PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Americans are starting the new year buried in more than $1.2 trillion in credit card debt, with many falling behind on their bills and facing increased pressure from debt collectors.
Complaints about debt collectors have soared, according to new federal data. The Federal Trade Commission received 194,225 reports about debt that wasn’t owed or abusive and threatening debt collection practices in the first three quarters of 2025, compared to 44,459 reports during the same period in 2024.
The surge comes as 90-day delinquencies on credit cards have risen to over 12% of the entire portfolio, according to Jim Triggs, CEO of the non-profit Money Management International…