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The government is stepping up as debt collection hustles rise. In recent news, Buffalo New York has been home to a number of unlawful debt collection techniques, and authorities have taken at least twelve people into custody. Despite the fact that the vast majority of collection agencies are legitimate and good for the economy, there has been a rising amount of deceptive and illegal practices.

Most people are becoming increaslingly aware that they owe a debt that is being pursued by a debt collections agency, yet few know exactly how much time has passed before creditors can go after that debt. Debt Collectors are guided by what is called the Statute of Limitations.

It is important that debt collectors respect your privacy. According to the Fair Debt Collection Practice Act, debt collectors cannot exchange information about people that owe a debt. They can’t distribute a list of debtors to its creditor subscribers. They cannot advertise a debt for sale, or compile a list of debtors to its creditor subscribers.

With consumer debt at an all time high, having a debt can be overwhelming. Some people have looked into the internet and have seen advertisements promising debt relief as a quick solution. Enticing as these ads may seem, it is important to be on the lookout for the validity of the claim.

iVolution Medical Systems, a West Hampton, NY-based health care systems firm, is taking a different approach. The four-year-old company, started by former Wall Street consultants to the health care industry, entered the medical receivables space by acquiring experienced billing and collections companies. First there was Professional Health care Billing Services (PHB) of Palm Springs, California in March, and then Continental Collection Services of New York, earlier this month (iVolution Medical Systems Acquires Continental Collection Services, May 13).

In a business column dated January 20, Baltimore Sun writer Jay Hancock seems to be thrilled by the fact that a prominent accounts receivable management firm filed bankruptcy in the midst of an unemployment-driven recession. Speculation suggests Hancock’s intentions were to threaten violence against collectors.

It begins with the mail. Then more aggressive mail. Then come calls on the telephone and worst of all, threats about credit reports or even a potential lawsuit.

Being contacted by a debt collection company about a bill you know nothing about could be the first sign that you may be the victim of identity theft. This crime touches the lives of as many as ten million victims a year.

Filing for bankruptcy is a no small matter. The most extreme of all financial makeovers, financial analysts continue to warn us that it should be used as a last resort and that bankruptcy shouldn’t be entered into without knowing what you are doing.

And you thought your bill collections agency was bad enough. It has been recently disclosed that a gang boss in Ireland has made a new career move – debt collection. This criminal genius has been linked to twelve murders; a threat even more serious than a collections letter.