Covington Credit goes curbside
Published 11:41 am Thursday, April 2, 2020
- Brittnee Nave/Star Photo Covington Credit has switched to curbside in response to COVID-19.
Covington Credit in Elizabethton has now gone curbside.
The decision comes as a way to keep both staff and customers safe during COVID-19.
Tina Johnson, Northeast Tennessee Supervisor of Covington Credit, said she encourages all customers to call ahead as a way of letting staff know what they need ahead of time. The lobby is closed and they are not scheduling any appointments for people to come inside.
“We are doing curbside,” she said. “We are taking clipboards and going out. We are processing the paperwork on the inside and then taking it outside to them in the parking lot. They don’t even have to get out of the vehicle.”
Johnson said this is also how payments are being processed at this time as well.
“People tell us who they are, we verify everything, we go straight out to get the payment and come back in,” she said.
The curbside procedures and precautions are being taken very seriously.
“We have strict procedures that we are following,” said Johnson. “We have a runner and we have a desk person. The precautions that we are taking, sanitary wise, I mean it’s unreal the way the company is supporting us.”
Johnson said that customers are taking a liking to the curbside service so far.
“They’re loving it,” she laughed. “They get tickled, and will call us and we have their stuff ready. They’ll pull up and still honk just because they think it’s funny. They’ve said they could get used to this.”
While there has been talk about keeping curbside around even after the pandemic slows, Johnson said most customers will want to come back inside to see how the staff are doing. She said there are customers who have been associated with the business for many years.
In regards to payments, Johnson said they are understanding and will be flexible of people’s circumstances.
“We are working with people all we can,” she said. “ We usually have options for them where they can skip payments. We’re trying to help them all we can. We are also being very sympathetic with people who have been laid off or had hours cut. We are going to work with them all we can. We have to be in this together.”
The criteria to qualify for loans has not changed. Additionally, while the business only gives out small loans, they have pledged to only eat at local restaurants as a way to help support them.
“We appreciate customers still coming to us,” she said. “We want them to stay safe and healthy, and come to us with whatever they need.”
