Springs call center expands, hopes to hire up to 150

An Indian outsourcing company has hired 50 people, almost all of them local residents, during the past few weeks as it expands its Colorado Springs credit card call center.

Firstsource Solutions, a Mumbai-based company that operates two dozen call centers worldwide, hopes to hire an additional 100 - and maybe 150 - people locally, said Tim Smith, vice president of collections.

Smith said the company, which provides a wide range of outsourcing services to banks and other financial institutions, is seeking to expand its credit card collection business.

He said the new employees will concentrate on collecting overdue credit card balances and bank overdraft fees for the top 25 banks in the U.S.

He said the employees are expected to earn $40,000 to $60,000, with the possibility of making more.

"We have people with high school educations making $100,000," he said.

The new employees will join 370 already working at the company's call center on Mark Dabling Boulevard. Firstsource took over the call center from British banking giant Barclays in March 2008.

"We've found a pretty dedicated, educated work force (here)," he said. "We're very pleased with the initial results."

He said the company hopes to hire at least another 100 employees, although he said the company is going "slow and prudent."

Firstsource has about 4,000 employees in the United States, generally serving U.S. clients. The company also operates in the Philippines, Argentina, the United Kingdom and Asia.

He said Firstsource provides "customer life cycle solutions" - including everything from direct mail to serving back-office operations to collections.

JOB INFO

Firstsource has an automated voicemail system that offers up-to-date information about job openings at the company. Call 533-3500.