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

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

Jerry Brown is a personal finance writer based in Baton Rouge, La. He's been writing about personal finance for three years. Financial products he enjoys covering include credit cards, personal loans, ...

In April 2025, Freedom Debt Relief reviewed data from tens of thousands of people actively looking for help with their debt. The numbers might be surprising. About one in four has at least one account ...

When you allow your credit card debt to compound, it can be tough to keep up with the payments over time — and that's especially true in today's high-rate credit card environment. With card rates ...

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 ...

When you fall behind on a bill, you might get charged a late fee and your late payments could be recorded in your credit reports. If a bill goes unpaid for long enough, your creditor may send or sell ...

Garland, Texas ranked as the top city for the highest debt collection accounts in the nation. Eight Texas cities, including Dallas and Houston, were in the top 10 locations with the most collection ...

Collection Debt by the Numbers: The National Picture In April 2025, about one in four people looking for debt relief had at least one account in collections. The average collection balance is $3,027, ...

Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full ...