Debt collection is the process by which a person or entity who is owed money or property seeks payment for the debt. Debt collection may be performed by the person or entity who is owed the debt (the creditor), or may be performed by a third-party debt collector hired by the creditor to collect the debt on behalf of the creditor. Sometimes creditors sell the debt to another entity at a discounted value, and the entity that purchases the debt becomes the creditor.

Debts that are often the subject of debt collection efforts include (1) credit card debt; (2) car or auto loan debt; (3) medical debt; (4) student loan debt; (5) unpaid utility and telephone bills; and (6) personal loan debt.

If you owe money, you have a legal obligation to repay it. But state and federal laws—such as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act—prohibit debt collectors from using deceptive or abusive behavior to collect the debt.

In Idaho, as in other states, debt collection is regulated by both state statutes and federal law. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a federal law that sets the standard for how debt collectors can operate, prohibiting deceptive, abusive, or unfair practices. Idaho does not have a specific state statute that mirrors the FDCPA, but it does have laws that regulate certain aspects of debt collection, such as the Idaho Collection Agency Act, which requires collection agencies to be licensed and follow certain practices. Creditors in Idaho can seek payment for various types of debts, including credit card debt, auto loans, medical bills, student loans, utility bills, and personal loans. If a debt is not paid, creditors may hire third-party debt collectors or sell the debt to another entity, which then becomes the creditor. While debtors have a legal obligation to repay their debts, they are also protected from harassment and unfair practices by debt collectors under the FDCPA. It's important for debtors to know their rights and for debt collectors to adhere to these legal standards to ensure fair and lawful debt collection practices.