Debt collection

Sure, the U.S. government recently handed down strong new rules designed to protect consumers from unwanted robo-calls. But maybe some robo-calls aren't so bad. Like debt-collection calls in cases where the debt happens to be backed by Uncle Sam.

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of collection agency Van Ru Credit Corp. in a case involving a voicemail message left at a consumer’s business.

Utah officials want to make it easier to garnish the bank accounts of delinquent taxpayers by requiring banks and credit unions to turn over targeted customer information.

The operators of an advance fee recovery scheme that falsely claimed it could recover money that consumers had lost to telemarketing scams will be banned from selling recovery services, and from telemarketing, under a court order issued at the FTC's request.

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson on Monday announced a $63,000 resolution of an investigation into alleged unfair debt collection practices and deceptive advertising by retailer Freedom Stores Inc.

Sprint will pay $2.95 million in penalties to settle FTC charges that it failed to give proper notice to consumers who were placed in a program for customers with lower credit scores and charged an extra monthly fee.

More than 6.9 million U.S. residential properties were classified as seriously underwater at the end of the third quarter, a drop from the second quarter and from one year ago.

WASHINGTON — Credit risk is once again taking center stage with regulators after several years in which they warned banks about operational risk and other threats.

The ACLU filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday accusing Biloxi, Mississippi officials of jailing people if they did not pay their court fees and fines.

In Minnesota, Anoka-Hennepin School District officials plan to hire a collection agency to pursue approximately $160,000 in unpaid breakfast and lunch money.