Debt Collection Agency List: 90+ Verified Collectors

Over 7,000 debt collection agencies operate in the United States. The $18.8 billion industry generates more fraud reports than any other sector.

Abusive debt collection practices hurt financially vulnerable consumers. Many people pay collectors money they don’t actually owe.

Respond to Debt Collectors in 15 Minutes

Don't let collectors bully you into paying debts you don't owe. Answer their lawsuit or send a Debt Validation Letter to force them to prove the debt is valid.

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You need to know if the collection agency contacting you is legitimate. Below is our verified list of major debt collectors nationwide.

How to Verify a Debt Collection Agency

Never send money until you confirm your debt is real. Scammers impersonate legitimate collectors every day.

Collection agencies must validate your debt within 5 days of contact. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) requires this.

Send a Debt Validation Letter to learn these critical details:

Which creditor sold your debt to the collection agency
The exact amount you owe
Whether your debt is past the statute of limitations

Our partner Solo can help you create a Debt Validation Letter in minutes.

Major Debt Collection Agencies 2025

Here are 90+ verified debt collectors with their BBB ratings and contact information:

Top-Rated Collection Agencies (A+ BBB Rating)

Accredited Collection Services – (402) 331-0103 – Papillion, NE
Alliance One – (877) 541-8420 – Los Angeles, CA
American Recovery Service – (800) 398-6480 – El Dorado Hills, CA
Asset Recovery Solutions – (888) 678-0087 – Des Plaines, IL
Associated Credit Services – (800) 531-6500 – Westborough, MA
Bank of America – (800) 432-1000 – Charlotte, NC
Cerastes LLC – (773) 902-1130 – Des Plaines, IL
Covington Credit – (423) 744-9199 – Athens, TN
Estate Information Services – (614) 322-2758 – Gahanna, OH
Freshview Solutions – (352) 266-4448 – Jacksonville, FL
Howard Lee Schiff – (860) 528-9991 – Hartford, CT
Mariner Finance – (844) 338-2080 – Nottingham, MD
Medicredit – (800) 888-2238 – Earth City, MO
Mountain Land Collections – (801) 492-1596 – American Fork, UT
OneMain Financial – (812) 424-8031 – Evansville, IN
Palisades Collection LLC – (201) 567-5648 – Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Pinnacle Collections Agency – (760) 929-6685 – Carlsbad, CA
Portfolio Recovery Associates – (757) 519-9300 – Norfolk, VA
Provest Law – (813) 877-2844 – Tampa, FL
Revenue Group – (216) 763-2100 – Cleveland, OH
Second Round Sub LLC – (512) 448-2600 – Austin, TX
Synchrony Bank – (800) 250-5411 – Kettering, OH
Transworld Systems – (877) 420-4789 – Ft Washington, PA

Well-Rated Collection Agencies (A/A- BBB Rating)

Autovest LLC – (800) 221-8160 – Southfield, MI (A-)
Capital One – (800) 955-7070 – Richmond, VA (A)
Crown Asset Management – (770) 817-6700 – Duluth, GA (A-)
Harvest Credit Management – (303) 531-0631 – Denver, CO (A-)
Integras Capital Recovery LLC – (856) 773-4724 – Cherry Hill, NJ (A)
Jefferson Capital Systems LLC – (800) 281-2793 – Saint Cloud, MN (A-)
LVNV Funding – (864) 248-8700 – Greenville, SC (A)
MRS Associates – (888) 334-5677 – Cherry Hill, NJ (A-)
Velo Law Office – (616) 333-0707 – Grand Rapids, MI (A)

Average-Rated Collection Agencies (B/B+ BBB Rating)

Chase – (513) 985-5000 – Cincinnati, OH (B+)
Eagle Loan of Ohio – (330) 861-0700 – Akron, OH (B+)
Javitch Block – (513) 744-9600 – Cincinnati, OH (B)
Midland Funding LLC – (800) 265-8825 – Birmingham, AL (B+)
Nationstar Foreclosure – (877) 783-7480 – Lewisville, TX (B)
T-Mobile – (800) 937-8997 – Bellevue, WA (B)
Velocity Investments – (732) 556-9090 – Wall Township, NJ (B)
Waypoint Resource Group – (866) 447-4163 – Round Rock, TX (B)

Below-Average Collection Agencies (C-F BBB Rating)

Absolute Resolutions Investments LLC – (800) 713-0670 – Bloomington, MN (C+)
Educap – (866) 398-7741 – Sterling, VA (C)
Paragon Revenue Group – (800) 868-1899 – Concord, NC (D)
Collection Information Bureau – (800) 841-3314 – Lake Worth, FL (F)
National Collegiate Trust – New York, NY (F)
Northstar Capital Acquisition – (678) 672-0109 – Atlanta, GA (F)

Not Rated Collection Agencies

Cavalry SPV I LLC – (914) 347-3440 – Phoenix, AZ
Credit One Bank – (877) 825-3242 – Las Vegas, NV
Cypress Financial Recoveries – (415) 946-4185 – San Francisco, CA
Forster & Garbus – (631) 393-9400 – Commack, NY
Fulton Friedman & Gullace LLP – (877) 496-4798 – Warren, MI
Hudson & Keyse LLC – (877) 565-4669 – Dallas, TX
Michael J Adams PC – (210) 858-8360 – San Antonio, TX
Regents and Associates – (713) 490-7076 – Houston, TX
Salander Enterprises LLC – Brookfield, WI
Sherman Financial Group – (508) 548-0085 – Falmouth, MA
Target National Bank – (888) 755-5856 – Sioux Falls, SD
Wells Fargo – (800) 869-3557 – San Francisco, CA
Wolpoff & Abramson – Rockville, MD

What Collectors Must Tell You

The FDCPA requires collection agencies to provide specific information within 5 days. They must include these details:

The exact amount of your debt
The name of the original creditor
Notice that you can dispute the debt within 30 days
Statement that they will validate the debt if you request it
Confirmation they will provide the original creditor’s name and address

If a collector fails to provide this information, they’re breaking federal law.

Force Collectors to Prove Your Debt

You have powerful rights under the FDCPA. Send a Debt Validation Letter within 30 days of first contact.

The collector must then stop all collection activity until they provide proof. Many collection agencies can’t validate debts properly.

Common reasons debts can’t be validated:

Missing documentation from the original creditor
Debt is past the statute of limitations
Incorrect debt amount or creditor information
Debt was already paid or discharged
Identity theft or mistaken identity

Don’t wait for a collector to sue you. Our partner Solo helps you respond to collection attempts and lawsuits.

What to Do If You’re Being Sued

Debt collectors file thousands of lawsuits daily. You must respond to a court summons.

Ignoring a lawsuit results in a default judgment against you. Collectors can then garnish your wages or freeze your bank accounts.

You can fight back by filing an Answer to the lawsuit. An Answer is your official court response.

Your Answer should include:

General denial of the allegations
Affirmative defenses like statute of limitations
Request for proof of the debt
Challenge to the collector’s legal standing

You typically have 14-30 days to file your Answer. Check your summons for the exact deadline.

Our partner Solo walks you through every step of responding to a debt lawsuit.

Red Flags of Collection Scams

Scammers pretend to be legitimate collection agencies. Watch for these warning signs:

Threats of immediate arrest or legal action
Demands for payment via wire transfer or gift cards
Refusal to provide written validation of the debt
Calls before 8 AM or after 9 PM
Sharing your debt information with third parties
Using abusive or threatening language
Claiming to be law enforcement or attorneys when they’re not

Legitimate collectors follow strict federal rules. They will provide written validation and allow you to dispute the debt.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act protects you from abusive collectors. You have these rights:

Request debt validation within 30 days of first contact
Demand collectors stop contacting you
Sue collectors who violate the FDCPA
Dispute inaccurate information on your credit report
Record phone calls with collectors (in one-party consent states)
Report FDCPA violations to the FTC and CFPB

Collectors who break these rules face fines up to $1,000 per violation. You can also recover actual damages and attorney fees.

How to Stop Collection Calls

You can legally stop collectors from calling you. Send a cease and desist letter via certified mail.

After receiving your letter, collectors can only contact you to:

Confirm they received your letter
Notify you they’re ending collection efforts
Inform you they’re filing a lawsuit

Keep copies of all correspondence with collectors. Document every phone call, including dates and times.

Note that stopping calls doesn’t eliminate your debt. Collectors can still sue you in court.

Negotiate a Settlement

Many collectors will accept less than the full amount owed. They buy debts for pennies on the dollar.

A collector who paid $100 for your $1,000 debt might accept $300 to settle. You save $700.

Settlement negotiation tips:

Start with an offer of 25-30% of the debt
Get any agreement in writing before paying
Never give collectors direct access to your bank account
Request deletion from your credit report as part of the deal
Pay only after receiving a signed settlement agreement

Our partner Solo can help you negotiate settlements with collectors and respond to lawsuits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a debt collection agency?

A debt collection agency is a company that attempts to collect unpaid debts on behalf of creditors. Many buy old debts for pennies on the dollar and then try to collect the full amount from consumers. The US has over 7,000 collection agencies operating nationwide.

How do I verify a debt collection agency is legitimate?

Send a Debt Validation Letter within 30 days of first contact. Legitimate collectors must provide written proof including the debt amount, original creditor's name, and validation documentation. Check the agency against our verified list and look up their BBB rating.

Can I stop debt collectors from calling me?

Yes, send a cease and desist letter via certified mail. After receiving your letter, collectors can only contact you to confirm receipt, notify you they're ending collection efforts, or inform you of a lawsuit. They cannot continue regular collection calls.

What should I do if a collection agency sues me?

You must file an Answer with the court within 14-30 days (check your summons for the exact deadline). Never ignore a lawsuit or you'll receive a default judgment. Your Answer should deny allegations, raise affirmative defenses, and challenge the collector's proof of the debt.

How much will debt collectors settle for?

Many collectors will accept 25-50% of the debt amount as a settlement. They often buy debts for pennies on the dollar, so they profit even on reduced payments. Always get settlement agreements in writing before paying and never give collectors direct access to your bank account.

Debt Collection Agency List: 90+ Verified Collectors in 2025