Governments of all sizes and locations are owed money. In the U.S. federal government, citizens and businesses typically owe taxes, fines and fees. Consumers can also owe on federally-backed student loans, while businesses can owe on development loans. Several branches of the U.S. government have robust ARM operations, including the IRS and the Department of Education. On the state and local level, debts to the government can be too many to enumerate. From court fines and fees to sales tax to late parking tickets. An overwhelming majority of U.S. states, and thousands of municipal governments, have used private debt collectors to help recover their debts.

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Cooler U.S. Housing Market to Slow GDP in 2006

12 September 2006

Dep of Ed Honors Top Collectors

12 September 2006

DirecTV to pay $5.36 million 'Do Not Call' Penalty

12 September 2006

WalMart Starting to Pass Bad Check Collection to Private Collection Firms

12 September 2006

U.S. Banks Raise Prime Rate to 7.25 percent

12 September 2006

Bankruptcy Law Backfires on Credit Card Issuers

12 September 2006

Citigroup Bids $1.5 bln for China Bank Stake

12 September 2006

Counterfeit Credit Card Ring Busted

12 September 2006

Fed Seen Raising U.S. Rates, May Signal Change Ahead

12 September 2006

Sallie Mae Wins Award for Family Friendly Policies and Benefits

12 September 2006

State Board Rules Against Payday Lending Opponents

12 September 2006

Secretary of Banking Says Legislature Needs to Get Tougher in Overseeing Payday Lenders

12 September 2006

Supreme Court to Allow Social Security Collections in Delinquent Loans Case

12 September 2006

U.S. Third Quarter Productivity Revised Up to 4.7%

12 September 2006

Payrolls Rise 215,000 in November

12 September 2006

Bush May Delay Push for Major U.S. Tax Overhaul

12 September 2006

Court Affirms Action Against Cross Country and Applied Card

12 September 2006

Americans Seen More Upset by Tax Bite on Profits

12 September 2006

Services Sector Still Strong, But Growth Cools in November

12 September 2006

Collection Agency Sues to Keep Bid Secret

12 September 2006