How Hard Will a Debt Collector Try to Collect a Credit Card Debt?

Credit card companies rely on timely payments to turn a profit. Although a credit card company will pursue missed payments for a limited amount of time -- usually no more than 180 days -- these companies routinely turn unpaid balances over to collection agencies. Debt collectors then work to recover defaulted credit card accounts. How hard a debt collection agency will work to collect a credit card debt depends on a variety of factors.

Collection Methods

While some collection agencies rely on regular telephone calls or debt collection letters when conducting business, others find success using more aggressive debt recovery methods such as lawsuits and garnishing an employee's paycheck. Thus, company policy often dictates how much effort a given collection agency will expend trying to collect your delinquent credit card debt.

Amount You Owe

The amount you owe affects how diligently debt collectors will pursue you. Regardless of whether the collection agency purchased the debt from your credit card company or is collecting the debt on commission, the higher your debt, the greater the profit a debt collector can expect to make.

Your original contract with the credit card company provided the company with your permission to levy interest charges on your balance. The same right to levy interest charges passes to the debt collector when the original creditor sells or transfers the debt. The more you owe, the more interest the collection agency can charge and the higher your debt will grow, giving the company greater incentive to pursue your debt aggressively.

Old Debts

Debt collectors typically pursue debts less fervently as they age. This is because each state possesses a statute of limitations restricting creditors from suing consumers for old debts. Once a lawsuit is no longer an option, federal debt collection laws restrict collection agencies from even using the threat of a lawsuit when recovering debts.

Because a collection agency must depend on your voluntary payment after the statute of limitations passes, your debt does not hold the same value for the company. It can no longer force you to pay, and the frequency of its demands for payment will typically decrease.

Debt Transfer

Debt collectors that fail to recover your unpaid credit card debt will eventually sell the delinquent account to another collection agency. When this occurs, the new debt collector takes on the responsibility for collecting your debt and you will notice an increase in telephone calls and collection letters. The cycle of decreased and increased contact will continue as your unpaid debt is repeatedly bought and sold. This process can continue indefinitely because, although the statute of limitations restricts lawsuits, your delinquent credit card debt remains valid until you pay if off.