How long before a Debt can be turned over to a Collections Agency?

[TimB]

What period of time needs to have elapsed before a debt can be turned over to a collections agency? And does that period of time begin from the origination of the debt or from the invoicing of the customer?

I live in the state of California

 

[JETX]

"What period of time needs to have elapsed before a debt can be turned over to a collections agency?"
*** There is no statutory 'waiting period' before a creditor can turn a debt over. Theoretically, a creditor can turn your debt over to a collection agency the minute that a payment is overdue. However, due to the costs involved (loss of percentage, etc.), most don't 'turn over' a debt and try to collect using in-house methods first.