Disputing collections debt can protect your credit, but only if you know when it actually makes sense to do so.

WalletHub collected data from the end of 2025 and ranked the states with the most and least debt collection accounts.

A debt can be sold to a collection agency if you miss several payments on an account. A collection account stays on your credit report for approximately seven years. Collection accounts decrease your ...

Getting collection activity off your credit report can help you accomplish credit goals like improving your score or qualifying for certain types of loans. Though there’s no one way to remove ...

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 ...

Take a Financial Relief Quiz. Get matched with an Authorized Partner. Find my match Take a Financial Relief Quiz. Get matched with an Authorized Partner. A credit score is just a three-digit number, ...

Could your debt be reduced or forgiven? Take our financial relief quiz. Find my match Could your debt be reduced or forgiven? Take our financial relief quiz. Removing collections from your credit ...

If you’re reading this, it’s likely that you recently had an unpaid Verizon bill that went into collections. Before reading further, you should get a current copy of your credit report to see if it’s ...

AFNI Inc. is a collection agency with a global reach working from U.S. branches in Kentucky, Illinois, Arizona and Alabama. If you get phone calls or letters from AFNI, Inc., you should know you’re ...