week and work remotely for the rest of the time. You can always opt to work from the office more frequently if that suits you better. When we organise training and events you may be required to attend in person for the duration.

Salary: The starting salary is £26,230 plus benefits. There will be opportunities for further salary progression with the right focus on personal development.

Location: Our fantastic Bexhill office, which is next to the seafront, and only a short walk from Collington station.

Team Overview: As a Collections Representative in Lending, you will be responsible for answering queries from customers in early stages of arrears, supporting customers with their initial payment concerns using multiple channels whilst striving to resolve customer queries first time. You will be managing inbound calls & emails, and making outbound calls, as well as helping the wider operations team manage and support the end-to-end customer journey.

Your role:

• Working closely with our Underwriting & Customer Service colleagues to escalate customer interactions where necessary.
• Ensure that all customers are treated fairly and that those who are identified as being vulnerable or in financial hardship are dealt with in accordance with regulatory and company policies at all times.
• Manage customer complaints in an effective manner and in line with company policies.
• Be a self-starter and proactively manage work queues in an efficient and effective manner on a day-to-day basis.
• Be a team player, supporting other colleagues who need help and suggesting process/system improvements where necessary.

What we're looking for:

• Underlying focus on Customer Service essential, comfortable conversing with customers on phone and email.
• Proactively identifying process improvements to help improve customer and business outcomes.
• Willingness and ability to learn a new product line and apply existing skills in new area.
• Adept at identifying and dealing with vulnerable customers.

What we offer: Join us and you’ll find a different way of doing things. We call it the 4Cs. So, we focus on getting it right for our colleagues, customers, company and community. As one of our colleagues, you’ll be helping to drive our growth, so in return, we’ll give you all the support, training and development you need. That includes initial in-house training on our products and systems, as well as taking live calls alongside an experienced colleague, and regular, on-going training tailored to your individual needs.

Benefits you’ll receive:

• Up to 5% annual discretionary Bonus.
• Hybrid working (1 day per week in the office with the option to do more depending on your preference).
• A fantastic open plan modern office.
• We promote a relaxed, friendly & diverse working environment.
• 'Harrys’ - a great onsite restaurant, with a wide range of choice at breakfast and lunchtime & an on-site Costa coffee.
• 25 days holiday and bank holidays equivalent (plus buy and sell up to 5 days).
• Pension match up to 10% of your salary.
• Life insurance (4 x base salary).
• Discounted Hasting Direct products.
• Discounts & cashback with well-known retailers.
• Tech scheme, cycle to work, health assessments, and skin check - on completion of probation.
• Refer a friend scheme - earn £500 for every friend you refer.
• We will provide you will all the tech that you need! Including a brand-new Microsoft Surface laptop.

As a Disability Confident employer, we’re committed to ensuring our recruitment processes are fully inclusive. Hastings Group is an equal opportunities employer which means we treat people fairly. We welcome applications from all suitably skilled persons regardless of their gender, age, race, disability, ethnic background, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or marital/family status.