STAFFORD, Texas, Aug. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As consumer debt continues to climb and delinquencies rise, new data from Money Management International (MMI) shows that 20% of clients seeking financial counseling this year carry at least one charged-off credit card, with an average collection balance of $11,000 – a 31% increase from 2020. At the same time, FTC Consumer Sentinel Network data shows a recent surge in debt collection call complaints.
Among the top metro areas where MMI delivers services, several collection debt hotspots have emerged, including Atlanta, Philadelphia and Phoenix, where 23-26% of clients have at least one charged-off account. Additionally, at least eight states show above-average instances of collection debt among new clients, including: AZ, GA, MD, MI, NC, OH, PA, and TX.
To help meet this growing need, MMI is expanding access to its Debt Resolution Plan (DRP), a structured, nonprofit alternative to traditional debt settlement that helps people resolve severely delinquent or collection-stage debts. MMI also provides valuable education on consumers’ rights when dealing with collectors, information on the statute …