You may have a legal obligation to repay old debts, but there are also strict limits on debt collectors' tactics.

You may have options if a debt settlement no longer feels right, but the timing, paperwork and payments matter.

A borrower is in default after an extended period without making payments and failing to restore the loan to good standing.

After years of warning taxpayers that the IRS will never cold call you to collect a tax debt, things are about to change as the IRS begins handing over some of its debt-collection work to private ...

Use our guide to learn about and choose the best debt collection agency for you. Debt collection companies vary on the type of debt they collect, how they collect it and fees charged for their ...

When a creditor gives up hope on collecting a past-due bill, it will turn the account over to a third-party collection agency. These firms attempt to resolve the account with the debtor, either by ...

Could your debt be reduced or forgiven? Take our financial relief quiz. Debt collection is when a company attempts to collect payment on past-due and unpaid debt, such as a loan or medical bill. It ...

With federal oversight in retreat, deep-pocketed collection companies are aggressively pursuing down-and-out consumers who are struggling with record levels of credit card debt. Meanwhile, consumer ...

Mark Henricks has written on mortgages, real estate and investing for many leading publications. He works from Austin, Texas, where he engages in songwriting, wilderness backpacking, whitewater ...