Large County to Begin Outsourcing Debt Collection to Private Firms

http://www.insidearm.com/news/00013127-large-county-to-begin-outsourcing-debt-co/

Fulton County, Ga., this month will begin outsourcing some $7 million in old fine and fee debt to four private collection agencies that specialize in government debt collection.

The central Atlanta county, Georgia’s largest with more than 1 million residents, has more than 43,000 outstanding traffic tickets dating back to 2000 and unpaid code enforcements from as far back as 2001.

The county has hired Chicago-based Harris & Harris, Texas-based Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, Texas-based Municipal Services Bureau and Pennsylvania-based Penn Credit Corp. to chase after the debt.

Fulton County officials hope to bring in at least $2 million by using the expertise of the firms under contract.