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Study: More than 35 percent of Americans are facing debt collectors
The Week ^ | 07/29/2014 | Meghan DeMaria

Posted on 07/29/2014 9:25:40 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

A study released by the Urban Institute on Tuesday found that more than 35 percent of Americans have unpaid bills and debt that has been reported to collection agencies.

The debts surveyed include everything from gym memberships to auto loans. The study, which looked at records from September 2013, found that 35.1 percent of people with credit records had been reported to collection agencies. The average debt was $5,178.

The Associated Press notes that while America has decreased its credit card debt, the percentage of Americans in collections has remained roughly the same. In 2004, a Federal Reserve study found that 36.5 percent of Americans were in collections.

Also of note is the fact that unpaid debts are concentrated in Southern and Western states, with Texas in the lead. Five Texas cities — Dallas, El Paso, Houston, McAllen, and San Antonio — have more than 40 percent of their populations reported to collection agencies. In addition, nearly half of Las Vegas residents have debts that are in collections. - 


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2014issues; bhoeconomy; debt; debtcollection
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To: SeekAndFind

I get calls all the time from these scumbags. Before you go tell me to pay my debt, IT ISN’T MY DEBT!!! I get dozens of calls a week for people I have no idea who they are. Sometimes it is fun to tease them. Even better is to get them to violate the law.


21 posted on 07/29/2014 11:09:36 AM PDT by Organic Panic
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To: Organic Panic

Don’t talk to these low life collection agencies. Everything is recorded. Federal law says if you request all communications in writing, they must comply.


22 posted on 07/29/2014 11:24:00 AM PDT by navyblue (<u> Si vis pacem, para bellum.)
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To: Jim from C-Town

Once the debt is written off. The original debtor is out of the picture. These companies threaten, but can do nothing. They can not sue, get a judgment, lean on real property or garnish wages. They just try to bully.
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They can sue and do get judgements ,, even though they are not entitled to any more than they paid for the bad debt... The courts go along with the fraud.


23 posted on 07/29/2014 11:46:38 AM PDT by Neidermeyer
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To: Neidermeyer

Good luck. If they where to sue I would show up for the hearing.


24 posted on 07/29/2014 3:38:38 PM PDT by Jim from C-Town (The government is rarely benevolent, often malevolent and never benign!)
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To: Jim from C-Town

Good luck. If they where to sue I would show up for the hearing.
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Only 2% actually do .. that’s why these scumbags do what they do.


25 posted on 07/29/2014 5:12:43 PM PDT by Neidermeyer
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To: Noamie

Here is a breakdown of comparison of consumer and commercial debt -
http://www.collectnow.com/blog/difference-consumer-commercial-debt-collection

I will look for detailed information on medical vs student loans.


26 posted on 04/07/2017 7:29:22 AM PDT by spartan123
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To: spartan123

Weird.... I never posted any thoughts in this link/forum... How did you “respond” to me?


27 posted on 04/07/2017 10:57:03 AM PDT by Noamie
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To: spartan123

Oh! Nvm. I see this is from 2014. My bad.


28 posted on 04/07/2017 10:58:25 AM PDT by Noamie
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