Medical, auto and other consumer debt: where to start

Some debts follow their own rules, so the general debt collection guides may not be the whole story. Federal agencies publish separate help for auto loan problems, including owing more than a vehicle is worth, being unable to make payments, and repossession,^[1] and for surprise medical bills under the No Surprises Act.^[2] This hub lists every guide on this site for those debts and for other debts with special rules, such as payday loans, student loans and tax debt.

What the federal agencies publish

Auto loans. The CFPB's auto loan page has a section on dealing with auto loan problems. It lists three: you owe more than your vehicle is worth, you cannot make payments on your auto loan or lease, and your car was repossessed.^[1]
Medical bills. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) says the No Surprises Act protects people from unexpected medical bills, and it has a section for consumers and consumer advocates about rights and protections to end surprise bills.^[2]

Both pages are general consumer information. This hub links to our own plain-language guides and does not repeat their detail. It is not legal advice.

Medical bills and credit reports

The No Surprises Act and surprise medical billsWhat the federal law covers and how to use it.Medical debt and your credit reportThe reporting rules that apply to medical collections.Nonprofit hospital financial assistance and Section 501(r)What a nonprofit hospital must have in writing.Whose debt is it after you die?What survivors owe.

Cars and auto loans

Can't afford your car payment?The options the CFPB lists before repossession.Car repossession and the deficiency balanceWhat can be owed after a repossession.Auto loan add-ons and GAP insuranceWhat finance-office add-ons are.Yo-yo financing and spot deliveryWhat happens when financing is not final at delivery.Buy here, pay here dealer financingHow dealer-financed lots work.Car title loans, explainedLoans secured by a vehicle title.

Payday and other high-cost loans

Payday loans, explainedThe structure and the current rules.State usury caps and the rent-a-bank problemWhy some loans carry rates a state would not otherwise allow.The Military Lending ActLimits for servicemembers and dependents.The Servicemembers Civil Relief ActDebt protections for servicemembers.

Student loans

Federal student loan defaultWhat happens and what powers apply.Private student loan defaultHow it differs from federal default.Student loan debt-relief companiesWhat a fee to a third party buys.Income-driven repayment plans comparedThe federal income-driven repayment plans side by side: who can enroll, how the payment is set, interest and forgiveness.

Tax, child support and other government debts

How the IRS collects a tax debtLiens, levies and passport revocation.IRS payment plan vs. offer in compromiseHow the IRS describes each option.How state tax debt collection differs from the IRSState powers and limits.Child support arrearsWithholding, reporting and license consequences.Unemployment overpayment collectionHow an overpayment is collected.Tax debt relief companiesWhat the ads leave out.

Cards, housing, utilities and other consumer debts

Disputing a credit card chargeThe Fair Credit Billing Act process.Foreclosure and the deficiency judgmentWhat can be owed after a foreclosure.Zombie second mortgagesDormant home-equity loans that resurface.Eviction records and tenant screeningScreening reports and your rights.Rent reporting and your credit reportHow rent reporting works.Utility and phone bills and credit reportingA separate reporting file.Timeshare exit companiesAdvance-fee patterns regulators have found.Debt collection: where to startFirst steps when a collector contacts you.Balance transfer cards: what to knowWhat the CFPB says to know about promotional rates, transfer fees, grace periods and late payments, beside two other ways to consolidate.

How to verify this yourself

Read the CFPB's auto loan page for the problems it lists and its related guides.^[1]
Read the CMS No Surprises page for consumers.^[2]
Check your state attorney general's or insurance regulator's site for state rules, which vary.

What this hub does not cover

It does not give the rules for any one kind of debt; each linked guide does. It does not say what you should do about a particular debt. It does not cover Canada; see the Canada section of the Library. Our Standard applies to credit repair and debt settlement companies, and the Register shows how we check them.

Your next step

Pick the kind of debt above and read its guide. If a collector is contacting you about any of these debts, start with the debt collection hub.

When we will update this page

We revisit it when we add a guide in these areas or when the CFPB or CMS changes the pages above. Sources last read 2 October 2026.

What you can do next

Find a company — see which specific US companies we checked and what we could verify.
How we check — the rules and sources behind each result.
More credit help guides
Report an error on this page or in a result.