Negotiations are typically less stressful if you know how to improve the odds of reaching a settlement agreement.

“Prioritize debts secured by a house or car, necessities like utilities and debts that can’t be discharged, including student ...

Not every debt payment is set in stone. Here's where negotiating could help lower what you owe.

The cost of living has risen sharply in recent years, and so have financial stress levels. Recent data shows that three of four Americans today are anxious about their financial situations, and among ...

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

First Assistant Clerk Magistrate Ariel Madaro speaks to two attorneys representing debt collectors and credit card companies during a small claims hearing in East Boston in April, 2024. The number of ...

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is on a mission to protect consumers from illegal medical debt collection practices. It issued advisories in October identifying illegal practices and ...

Atlanta is feeling the squeeze from debt collectors more than any other big city in the country. Fresh federal complaint ...

Social Security payments are protected by law from private debt collectors. Your Social Security could be garnished to pay for debt owed to the government, such as income tax and federal student loans ...