Debt collection agencies act on behalf of creditors to collect debts when the creditors don't have the time or resources to chase down severely overdue debts for themselves. Collection agencies specialize in this kind of work which means they have staff that specializes in debt collection, which covers a broad range of legal and negotiating skills, and a streamlined process for pursuing accounts.

Debt collection agencies are hired by your creditors to do their work. If they get you to pay, the debt collector usually gets a percentage of what you owe, plus added fees. Some debt collection agencies buy your debt from the creditor for a low fee and attempt to collect double and sometimes triple what you owe on your original debt by attaching high penalties, interest and other processing fees.

Typically, collection agencies do not take over the debt. The debtor does not actually owe them money. It still owes to the creditor. But the collection agency will provide evidence (known as debtvalidation) that they have been empowered to collection the debt on behalf of the creditor.

Occasionally, collection agencies will purchase the debt from the creditor. However, usually all that the collection agencies acquire is the right to carry out the process of debt collection.

All collection agencies are governed by federal laws and no collection agency is, or wishes to be in, the business of collecting fraudulent debts. However, when acting on behalf of a legitimate creditor they will take all legal steps to enforce the collection of badly overdue accounts, if necessary going to court on behalf of the creditor.

By Tristan Andrews & A.M. Harris

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