Ohio AG's Office Collects $1.3B Owed to State Entities

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's says his office has collected more than $1.3 billion in debts owed to state government offices.

The debt payments were recovered from 2011 to 2013, according to the AG's office, which acts as the collections agent for all state government entities and public colleges and universities. The office then works to get full payment or develop a payment plan with the debtor.

Collections last year totaled roughly $449 million, compared with almost $454 million in 2012 and close to $461 million in 2011, the AG's office reports.

DeWine says state agencies have been certifying fewer debts for collection by his office, meaning that fewer bills are going unpaid. His office has previously launched a program for local governments to get state help in collecting debts owed to them.

Last week, DeWine's office announced it received more than 2,400 collection complaints in 2013, with many citing collection scams. Consumers taken advantage of by collection scams often report losing $200 to $300, though some lose thousands, according to reports.