 TITLE: What Is a Collection Agency? CONTENT: Take Action to Limit the Impact of Collections\n----------------------------------------------\nA third-party collection agency can pursue your debt aggressively, impact your credit and seek legal judgments. However, their power is finite. By knowing your rights, being proactive and working toward the common goal of rectifying your situation, you can minimize the effect dealing with a third-party collection agency has on your life and financial well-being.\nIf a collection agency has contacted you, check your credit report at all three reporting bureaus using AnnualCreditReport.com. You can also check your credit report for free every 30 days directly through Experian. To keep a close eye on your credit, sign up for Experian's free credit monitoring service, which provides you with updates on your Experian credit report, FICO® Score☉ and irregularities that could be the result of fraud. END