Debt Collection

Kansas Legal Services offers you some guidance if you have medical debt weighing you down.   Please watch our new video for steps to take. https://youtu.be/hM2MgstFel0    

Some types of old debt are no longer collectible after a certain point. But collection agencies make money by scaring people into restarting the clock on payments.   August 6, 2025 by Michelle Singletary  Washington Post   You have a responsibility to repay the money you borrow.

A Rural Crisis: Medical Debt in America's Heartland More than 15 million Americans have medical debt, and the issue of collection is particularly tough in rural America. More than 15 million Americans have medical debt, and the issue of collection is particularly tough in rural America

A Rural Crisis: Medical Debt in America's Heartland   By Max McCoy July 2024  Kansas Reflector

  Rule #1: Prioritize Debts Whose Non-Payment Immediately Harms Your Family Non-payment of certain debts have sudden and dire consequences for your family. Deal with these debts immediately—either pay these debts first or otherwise follow advice here on how to manage these debts. Never pay smaller, low priority debts just because you cannot keep up with high priority debts—“If I can’t pay my mortgage, at least I will keep up with my credit cards.” This is a bad idea.

Consumer Debt Advice from National Consumer Law Center  https://library.nclc.org/article/stopping-debt-collection-harassment-consumer-debt-advice-nclc April Kuehnhoff   June 25, 2018  Email link to this article

This client-focused handout contains information and tips about how to handle a call from a collector or someone collecting a debt on another's behalf. Here are two helpful videos on dealing with debt collection, and how to talk with a debt collector.  

This brochure talks about your options as a consumer when debt or debt collection becomes too much to handle. Nearly all of the 2 to 3% of the households who are behind on their bills were current until they faced a sudden blow to their wallets. Such blows include job loss, illness or other setbacks. Sometimes it is tempting to give in to the daily appeals in their mailbox to borrow, borrow, borrow. To help consumers, the feds and states have laws to stop abuse, deceit and unfair practices by debt collectors. Find out more in the brochure below.