Concept
Debt collection is the process of pursuing payments of money or other agreed-upon value owed to a creditor. The debtors may be by individuals or businesses. An organization that specializes in debt collection is known as a collection agency or debt collector. Most collection agencies operate as agents of creditors and collect debts for a fee or percentage of the total amount owed. Historically, debtors could face debt slavery, debtor's prison, or coercive collection methods. In the 21st century in many countries, legislation regulates debt collectors, and limits harassment and practices deemed unfair. History of bankruptcy law Debt collection has been around as long as there has been debt and is older than the history of money itself, as it existed within earlier systems based on bartering. Debt collection goes back to the ancient civilizations, starting in Sumer in 3000 BC. In these civilizations if a debt was owed that could not be paid back, the debtor and the debtor's spouse, children or servants were forced into "debt slavery" until the creditor recouped losses via their physical labor. Under Babylonian Law, strict guidelines governed the repayment of debts, including several basic debtor protections. In some societies debts would be carried over into subsequent generations and debt slavery would continue, but some early societies provided for periodic debt forgiveness such as a jubilees or would set a time limit on a debt. The Bible issues stern restrictions regarding how much interest to charge on a loan. The Quran prohibits any amount of interest on loans given and encourages direct transactions. The Abrahamic religions discouraged lending and prohibited creditors from collecting interest on debts owed. By the Middle Ages, laws came into being to deal specifically with debtors. If creditors were unable to collect a debt they could take the debtor to court and obtain a judgment against the debtor.