BLOOMINGTON, Ill., March 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Illinois Collectors Association applauds the work of Attorney General Lisa Madigan and is collaborating with state leaders to put an end to illegal and deceptive activities meant to intentionally deceive or mislead consumers as it seeks to ensure a balanced debt collection system that protects consumers and allows the legitimate collection of debt to function.

Debt collection is a legitimate, legal activity governed by federal and Illinois law. "Anything less than the legal and respectful collection of duly owed debt is simply unacceptable and those bad actors that choose an alternative path should be held accountable for their actions," said Illinois Collectors Association President Debra Ciskey.

Illinois residents should not avoid debt collectors or dismiss being contacted as a scam without verifying it first. The vast majority of debt collection activity is legitimate and it's imperative to address a debt collection inquiry head-on because a consumer's failure to act could have a negative impact, such as their ability to get future credit.

The Illinois Collectors Association is a proud supporter of AskDoctorDebt.com, a consumer-focused resource to answer questions about debt collection and consumer rights. "With the multitude of scams and misleading or false information easily available at the click of a mouse, our aim is to provide consumers with a tool they can trust without fear of gimmicks or being ripped off," said Ciskey.

A project of the ACA International Education Foundation, a 501 (C)(3) non-profit organization focused on increasing consumer financial literacy, AskDoctorDebt.com is available in both English and Spanish.  Visitors are not asked to register, provide any personal information or required to pay to use AskDoctorDebt.com.  

The Illinois Collectors Association (www.ilcollectorsassoc.org) has more than 100 members and is a state unit of ACA International, the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals, the comprehensive, knowledge–based resource for success in the credit and collection industry. Founded in 1939, ACA brings together more than 5,300 members worldwide, including third–party collection agencies, asset buyers, attorneys, creditors and vendor affiliates. ACA International establishes ethical standards, produces a wide variety of products, services and publications, and articulates the value of the credit and collection industry to businesses, policymakers and consumers. For more information about ACA International, visit www.acainternational.org.

SOURCE Illinois Collectors Association

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http://www.ilcollectorsassoc.org/
http://www.acainternational.org/