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What happens when a credit card company writes off a debt?

Author

Matthew Harrington

Updated on February 18, 2026

Further, since you are still liable for the debt, it can sell it to a debt collector or continue its collection efforts against you. What Happens When a Creditor Writes Off a Debt? When a credit card company writes off a debt, it will typically sell it—usually for pennies on the dollar—to a collection agency or other debt collector.

What does it mean when credit card account is charged off?

Whenever I talk with someone about getting them out of debt, they claim an account has was charged off so they don’t owe the debt anymore. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. A charge-off is a creditor’s notation that it has no belief that it will be able to collect on the debt. It’s a bookkeeping entry that has no effect on your obligation to pay.

What happens if you defend a credit card company?

If you defend the case, however, you can force the credit card company’s lawyers to prove every claim they have made against you. Defending the case forces the collection attorney into a defensive posture because their entire business model depends on you taking no action.

Why are so many people sued for credit card debt?

Many people think debt buyers prefer to avoid lawsuits to collect old credit card debts because it requires them to pay lawyers and incur costs of litigation. If this were true, however, credit card lawsuits would be far less common than is the case.

What happens if you get sued by a credit card company?

If you’re delinquent on your credit card payments, the credit card company or a debt collector hired by the credit card company might sue you to recover the money you owe. The Credit Card Company Could Sue You If You Break the Terms of the Contract

Can a collection company collect on a charge-off?

A creditor can charge-off personal debt, such as an auto loan. It also ca charge-off business debts as well, such as an unpaid business credit card. Charged-off business debt may end up in the hands of a collection agency, and under certain circumstances, the agency may be able to collect on it.

What to do if you get sued by a debt collection agency?

Because making a payment on an account can restart the clock for your debt, it’s a good idea to seek legal advice about your situation before you agree to make any payment on a debt. Some collection agencies get robust about efforts to collect even a small sum to extend the time line so they can file a suit later. 5. Hire Your Own Attorney

Can a credit card company negotiate a debt settlement?

If the credit card company is willing to entertain the idea of a debt settlement, then the odds are high that they will want to make one of the following arrangements. In this instance, you negotiate with the credit card company to pay a lump sum of money that is less than what you owe.

Can a credit card company come after your assets?

Credit card debt is typically unsecured debt, meaning a credit card company can’t come after your assets if you fail to pay what you owe. Since credit card companies don’t have this recourse, many are willing to negotiate a settlement with customers to recoup as much of the debt as possible. “Credit card companies are about collecting the money.

How much is sold off credit card debt each year?

Interest claims are part of a larger controversy surrounding sold-off debts, which include about $50 billion in unpaid credit card debts sold each year. In a report in January, the Federal Trade Commission concluded that debts are frequently sold with just scanty information about their origins.