Prohibitions on Debt Collector Action

“The FDCPA broadly prohibits a debt collector from using ‘any fake, misleading, or misleading representation or means in reference to the gathering of any debt.’ 15 U.S.C. § 1692e.” The statute enumerates numerous examples of such practices, 15 U.S.C. § 1692e, as well as several examples of unfair practices, 15 U.S.C. § 1692f. The FDCPA additionally affords, for instance, that debt creditors won’t harass or annoy borrowers, won’t threaten borrowers with arrest, and may not threaten legal movement until litigation actually is being pondered. 15 U.S.C. §1692d.

High Volume Debt Collection prohibits debt creditors from contacting borrowers earlier than 8:00 a.M. Or after nine:00 p.M., however it does no longer limit debt collectors from contacting debtors on vacations or weekends until they realize or have motive to understand that doing so would be “inconvenient” to the debtor. The FDCPA even offers borrowers the right to demand that the third-celebration debt collector terminate all similarly communications, but the call for need to be in writing. 15 U.S.C. § 1692c.

The FDCPA prohibits 0.33-birthday party debt collectors from contacting a debtor at once in the event that they recognize the debtor is represented with the aid of counsel. 15 U.S.C. § 1692b.

Requirements for Debt Collector Action

Additionally, in their first verbal exchange with the client, debt collectors are required “to inform borrowers approximately their potential to project the validity of a debt and to offer different basic information..” Foti v. NCO Financial Systems, Inc., 424 F.Supp.2nd 643, 653 (S.D.N.Y. 2006) (mentioning 15 U.S.C. §1692g). This consists of informing the debtor of his or her right to ask the gathering agency to “validate” the debt.

Enforcement

In addition to administrative enforcement (15 U.S.C. § 1692l), the FDCPA offers for non-public rights of motion in opposition to debt creditors, and lets in borrowers to recover actual damages, statutory damages, and lawyers’ fees and charges for violations of its terms. 15 U.S.C. § 1692k.

State Application

Preliminarily, the FDCPA typically applies handiest to third celebration debt creditors; the statutory scheme become now not meant to cover the behavior of the authentic creditor. However, some states, such as California, have enacted consumer safety statutes that provide broader coverage than the FDCPA, and they will encompass the conduct of the original creditor inside their sweep. The FDCPA lets in such nation legal guidelines. 15 U.S.C. § 1692n.