By Alexander E.M. Hess, Thomas C. Frohlich and Alexander Kent
Financial distress, or difficulty meeting debt obligations, is a daily part of life for many Americans, and for some, the lenders have come calling. More than one third of Americans with credit histories faced debt collections in 2013, according to a recent report from the Urban Institute.
Nearly 50% of Nevadans with a credit history had debt in collections as of 2013, the highest percentage in the nation. On average, these residents had $7,198 of debt in collections, defined as being at least 180 days past due, also the most in the nation. By comparison, 35% of Americans had debt in collection, with an average delinquent debt of $5,178.
