One recent report has identified an industry that's not only recession-proof, it's downright thriving in the current climate.

According to CNNMoney.com, there are currently about 5,500 debt collection agencies in the U.S. who made over a billion calls to consumers in 2007. The website notes that consumer debt increased by $6.9 billion in September to hit a nationwide total of $2.59 trillion.

"The fact that debt doesn't go away as fast as it used to is contributing to the increase in debt collectors," collection agency owner Mark Neeb told CNNMoney.com.

The recession is driving many more consumers into debt than in recent years, but Need also told the website that collectors themselves are using more effective technologies, allowing them to catch up with debtors they may not have been able to locate in the past.

The report also noted that creditors themselves may feel more pressure to try to collect on old debts now that they are also being hit hard by the economy and the ongoing credit crunch. Even more consumers are expected to deal with collections agencies as the recession continues to unfold.

Still, options like payday loans can be of use to consumers struggling to meet short-term cash needs or to pay off an old debt.

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