Debt collection complaints rose 115% in 2025 as identity theft drives fake accounts. Learn your rights and how to protect your money from fraud.

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. Before a debt collector can pursue you for ...

Still, a single phone call from a debt collector about an unpaid balance can make it feel like those protections don't exist, particularly in today's economic landscape, which is plagued by rising ...

If you've fallen behind on a $5,000 debt and a collection agency is hounding you for payments, you might be worried about what happens next. Owing a few thousand dollars to a debt collector can put ...

Elizabeth Guevara is a personal finance reporter who explains the world of business and economics and how it impacts your finances. She joined Investopedia in 2024. Getty Images Debt collection ...

Debt you don't owe can signal identity theft. Learn why fake collections happen, your rights and how to stop collectors fast.