What’s a Debt Buyer?

What’s a Debt Buyer?

If you’ve ever had a debt in collections, you may have experienced your account being purchased by a debt buyer. Debt buyers are businesses in the financial industry that partner with credit issuers to relieve some of the financial loss that can occur from lending money, goods, or services for which the agreed payments are not received.

Debt buyers purchase debt from creditors

Buying debt from banks and other lenders, buyers then work with debt collectors to recover those accounts. Most debt-buying companies are privately held small businesses that operate on a state and/or regional basis, or in a niche market, but there are also a small number of large companies employing more than 1,000 individuals.

Debt buyers serve a purpose in the U.S. credit system by allowing creditors to recuperate financial loss, protect product offerings and interest rates designed for consumers who pay as agreed, and efficiently liquidate charged-off portfolios to maintain focus on core business products and services.

Originating creditors extend credit with the expectation they will be repaid. More than 90 percent of all accounts in the U.S. are repaid according to the terms of the contractual agreement. Because of this high repayment rate, creditors have been able to focus their energies on the products and services they provide rather than expending significant resources on collection efforts. For those accounts that are in default, debt buyers provide originating creditors a convenient way to receive economic value for these non-performing accounts. Collection activities protect the overwhelming majority of U.S. consumers who pay debt on time by ensuring that they continue to have access to credit at affordable interest rates. Such credit would not otherwise exist if defaults were uncollectible. Consumers enhance their purchasing power when losses that businesses would otherwise have to pass on to consumers in the form of higher prices are mitigated through collections.

Debt buyers are a type of investment company

They have established operations and partnerships specifically for the compliant and efficient collection of debt. Many credit issuers do not have the resources and expertise to dedicate to debt collection activity, or they know developing those skills would detract from their core business, so selling charged-off accounts to a debt buyer may be best for their business.

After acquiring the accounts for a discount based on the amount owed, debt buyers then start attempting to collect on the account— often through a network of partner collection agencies and collection law firms. Some debt collectors (collection agencies and collection law firms) only operate as account servicers working for creditors and debt buyers. To better understand the different companies that can become involved with an account in the collection process.

EverChain’s Certified Buyer Network

All debt collection activity is regulated by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Consumers have rights under the FDCPA to protect them from abusive, unfair, or deceptive debt collection practices. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is actively involved in developing and enforcing the FDCPA among businesses involved in the collection of debt. The CFPB last issued “rules” effective November 30, 2021, to clarify and interpret the federal act more specifically in light of evolving technologies and business practices. 

Reputable debt buyers work hard to carefully comply with regulations and protect consumers’ rights, data, and privacy as required by law. As with any sector of businesses in the consumer financial services industry, however, there are some fraudulent or noncompliant “businesses” that disregard what is required by the law for what is profitable or convenient. Consumers in any arena of business, including debt collection, should always be diligent to stay informed and avoid making any payments to potential scammers. Report scams and abusive collection practices to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission, or your state attorney general’s office.

The information contained in this article is meant to serve as general guidance for consumers and not meant to serve as comprehensive financial advice. For questions about your individual circumstances, finances, or accounts, please contact your creditor(s) and/or financial advisor directly.

This information was originally published in Receivables Management Money Chat in March 2023. View the piece on their website here.

About EverChain®

EverChain® facilitates compliant and secure debt sales for lenders and other creditors through our end-to-end compliance management of buyers and their recovery service providers. EverChain® is an experienced debt sales advisor with the expertise to help creditors optimize their recovery strategy while protecting their consumers, brand, and bottom line.

Looking to buy debt with EverChain? Book your consultation, or email our dynamic sales team today!