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.

See all Topics

Acumen Insurance Services Expands Advisory Board With Addition of Two Leading ARM Executives

14 December 2011

Norman R. Sorensen Joins Encore Capital Group Board of Directors

14 December 2011

Missouri Supreme Court Declines to Hear AG's Appeal of Lawsuit Against Portfolio Recovery Associates

12 December 2011

Portfolio Recovery Associates Honored With Corporate Volunteer Excellence Award

8 December 2011

ARMing Heroes Recognizes Top Donors

7 December 2011

Encore Capital Group Launches Consumer Credit Research Institute

5 December 2011

Winners and Rankings Announced for the 2011 Best Places to Work in Collections

5 December 2011

The Round-Up: Debt collector likens title company's action to blackmail

2 December 2011

Executive Change: CMAX NDSE Names Laura R. Jensen VP of Business Development

30 November 2011

Executive Change: Gary Beet Joins Liberty Acquisitions Executive Team

29 November 2011

Sharing Thanks and Thanksgiving Wishes

23 November 2011

Debt Collectors (Don't) Want to Send Debtors to Prison

23 November 2011

Portfolio Recovery Associates Launches PRA Professional Services, LLC

21 November 2011

ARM Industry Donations Top $27,000 for Military Veterans

17 November 2011

NCO Group Third Quarter Loss Narrows on Revenue Increase

15 November 2011

Asset Acceptance Grants a Child's Wish through its Annual Community Fundraiser

15 November 2011

The Round-Up: ACA Announces First Asset Buyer Executive Designee

15 November 2011

Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Announces New Credit Facility

15 November 2011

Weekly Wrap-Up Podcast - Week of November 7

12 November 2011

insideARM.com Publishes Debt Settlement White Paper

10 November 2011