As the Internet is becoming more widely used, information is a mere search engine away. Directories can track down long-lost customers, for instance. But collection efforts take time. ACA is an international trade organization of credit and collection professionals in the U.S. and 55 foreign countries. We usually have accounts placed for collection that have gone unpaid for about eight months with no communication from debtors, Saukko said.
Some agencies send a monthly statement with a detailed status report.
There s not a rule you can refer to, Dallas said. It s vague. Just make sure you make every effort possible to collect the debt before you write it off.