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ARTICLE · 06 APRIL 2026

Debt Collection And Debt Settlement

As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) continues to reduce its functions in 2026, we expect even fewer enforcement actions by the agency in the debt collection and settlement space.

United StatesFinance and Banking

Looking Ahead to 2026

As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) continues to reduce its functions in 2026, we expect even fewer enforcement actions by the agency in the debt collection and settlement space.

Key Trends From 2025

Throughout 2025, Goodwin tracked nine enforcement actions concerning debt collection, a significant drop from the 16 actions tracked in 2024. Of those actions, six were handled by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), indicating that the FTC may be filling the enforcement gap left by the CFPB. The actions focused on student loan debt-relief schemes and "phantom" debt collection practices, in which debt collectors attempted to recover fabricated debts that consumers did not actually owe. 2025 also witnessed a heightened focus on medical debt, with states such as Maryland promulgating debt collection laws in this specific area.

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