LIC – International

WHAT IS LIC?

LIC, League International for Creditors, is an association of independent debt-collecting firms, credit reporting firms, law firms and credit managers, comprising approximately three thousand seven hundred skilled professionals. A number of these firms are confidential partners with Embassies and Consulates. Nearly half a century of experience and co-operation have moulded LIC into what is today, an association of reliable experts.

HISTORY OF LIC

The Association was founded in 1962 in Germany. Its founders were agencies in Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland. Its first president, elected in 1962 was Dr. Rieber of LIC Germany and he continued as President of the Association until 1990 when he retired and was replaced by the current president Dr. De Feu, Ireland. In 1963 Great Britain and The Netherlands joined and in 1987 the membership was opened to allow more than one member per country to join. In 1992 LIC, representing the collection industry, developed a close co-operation with the European Commission. Such co-operation was in part instrumental in the subsequent directives concerning interest penalties on late payments.

The association developed important co-operation networks and contacts during the pre-internet age which have continued and expanded in line with technological advancement. It is a cohesive and highly motivated group of experts who deal with approximately one hundred and fifty thousand exporters from all over the world who entrust their collection cases, credit reporting needs or legal assistance matters to its members. In recent years LIC members have been provided with collection cases totalling in value approximately €7,000,000,000 per annum.

COMMITMENT AND GUARANTEE OF LIC

The LIC international network of reliable representatives can help creditors to resolve their debt collection, credit reporting and legal assistance needs regarding credit management in almost any country worldwide. All members are bonded as required in their state or country. In addition they have pledged to abide by the Code of Ethics and LIC Rules and Regulations. To become and remain a LIC member, ethical conduct is required and competent business operations are a necessity.

Veronica Paulsen Haga
Secretary General

Bill Mann
President

Our Mission

Our mission was, and is, to deliver a debt collection service, together with attendant solutions, which improves the financial performance of the business of each other’s clients, as well to sustain and grow the Association into a leading debt recovery service provider worldwide. Within the context of this stated mission we seek to encourage relationships which will promote our mission. This is assisted by convening a General Assembly every two years at an attractive location which enables the members to meet, discuss and exchange ideas with the aim of mutually advancing the interests of the members.

History of LIC

LIC – League International for Creditors­­­, was founded in March 1962 in Germany. Its founders were collection agencies in Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland. Its first president, and founding member, was Dr . G. Rieber of LIC Deutschland. In 1963 Great Britain and the Netherlands joined as members.

Initially, for the first 25 years of its existence, membership of LIC was restricted to one collection agency from each country. In 1987 this restriction was changed and membership of LIC was opened to more than one member per country.

At the time of its founding in 1962 Europe was a very different place compared with what it is today. Indeed, operating an international collection business was technically much more difficult. There were, of course, many currencies and there were very strict borders and frontiers. The English language was not as much used or understood. Telecommunication was much less developed. Even telephoning a correspondent in another country was not simple. Indeed, international commercial relationships were much more difficult. However, with the ingenuity and inventiveness of the LIC members, the Association developed close business and social relationships with members in other jurisdictions. This was particularly important where late payment difficulties with an international element had to be resolved. Such relationships, combined with professionalism, helped LIC become a competent, cross border Association.

The relationships were enhanced and developed particularly by holding the Annual General Meetings of the Association in a different European country every year and, of course, this greatly enhanced the social relationships between members.

In 1992 LIC, representing the collection industry, developed a close cooperation with the European Commission. Such cooperation was important in the formalisation of subsequent Directives concerning interest penalties and late payments.

The LIC Association will soon be approaching its 60th anniversary and from a historical perspective its development and the commercial difficulties which it has encountered and resolved, closely mirror the commercial development of post war Europe.

However, even though LIC was founded and operated within European boundaries initially, for many years now it has operated internationally and has members in all continents. Its members are confidential partners with embassies, consulates and international banks. Over half a century of experience and cooperation have moulded the LIC Association into what it is today, a vibrant Association of cohesive and highly motivated experts who deal with approximately 200,000 exporters all over the world who entrust their collection cases, credit reporting needs and legal assistance matters to members for processing.

LIC is a German registered company and subject to the provisions of the laws of Germany. For many years after its foundation the General Secretariat of LIC was located in Köln Germany. Subsequently it was located for 15 years in Zurich, Switzerland and since 2014 has been situated in Oslo, Norway.