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Debt Management and Collection

Debt management and collection covers how people handle what they owe and what collectors may do to get paid. Federal and state laws limit how debt collectors can behave, and agencies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission enforce them. Government is also a creditor, through tax debts and student loans, and has collection tools of its own.

People usually bring questions about their rights when a collector calls, how to set up a payment plan, and what happens when a debt goes unpaid. They also ask how wage garnishment works, how private debt differs from public debt, and how bankruptcy fits among the options.

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December 6last updated

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