The national taxpayer advocated yesterday asked congress to forbid the IRS from using private debt collectors.

Nina Olson’s report cited inefficiency, abuse and psychologically deceptive calling scripts used to secure payment promises.

When Olson’s office tried to acquire copies of the scripts, the IRS told them, “that private collection agencies had designated the ‘collection scripts’ and operational plans as proprietary and that we could not cite specific portions of the scripts.”

In response, the I.R.S. said it was “committed to improving the way it manages instructions to staff.”

The only thing better than a low-bid government contract is one farmed out to the kissing cousins of loan sharks! — BEN POPKEN

I.R.S. Use of Private Debt Collectors Is Criticized [NYT]

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