Jerry Brown is a personal finance writer based in Baton Rouge, La. He's been writing about personal finance for three years. Financial products he enjoys covering include credit cards, personal loans, ...

Paying off collections debt isn't always the clear win it looks like. Here's how to decide what path to take.

In April 2025, Freedom Debt Relief reviewed data from tens of thousands of people actively looking for help with their debt. The numbers might be surprising. About one in four has at least one account ...

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. While weighing their options, some borrowers may stumble on an ...

Key Takeaways Commercial debt collection agencies typically charge contingency fees ranging from 15% to 50% of ...

When a debt is sent to a collection agency, it appears on a borrower’s credit report and could impact their credit score for up to seven years. A WalletHub analysis found Wyoming had the highest ...

Garland, Texas ranked as the top city for the highest debt collection accounts in the nation. Eight Texas cities, including Dallas and Houston, were in the top 10 locations with the most collection ...

Collection Debt by the Numbers: The National Picture In April 2025, about one in four people looking for debt relief had at least one account in collections. The average collection balance is $3,027, ...