Latest news with #NumberBarn
Daily Mail
19 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
States and cities where debt collection calls are surging
American households currently carry a record $18.2 trillion in debt, and delinquencies are rising. An unfortunate consequence is that unpleasant calls from debt collectors are also skyrocketing. Debt collection calls rose by more than 150 percent in the first quarter of the year compared to the same period last year, according to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaint data. Individuals may report debt collector calls to the FTC, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) or their state's attorney general office. Americans living in Georgia have been the most inundated with these calls, with residents filing 80 complaints per 100,000 people, according to NumberBarn analysis . Atlanta was the worst hit city, with 6,500 complaints made for every 100,000 residents. Texas was the second worst hit state, with locals filing more than 18,000 complaints of debt collector calls - 62 for every 100,000 people. Experts claim the recent surge is down to both legitimate debt collectors ramping up efforts to claim back funds amid economic uncertainty , as well as scammers exploiting the situation by impersonating collectors. Dallas was the city flooded with the second most calls adjusted for population, followed by Miami. Although debt collection call complaints have been steadily rising for the last 10 years - averaging between 35,000 and 45,000 per quarter - the recent spike is notable. The biggest chunk of complaints are made by those aged 30 to 39, a group weighed down by more than half of the nation's student loan debt. This leaves Americans in that age bracket open to legitimate and fraudulent debt collection calls, experts warned. 'When it comes to debt collection, we're seeing a perfect storm right now,' Michael Boggiano, managing partner at Wealthcare Financial, told . 'The surge in complaints against collectors reflects both a rise in legitimate frustration and a rise in fraud.' The average American's debt is now $61,660, up $970 from a year ago, according to the New York Federal Reserve. That is more than four times the volume that were described as such in the same period of 2024. Experts from NumberBarn say that aggressive or threatening tactics could be a sign a call is a scam, as official debt collectors must follow certain regulations.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Atlanta ‘tops cities' with most debt collection calls in US
A recent study on debt collection calls across the United States said Atlanta is at the top of the list. According to the report by NumberBarn, which analyzed new data from the Federal Trade Commission on debt collection calls, Atlanta was ranked No. 1 among major U.S. metros. In 2025, Atlanta residents have already reported 6,446 debt collection complaints to the FTC. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] NumberBarn said that was due to 104 of every 100,000 people getting debt collection calls. 'That's more than any other major metropolitan area in the country,' NumberBarn said. TRENDING STORIES: Squatters leave DeKalb County home days after Channel 2 Action News confronted them Amazon opening sorting center in west Georgia, bringing 1,000 jobs Governor's office said it will start issuing special tax refund checks this week The company's analysis of more than one million FTC complaints found that there's been a 'sharp national spike' in complaint calls, which it said is a reflection of national trends for rising consumer debt and financial stress. State-by-state, "Georgia leads the nation in debt collection calls per capita, with 80.8 reports per 100,000 residents in Q1 2025." The report said Georgia as a state reported 8,754 debt collection calls, meaning Atlanta accounted for nearly 74% of all reported calls in the state. NumberBarn said Atlanta highest for per capita debt collection call reports, followed by Dallas, Miami, Houston, and Memphis. As for specifics, here's how NumberBarn broke it down for Atlanta and Georgia: Atlanta ranks No. 1 for debt collection calls per 100,000 people The average Georgian has $60,440 in debt Debt collection calls were up more than 150% compared to 2024 Millennials were the most likely to report debt collection calls [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
