I hate collecting more than working in cold, rain etc, however it is still my main way of bringing in the money as it helps keep up loyalty in custies, correct any problems and mainly - get paid on time, i use envelopes after a few weeks and no answer, but i call every wednesday evening and if missed envelope goes in, i go home, and if no pay still (which happens 9/10) i go knock !! But its a 2 hr job one evening and im paid!!
You could spend that time working out what cheques are arriving etc maybe not so much but still, i find its a necessary evil and cant find a realistic way out of it that doesnt mean my cash flow wont die!!