Debt collectors by kind of debt
What to check, and who collects it, depends on where the debt came from.
Credit card debt collectors
Most credit card collections come from debt buyers that bought charged-off accounts from the bank for a fraction of the balance, or from agencies collecting on the bank’s behalf.
35,856 complaints in the last 12 months
Phone, cable and internet debt collectors
These are usually small final bills or unreturned-equipment fees from a provider you left. Small balances still end up on credit reports.
12,106 complaints in the last 12 months
Rental and apartment debt collectors
Rental collections are usually charges after you moved out: unpaid rent, lease-break fees, cleaning or repairs. Landlords and property managers often hand these to collectors.
11,927 complaints in the last 12 months
Medical debt collectors
Medical bills usually go to collections after the provider stops billing you directly, often while an insurance claim is still unresolved.
7,749 complaints in the last 12 months
Auto loan debt collectors
Auto collections usually involve a deficiency balance: what is left after a repossessed car is sold at auction, plus fees.
5,633 complaints in the last 12 months
Payday loan debt collectors
Payday and online installment lenders often send defaulted loans to collectors quickly, sometimes several times over.
2,869 complaints in the last 12 months
Student loan debt collectors
Student loan collections come in two kinds. Defaulted federal loans are collected for the Department of Education; private student loans are collected like other consumer debt.
1,569 complaints in the last 12 months
Mortgage debt collectors
Mortgage collections usually involve a deficiency left after a foreclosure or short sale, or an old second mortgage that resurfaces years later.
571 complaints in the last 12 months