Collectors and creditors · 17 guides
Luke R. covers the companies on the other side of the letter: the banks that issue the cards, the agencies that collect for them, and the debt buyers that end up owning the accounts.
Luke R. is a pen name used by the Felix editorial team for this beat. Every guide lists the primary sources it relies on (the CFPB, the FTC, the IRS, the statute text) at the end, and none of it is legal, tax, or financial advice.
Debt Collectors
Amex typically writes off unpaid card balances by 180 days past due and collects through its staff, agencies and lawyers. How settling, hardship plans and 1099-Cs work.
Luke R. · October 12, 2026 · 16 min read
Debt Collectors
Chase can settle a card for less, but whoever holds the account decides. Chase generally charges off cards by 180 days late, then collects, uses agencies, or sues.
Luke R. · October 5, 2026 · 16 min read
Debt Collectors
Ask who's calling, get the validation notice in writing, and confirm nothing else. What to say, what not to say, and the federal rule behind each line.
Luke R. · October 2, 2026 · 16 min read
Debt Collectors
Citi charges off cards at 180 days past due, then collects, sues or sells the debt. Who can settle a Citi, Costco, Home Depot or Best Buy card balance, and how.
Luke R. · September 24, 2026 · 16 min read
Debt Collectors
Capital One charges off cards at 180 days, then collects in-house, through agencies, by selling debt, or by suing. How settling works, and what changed for Discover.
Luke R. · September 15, 2026 · 17 min read
Debt Collectors
Cavalry SPV I owns charged-off accounts, mostly credit cards, and Cavalry Portfolio Services collects them. What to check, your rights, and how to settle.
Luke R. · August 25, 2026 · 8 min read
Debt Collectors
Synchrony and Comenity issue most US store cards, so the bank on your collection notice is the original creditor. What deferred interest did, and how to settle.
Luke R. · July 21, 2026 · 15 min read
Debt Collectors
The outcomes range from nothing to a garnished paycheck. Here is the real distribution, what drives it, and which of your money is legally out of reach.
Luke R. · July 16, 2026 · 15 min read
Debt Collectors
Old debts come back for five specific reasons, and each one has a different correct response. Here is how to tell which resurrection is sitting in your mailbox.
Luke R. · June 23, 2026 · 11 min read
Debt Collectors
You can make collection calls stop today, verbally for one channel or entirely with a written letter. What each option costs, and the exact letter to send.
Luke R. · April 23, 2026 · 12 min read
Debt Collectors
Jefferson Capital Systems is a Minneapolis debt buyer that collects card, auto, phone, and utility debts. Check the two creditor names and the itemization first.
Luke R. · April 14, 2026 · 7 min read
Debt Collectors
LVNV Funding buys charged-off debts and lets servicers like Resurgent collect them. What the tradeline means, what to verify, and how to settle it properly.
Luke R. · April 9, 2026 · 12 min read
Debt Collectors
Portfolio Recovery Associates bought your old account and collects it as the owner. Here's the exact sequence to follow before you pay or negotiate anything.
Luke R. · April 7, 2026 · 11 min read
Debt Collectors
Midland Credit Management is Encore Capital Group's U.S. debt buyer. Who they are, what the CFPB has required of them, and how to negotiate a settlement.
Luke R. · April 2, 2026 · 12 min read
Debt Collectors
Three kinds of company can hold your debt. Which one you're dealing with decides who can take your money, who can sue, and how far the balance can move.
Luke R. · February 26, 2026 · 16 min read
Debt Collectors
A collection letter can be one of four different documents, and each needs a different response. How to tell them apart, what to send back, and what never to say first.
Luke R. · February 19, 2026 · 13 min read
Debt Collectors
A missed payment becomes a collection account after about 180 days. Here's the full timeline, what changes when your debt is sold, and what to do first.
Luke R. · February 3, 2026 · 11 min read
