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As in a bad guy, thug, hatchet man, etc. who "persuades" people to pay. I'm trying to think of something overly professional and comedic.

Any ideas?

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    I think this is POB. I suppose professionals could be debt collectors or bailiffs. In SE UK we might speak of the heavy mob or the heavies for comedic effect, but I don't really see how "professional" and "comedic" could both apply to the same word.
    – FumbleFingers
    Oct 11, 2013 at 15:34
  • When using something along the lines of "payment collection agent" to describe muscle, it's both professional sounding and comedic.
    – bernk
    Oct 11, 2013 at 17:19
  • If he works for someone else, then Financial Planner, Accountant, CFO, Bookkeeper, Business Partner, Silent Partner. If he works for me, I would call him my Accounts Receivable Manager.
    – Canis Lupus
    Oct 11, 2013 at 17:30
  • Got caught by the 5 minute rule for comment edits. If he is forcing me to pay, then I might tell people who really don't need to know that he is one of those above (except for accounts receivable manage). If he is my enforcer, I would call him my accounts receivable manager.
    – Canis Lupus
    Oct 11, 2013 at 17:38

5 Answers 5

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Something like Payment collection agent?

  • Payment collection agent
  • Debt recovery officer
  • Credit liaison manager

Perm any three from nine (or more...)

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  • My sister is a payment collection agent. Don't really think she is a bad guy or thug. People may not like to take her calls but I don't think they would be afraid of her.
    – RyeɃreḁd
    Oct 11, 2013 at 17:08
  • @RyeBread That's one of the reasons it can be a euphemism for a thug. Most such people aren't.
    – Andrew Leach ♦
    Oct 11, 2013 at 17:25
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I worked for a bookie in college for 3 years. Two common terms that were used to describe my position was runner or collector. The less hostile clients called me a runner - I collected money and took bets from them. The hostile clients would call me a collector and some of the older guys called me the bagman.

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Compliance agent. Attitude adjuster.

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  • This answer could be improved by detailing why you believe these phrases would fit the desired meaning.
    – Marthaª
    Dec 21, 2013 at 2:48
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[Financial | Payment] Compliance [Professional | Officer]

Self explanitory.

or perhaps:

Fixer

According to Merriam-Webster:

Fixer
b: a person who adjusts matters or disputes by negotiation

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-2

There's a few choices you could make here.

Thug would definitely work, though it lacks the 'overly professional' modifier you're looking for.

Malefactor works if you want to get a general sense of crime-doing while sounding professional, though it lacks an explicit "extortion"-ness to it.

Extortionist is all about getting people to pay through extortion.

Mafioso carries an especially 'sophisticated' feel to it, and gently masks the goonishness of the activity.

Racketeer sounds quite innocent unless you know what it actually means.

Though perhaps my favorite is Highwayman, which is an especially archaeic term one might use to describe themselves for 'a sense of romanticism', despite no highways being involved.

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    I would consider all of these more suggestive than "enforcer".
    – MrHen
    Oct 11, 2013 at 14:54
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    Hmm...you might be right. I think I may be going in the wrong direction.
    – Zibbobz
    Oct 11, 2013 at 14:55

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