Debt collection refers to the work done to recover balances from credit accounts that are past due. Most commonly, debt collection specifically references third party debt collectors whose clients include banks, credit card issuers and other credit grantors, debt buyers, governments, and any organization that extends credit or owns an account where a balance is due. Collection methods traditionally include phone calls from call center agents, e-mails, and letters, and increasingly, SMS text. If an account remains in arrears after these efforts, the collection agency may contract with a collection attorney to file suit to recover the debt, if the collection agency is not positioned to do so.

See all Topics
Person touching a mobile phone that says "Privacy" and has a picture of a lock [Image by creator maicasaa from AdobeStock]

Data Privacy and Security: What’s Next for Debt Collectors?

10 October 2019

 [Image by creator BillionPhotos from AdobeStock]

CFPB's Semi-Annual Report Contains Some, But Not Much, Information About Debt Collection

10 October 2019

 [Image by creator doucefleur from AdobeStock]

What Are Accounts Uncollectible?

9 October 2019

Image of a man's arm punched through a yellow wall, giving a thumbs up [Image by creator WayhomeStudio from AdobeStock]

Big TCPA Win For Debt Collector—Court Refuses to Certify TCPA Case Against Debt Collector Allegedly Calling Wrong Numbers Because Data Lies and So Do People

8 October 2019

 [Image by creator blackzheep from AdobeStock]

CFPB Proposes Debt Collection Rule that Congress Rejected [Podcast]

3 October 2019

 [Image by creator DOC RABE Media from AdobeStock]

NYC Report Proposes Requiring Debt Collectors to Provide Better Services for Consumers with Limited English Proficiency

3 October 2019

A judge's gavel sitting on a pile of cash [Image by creator Pakhnyushchyy from AdobeStock]

Court Trebles TCPA Damages Against Debt Collector for Using Skip-Traced Numbers, Awards ~$300k

2 October 2019

A robot in a thinking pose against a backdrop of white letters that appear to be flying through the air [Image by creator phonlamaiphoto from AdobeStock]

Digitize your Collections: Where's the Value in All of This New Technology?

2 October 2019

Logo for Consumer Financial Protection Bureau [Image by creator  from ]

CFPB Announces Additions to Executive Team

1 October 2019

US Capitol Building [Image by creator Gary from AdobeStock]

In-Depth Discussion of Hot Topics from House Fin. Servs. Committee Debt Collection Hearing

30 September 2019

A spiral pad with the word "UPDATE" and a hand-drawn bar that is half filled and the word "loading" underneath [Image by creator Marco2811 from AdobeStock]

Lively Debt Collection Debate Likely in House Fin. Servs. Committee Hearing Tomorrow

25 September 2019

Illustration of a business man with a magnifying glass following $ signs [Image by creator spectrumblue from AdobeStock]

N.D. Ill. Calls Out Plaintiffs’ Counsel’s Scheme of Faxing Credit Report Disputes to Obscure Number

24 September 2019

Arms of 5 business people holding up different colored large "quote" marks [Image by creator Sergey Nivens from AdobeStock]

Consumer Relations Consortium Submits Comment to CFPB's NPRM for Debt Collection

19 September 2019

Clipboard with credit report and pen [Image by creator tashatuvango from AdobeStock]

Credit Reporting is Front and Center in CFPB’s Supervisory Highlights; Debt Collection Referenced

18 September 2019

A judge's gavel sitting on a pile of cash [Image by creator Pakhnyushchyy from AdobeStock]

California Debt Collector Hit With $267 Million TCPA Judgment After Jury Verdict

12 September 2019

Person with pen making a checkmark in a box [Image by creator peshkova from AdobeStock]

The CFPB’s Proposed Debt Collection Rules—What They Mean for Financial Institutions That Outsource to Collection Vendors

10 September 2019

A judge's gavel sitting on a pile of cash [Image by creator Pakhnyushchyy from AdobeStock]

Court Awards Attorney Fees to Debt Collector, Finds Plaintiff Filed FDCPA Case in Bad Faith

4 September 2019

Referee indicating timeout [Image by creator sixdays from AdobeStock]

CFPB Settles with Asset Recovery Associates Over Alleged Litigation, Credit Reporting, and Arrest Threats

29 August 2019

Drawing of a school of white fish against a green background [Image by creator maxsattana from AdobeStock]

ConServe Holds School Supply Drive

27 August 2019

Referee indicating timeout [Image by creator sixdays from AdobeStock]

Court Foils Attempt at Creating an FDCPA Violation by Sending C&D Request to Parent Company

21 August 2019