Editing Debt collection (section)

===First-party agencies===
Some collection agencies are departments or subsidiaries of the company that owns the original debt. First-party agencies typically get involved earlier in the debt collection process and have a greater incentive to try to maintain a constructive customer relationship.<ref name = "Legrady">{{cite journal|last=Legrady|first=Paul|title=Creditors Exercising Options For Receivables Management|journal=Business Credit|volume=107|issue=8|pages=62–63|date=September 2005}}</ref> Because they are a part of the original creditor, first-party agencies may not be subject to legislation that governs third-party collection agencies.

These agencies are called "first-party" because they are part of the first party to the contract (i.e. the creditor). The second party is the consumer (or debtor). Typically, first-party agencies try to collect debts for several months before passing it to a third-party agency or selling the debt and writing off most of its value.