A debt buyer is a firm that purchases debt from another company, usually a creditor or bank, at a deeply discounted rate. The debt purchaser then attempts to collect the debt through its own operations or through the use of a third-party debt collection agency. Some debt buyers may sell all or part of the debt to another party at a profit. Most debt buyers are small and privately held, though there is a handful of publicly traded debt buying companies. Recent changes in law and legal rulings have seen the debt buying industry regulated like collection agencies, or servicers of debt, rather than creditors, or owners of the debt. Debt buyers must adhere to the FDCPA.

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Two European ARM Giants Announce Big Portfolio Buys

18 December 2007

Asta Delays Annual Report for 15 Days

17 December 2007

NYC Bill Would Require Licensing of Debt Purchasers

12 December 2007

Asta Funding Expands Credit Agreement

11 December 2007

Tougher Standards Will Improve Perception of ARM Industry

19 November 2007

Velocity Asset, Maximus Report Quarterly Results

15 November 2007

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15 November 2007

Bankruptcy Collectors Say BusinessWeek Paints Fuzzy Picture

14 November 2007

ARM Industry in UK Sees Explosive Growth

13 November 2007

Industry Comes Out Against State Debt Purchasing Bill

12 November 2007

FirstCity Financial has Down Third Quarter

9 November 2007

Asset Acceptance Impairment Charge is $13.8 Million

6 November 2007

Aktiv Kapital Reports Down Quarter, But Surge in Debt Purchasing

5 November 2007

Appeals Court Rules on Debtors? Counsel Communications

5 November 2007

Debt Purchasers in Lawmakers? Cross-hairs

2 November 2007

State to Hear Debt Purchaser Notification Bill

2 November 2007

Roller Coaster Year for Public ARM Firms

31 October 2007

Portfolio Recovery Notches Transitional Quarter with Modest Income Rise

30 October 2007

Asset Acceptance to Post $15 Million in Revenue Impairments

26 October 2007

Encore Reports Modest Results but Big Jump in Purchasing Activity

26 October 2007