Let's Talk Credit Credit Forums with Brent Cumming

In this episode of "Minimise Debt, Maximise Cash with Top Service," Emma Riley, CEO of Top Service, talks with Brent Cumming of Let's Talk Credit. They discuss the history of his credit forums and the benefits they offer to construction businesses. Brent, who began his career at Experian in 1988, has been involved in credit forums since the early '90s. He took them over in 2019, forming his own company, Let's Talk Credit, with Experian's help. The construction industry, one of the UK's largest and most volatile sectors, is a major focus for these forums. There are two construction forums: the Construction UK Forum, which meets four times a year in London and the East Midlands, and the Construction North Forum, which also meets four times a year, alternating between Leeds and Newcastle. These locations make the forums accessible for professionals throughout the UK. Brent addresses the common misconception that these forums are secretive "credit circles". He clarifies that modern credit risk forums operate under a strict set of rules, adhering to the Competition Commission and GDPR regulations. They cannot discuss sensitive information like credit limits or payment terms but can share factual and accurate information, such as payment behavior. The forums are about more than just discussing non-payments; they also provide networking opportunities, industry updates, and expert speakers. They also discuss topics like direct debits and best practices, offering a wealth of knowledge for both new and experienced credit professionals. Emma and Brent highlight that the forums are an excellent way for professionals to learn from each other and protect their businesses from bad debt and fraud. The forums even have a dedicated section on their agenda to discuss fraud, as it is a widespread issue in the industry. The forums now offer a hybrid option, allowing those who cannot attend in person to join remotely. For any other questions, you can contact Top Service on LinkedIn by searching "Top Service Limited" or check out their YouTube channel for a video version of this podcast To enquire about Top Service services for your Business, go to https://www.top-service.co.uk/contact-us/ Music by Purple PlanetRead transcript