WalletHub collected data from the end of 2025 and ranked the states with the most and least debt collection accounts.

Disputing collections debt can protect your credit, but only if you know when it actually makes sense to do so.

Garland, Texas ranked as the top city for the highest debt collection accounts in the nation. Eight Texas cities, including Dallas and Houston, were in the top 10 locations with the most collection ...

Collection Debt by the Numbers: The National Picture In April 2025, about one in four people looking for debt relief had at least one account in collections. The average collection balance is $3,027, ...

A debt can be sold to a collection agency if you miss several payments on an account. A collection account stays on your credit report for approximately seven years. Collection accounts decrease your ...

If you see an account in collections on your credit report, it's understandable to feel stressed. Collections, even when paid, can potentially lower your credit score and impact your approval odds for ...

If you've fallen behind on your bills or have stopped making payments altogether, there's a good chance one or more of your accounts could now be in collections. Many people are dealing with this ...

In April 2025, Freedom Debt Relief reviewed data from tens of thousands of people actively looking for help with their debt. The numbers might be surprising. About one in four has at least one account ...

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