Collection agencies typically come into play when a bill is delinquent for more than how many months?

Collection agencies are generally involved in the debt recovery process when a bill has been delinquent for an extended period, typically around six months. This timeframe is significant because it allows the original creditor to make several attempts to collect the debt before involving third-party collection agencies. After six months of non-payment, it is often considered a more serious delinquency, warranting further action to recoup the outstanding debt. The original creditor may feel that their efforts to collect have been unsuccessful and may wish to pursue alternative methods, such as referring the account to a collection agency, to improve chances of recovery. Therefore, the choice indicating six months aligns with industry standards for the escalation of debt collection activities.