If you have defaulted on debt payments, the original creditor or lender may "charge off" your debt and sell it to a debt buyer. Debt buyers purchase defaulted debts in bulk, often for pennies on the dollar. When a debt buyer purchases your debt it can try to collect it from you. In recent years the debt buyer business has exploded, and so have complaints about the collection practices used by debt buyers. Below you can learn more about the debt buyer industry, some of the problems consumers have encountered with debt buyers, defenses to raise if a debt buyer sues you, and more.
Learn about defenses you may have if a debt buyer sues you to collect a debt.
When a debt buyer parks an old debt on your credit report or re-ages an account, it might be violating the FCRA.
The CFPB clarified when a debt buyer is considered a "debt collector" and must comply with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).
Sidestep the lawyers with do-it-yourself books, documents, and software.
Online Form
Nolo offers hundreds of consumer-friendly, do-it-yourself legal products for all types of legal situations. Browse our full product list.
Click below to view more legal issues. Our extensive collection of legal topics ranges across different areas of practice.
Our editors have over 100 years of combined experience practicing law. These professionals have worked in a wide range of legal areas, from estate planning to criminal law to business formation and beyond. They’re experts at explaining complicated legal issues in easy-to-understand terms.
Learn more about the team that manages Nolo’s articles, books, and DIY tools.
Find an experienced, local attorney in three easy steps. Our process is designed for ease and simplicity.
Briefly tell us about your case, and provide your contact information.
We find and instantly list attorneys that can best handle your case.
Choose the attorneys you would like to work with.
At Nolo, we prioritize quality and transparency because we know how important reliable legal information is to our readers. Our information is meticulously researched, regularly updated, and written in plain English by our experienced writers and editors. Learn more about our editorial standards.
Grow your firm with Martindale-Nolo, the largest legal network, and learn more about our attorney lead-generation and marketing services.
At Nolo, we prioritize quality and transparency because we know how important reliable legal information is to our readers. Our information is meticulously researched, regularly updated, and written in plain English by our experienced writers and editors. Learn more about our editorial standards.