Debt Collector Adding Fees You Don’t Owe: What’s Permitted and What’s an FDCPA Violation

Debt Collector Adding Fees Not In Contract

Debt collectors can only charge fees or interest that were explicitly authorized by your original credit agreement or permitted by state law. Adding unauthorized charges like generic “collection fees” or “handling fees” is a direct violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Debt buyers frequently purchase accounts without the original signed contract, meaning … Read more

What Percentage Do Debt Collectors Actually Settle For – and Why the Answer Depends on Who Owns the Debt

What Percentage Do Debt Collectors Settle For

The percentage a collector will accept depends entirely on who owns the debt. Debt buyers who purchased your account for pennies on the dollar can settle for 30 percent and still make a massive profit. Original creditors are typically less flexible, often settling between 40 and 60 percent of the balance, while third-party debt buyers … Read more