The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) was enacted in 1977 to protect consumers from abusive, unfair, and deceptive practices by third-party debt collectors. The law details when and how a collector may contact a debtor. The government enforcer of the law has historically been the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), but some regulatory duties may be shared with the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection housed within the Federal Reserve, created in 2010. The FDCPA is a strict civil liability law, which means that a consumer need not prove actual damages in order to claim statutory damages of up to $1,000 per violation plus reasonable attorney fees.
Filter by Location
Collection Agency Complaints Report: FTC Debt Collection Complaints Compendium - Q1 2012
20 June 2012
Better For Whom? Debt Collection & the Better Business Bureau
19 June 2012
The Complaints Issue: Revisiting Consumer Debt Collection Complaints
18 June 2012
Complaints About Debt Collectors Going After Wrong Debt Top List in January
18 June 2012
FDCPA Lawsuits Increase in Last Half of May; Still Down 6% for Year
18 June 2012
Courts Reject FDCPA Claims that Lack Common Sense
14 June 2012
Appeals Court Rules for Collection Law Firm in FDCPA Collection Letter Case
13 June 2012
FDCPA Violation Claims Supported Only by Material Disputes
12 June 2012
State Opinion Deems Sending Collection Letters as the Practice of Law
6 June 2012
FDCPA Lawsuits Fall Significantly in First Half of May; Filings Off Nearly 5% for Year
31 May 2012
Death to Foti? Supreme Court to Hear FDCPA Case on Awarding Costs to Defendants
30 May 2012
Debt Buyers, Collection Agencies: Be Clearer with Your Collection Letters
24 May 2012
Fair Debt Collection Reform Bill Re-Introduced by Barney Frank
21 May 2012
Mike Ginsberg: First Quarter ARM Legal, Legislative and Regulatory Climate Summed Up
21 May 2012
FDCPA Lawsuits Pick Up in Second Half of April, Still Lag 2011 Numbers
16 May 2012
Are Debt Collector Phone Messages Illegal?
16 May 2012
Debt Collectors Settle with FTC for $3.1 million
15 May 2012
Results of ARM Industry Survey Reveal Which Messaging Strategy is Preferred by Collectors
15 May 2012
Judge Rules for Collection Agency in Voicemail Case; Foti Compliance Evolving
14 May 2012
Do Your New Employees Understand What a Creditor Is?
9 May 2012