In 2025, creditors will hand over record volumes of overdue debt to debt collectors.

      According to the National Association of Professional Collection Agencies (NAPKA), creditors forwarded 46.9 million debt cases to collectors — an increase of almost 66% year-on-year. The record volume is due to a deterioration in the quality of retail loan portfolios and more difficult refinancing amid high interest rates, Kommersant reports.

      Experts note that the market is undergoing structural changes. Microfinance organizations have stepped up cooperation with professional collection companies: their share of agency collections rose to 35% from 31% a year earlier. In addition, creditors are accelerating the transfer of debts: whereas this used to happen around the 75th day of delinquency, it now occurs after 60 days, and about 23% of creditors transfer cases after 35 days.

      Industry representatives say earlier transfers ensure better contact with the debtor and allow for a higher average collection amount. The effectiveness of working with "fresh" debts can be 50–60% higher.

      According to NAPKA's forecasts, by the end of 2025 the volume of collections under the agency model may reach 1.3 trillion rubles — the industry will reach a new historical high and the number of transferred cases will approach 40 million.

      Experts expect the market may show particularly high figures in the fourth quarter — lenders traditionally try to close their books at year-end. In 2026 growth will likely continue, although its pace may slow.