ATLANTA (AP) - One of Georgia's largest counties is turning to private debt collectors in an effort to track down money owed by residents.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (http://bit.ly/IpZgNc) that Fulton County joins several other Georgia governments in partnering with private debt collectors. DeKalb County and cities including Atlanta, Alpharetta and Roswell have already enlisted help from private debt collectors.

Fulton County has hired debt collection firms based in Illinois, Texas and Pennsylvania.

Concerns have been raised about the potential for harassment by profit-driven debt collectors and the possibility of errors on debts that can be several years old. But county officials say they won't tolerate abusive tactics.

At stake is about $7 million in unpaid code enforcement and traffic tickets, which amounts to new revenue for the county if successfully collected.