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Synonyms

collection agency

American  

noun

  1. a firm that collects unpaid bills for other firms and is usually compensated by receiving a percentage of the amount collected.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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While buy-now-pay-later activity doesn’t typically show up on your credit report, that can change if the balance is neglected and sent to a collection agency.

From MarketWatch Jan. 8, 2026

In March 2024, a New York lawyer representing a collection agency contacted one family who worked with SEAM, saying that Side owed a high-interest lender $69,500 and was seeking to recover it.

From The Wall Street Journal Oct. 22, 2025

Keller's office sent bills to Trump's New York and Mar-a-Logo residences and a collection agency is working to recover the debt, the mayor's office told ABC.

From Salon Nov. 4, 2024

When hospitals can’t collect on unpaid bills, they will sometimes bundle the debt and sell it at a steep discount to a collection agency.

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 4, 2023

I also think about the collection agency that keeps calling about some long overdue payment, and Pops telling me not to worry about it.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

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