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.

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CFPB Seeks More Information To Support Rulemaking

5 August 2015

Corporations "People" Under FDCPA, Rules Sixth Circuit

3 August 2015

QR Codes Mean FDCPA Trouble Says PA Federal Court

29 July 2015

Good News In Debt Collection "Benign Language" Envelope Case

28 July 2015

Another Debt Collection Envelope Decision Goes Against An ARM Firm

27 July 2015

Another Reason For Collectors To Be Cautious When Calling Consumer Cell Phones

24 July 2015

Eleventh Circuit’s Mistaken Interpretation Likely to Expose Attorneys to Increased FDCPA Liability

23 July 2015

2nd CFPB Enforcement Action This Week Involving Debt Collection, Now Against Discover Bank

22 July 2015

Lawsuits Against the Industry Up Across the Board

17 July 2015

CFPB's First Monthly Complaints Report Could Use More Context

16 July 2015

Decoding the Order in CFPB v. Hanna

15 July 2015

Federal Court Paves Way For CFPB To Pursue Enforcement Action Against Hanna

15 July 2015

Judge Issues Order Denying Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss in CFPB v. Hanna Debt Collection Litigation

14 July 2015

Regional Compliance Meetings Offer Guidance, Problem-Solving, and Strategizing

14 July 2015

Court Order Shuts Down Med-Rev Recoveries For Failing To Abide By Terms Of Prior Agreement

9 July 2015

FTC Bans Fraudulent Debt Collectors Who Targeted Spanish-Speaking Consumers

8 July 2015

Common Sense Prevails 3rd Circuit FDCPA Case

7 July 2015

The CFPB's Latest Supervision Report Highlights Compliance Deficits in the Collection Industry

24 June 2015

CFPB Takes Action Against Medical Debt Collector, Largely For Lack of Policies and Procedures

19 June 2015

Now in the CFPB's Sights: Collectors Hired by State & Local Government Agencies

15 June 2015