Fair Debt Collection Practices Act - FDCPA
As amended by Public Law 104-208, 110 Stat. 3009
(Sept. 30, 1996)
To amend the Consumer Credit Protection Act to prohibit abusive practices
by debt collectors.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, That the Consumer Credit
Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
thereof the following new title:
TITLE VIII - DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES [Fair Debt Collection
Practices Act]
Sec.
801. Short Title
802. Congressional findings and declaration of
purpose
803. Definitions
804. Acquisition of location information
805. Communication in connection with debt collection
806. Harassment or abuse
807. False or misleading representations
808. Unfair practice
809. Validation of debts
810. Multiple debts
811. Legal actions by debt collectors
812. Furnishing certain deceptive forms
813. Civil liability
814. Administrative enforcement
815. Reports to Congress by the Commission
816. Relation to State laws
817. Exemption for State regulation
818. Effective date
§ 801. Short Title
[15 USC 1601 note]
This title may be cited as the "Fair Debt Collection Practices Act."
§ 802. Congressional findings
and declarations of purpose [15 USC 1692]
(a) There is abundant evidence of the use of abusive, deceptive, and
unfair debt collection practices by many debt collectors. Abusive debt
collection practices contribute to the number of personal bankruptcies,
to marital instability, to the loss of jobs, and to invasions of individual
privacy.
(b) Existing laws and procedures for redressing these injuries are inadequate
to protect consumers.
(c) Means other than misrepresentation or other abusive debt collection
practices are available for the effective collection of debts.
(d) Abusive debt collection practices are carried on to a substantial
extent in interstate commerce and through means and instrumentalities
of such commerce. Even where abusive debt collection practices are purely
intrastate in character, they nevertheless directly affect interstate
commerce.
(e) It is the purpose of this title to eliminate abusive debt collection
practices by debt collectors, to insure that those debt collectors who
refrain from using abusive debt collection practices are not competitively
disadvantaged, and to promote consistent State action to protect consumers
against debt collection abuses.
§ 803. Definitions [15
USC 1692a]
As used in this title --
(1) The term "Commission" means the Federal Trade Commission.
(2) The term "communication" means the conveying of information
regarding a debt directly or indirectly to any person through any medium.
(3) The term "consumer" means any natural person obligated
or allegedly obligated to pay any debt.
(4) The term "creditor" means any person who offers or extends
credit creating a debt or to whom a debt is owed, but such term does
not include any person to the extent that he receives an assignment
or transfer of a debt in default solely for the purpose of facilitating
collection of such debt for another.
(5) The term "debt" means any obligation or alleged obligation
of a consumer to pay money arising out of a transaction in which the
money, property, insurance or services which are the subject of the
transaction are primarily for personal, family, or household purposes,
whether or not such obligation has been reduced to judgment.
(6) The term "debt collector" means any person who uses any
instrumentality of interstate commerce or the mails in any business
the principal purpose of which is the collection of any debts, or who
regularly collects or attempts to collect, directly or indirectly, debts
owed or due or asserted to be owed or due another. Notwithstanding the
exclusion provided by clause (F) of the last sentence of this paragraph,
the term includes any creditor who, in the process of collecting his
own debts, uses any name other than his own which would indicate that
a third person is collecting or attempting to collect such debts. For
the purpose of section 808(6), such term also includes any person who
uses any instrumentality of interstate commerce or the mails in any
business the principal purpose of which is the enforcement of security
interests. The term does not include --
(A) any officer or employee of a creditor while, in the name of the
creditor, collecting debts for such creditor;
(B) any person while acting as a debt collector for another person,
both of whom are related by common ownership or affiliated by corporate
control, if the person acting as a debt collector does so only for
persons to whom it is so related or affiliated and if the principal
business of such person is not the collection of debts;
(C) any officer or employee of the United States or any State to
the extent that collecting or attempting to collect any debt is in
the performance of his official duties;
(D) any person while serving or attempting to serve legal process
on any other person in connection with the judicial enforcement of
any debt;
(E) any nonprofit organization which, at the request of consumers,
performs bona fide consumer credit counseling and assists consumers
in the liquidation of their debts by receiving payments from such
consumers and distributing such amounts to creditors; and
(F) any person collecting or attempting to collect any debt owed
or due or asserted to be owed or due another to the extent such activity
(i) is incidental to a bona fide fiduciary obligation or a bona fide
escrow arrangement; (ii) concerns a debt which was originated by such
person; (iii) concerns a debt which was not in default at the time
it was obtained by such person; or (iv) concerns a debt obtained by
such person as a secured party in a commercial credit transaction
involving the creditor.
(7) The term "location information" means a consumer's place
of abode and his telephone number at such place, or his place of employment.
(8) The term "State" means any State, territory, or possession
of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, or any political subdivision of any of the foregoing.
§ 804. Acquisition of
location information [15 USC 1692b]
Any debt collector communicating with any person other than the consumer
for the purpose of acquiring location information about the consumer shall
--
(1) identify himself, state that he is confirming or correcting location
information concerning the consumer, and, only if expressly requested,
identify his employer;
(2) not state that such consumer owes any debt;
(3) not communicate with any such person more than once unless requested
to do so by such person or unless the debt collector reasonably believes
that the earlier response of such person is erroneous or incomplete
and that such person now has correct or complete location information;
(4) not communicate by post card;
(5) not use any language or symbol on any envelope or in the contents
of any communication effected by the mails or telegram that indicates
that the debt collector is in the debt collection business or that the
communication relates to the collection of a debt; and
(6) after the debt collector knows the consumer is represented by an
attorney with regard to the subject debt and has knowledge of, or can
readily ascertain, such attorney's name and address, not communicate
with any person other than that attorney, unless the attorney fails
to respond within a reasonable period of time to the communication from
the debt collector.
§ 805. Communication in
connection with debt collection [15 USC 1692c]
(a) COMMUNICATION WITH THE CONSUMER GENERALLY. Without the prior
consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector or the express
permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, a debt collector may
not communicate with a consumer in connection with the collection of any
debt --
(1) at any unusual time or place or a time or place known or which
should be known to be inconvenient to the consumer. In the absence of
knowledge of circumstances to the contrary, a debt collector shall assume
that the convenient time for communicating with a consumer is after
8 o'clock antimeridian and before 9 o'clock postmeridian, local time
at the consumer's location;
(2) if the debt collector knows the consumer is represented by an attorney
with respect to such debt and has knowledge of, or can readily ascertain,
such attorney's name and address, unless the attorney fails to respond
within a reasonable period of time to a communication from the debt
collector or unless the attorney consents to direct communication with
the consumer; or
(3) at the consumer's place of employment if the debt collector knows
or has reason to know that the consumer's employer prohibits the consumer
from receiving such communication.
(b) COMMUNICATION WITH THIRD PARTIES. Except as provided in section
804, without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt
collector, or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction,
or as reasonably necessary to effectuate a postjudgment judicial remedy,
a debt collector may not communicate, in connection with the collection
of any debt, with any person other than a consumer, his attorney, a consumer
reporting agency if otherwise permitted by law, the creditor, the attorney
of the creditor, or the attorney of the debt collector.
(c) CEASING COMMUNICATION. If a consumer notifies a debt collector
in writing that the consumer refuses to pay a debt or that the consumer
wishes the debt collector to cease further communication with the consumer,
the debt collector shall not communicate further with the consumer with
respect to such debt, except --
(1) to advise the consumer that the debt collector's further efforts
are being terminated;
(2) to notify the consumer that the debt collector or creditor may
invoke specified remedies which are ordinarily invoked by such debt
collector or creditor; or
(3) where applicable, to notify the consumer that the debt collector
or creditor intends to invoke a specified remedy.
If such notice from the consumer is made by mail, notification shall
be complete upon receipt.
(d) For the purpose of this section, the term "consumer" includes
the consumer's spouse, parent (if the consumer is a minor), guardian,
executor, or administrator.
§ 806. Harassment or abuse
[15 USC 1692d]
A debt collector may not engage in any conduct the natural consequence
of which is to harass, oppress, or abuse any person in connection with
the collection of a debt. Without limiting the general application of
the foregoing, the following conduct is a violation of this section:
(1) The use or threat of use of violence or other criminal means to
harm the physical person, reputation, or property of any person.
(2) The use of obscene or profane language or language the natural
consequence of which is to abuse the hearer or reader.
(3) The publication of a list of consumers who allegedly refuse to
pay debts, except to a consumer reporting agency or to persons meeting
the requirements of section 603(f) or 604(3)1
of this Act.
(4) The advertisement for sale of any debt to coerce payment of the
debt.
(5) Causing a telephone to ring or engaging any person in telephone
conversation repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse,
or harass any person at the called number.
(6) Except as provided in section 804, the placement of telephone calls
without meaningful disclosure of the caller's identity.
§ 807. False or misleading
representations [15 USC 1962e]
A debt collector may not use any false, deceptive, or misleading representation
or means in connection with the collection of any debt. Without limiting
the general application of the foregoing, the following conduct is a violation
of this section:
(1) The false representation or implication that the debt collector
is vouched for, bonded by, or affiliated with the United States or any
State, including the use of any badge, uniform, or facsimile thereof.
(2) The false representation of --
(A) the character, amount, or legal status of any debt; or
(B) any services rendered or compensation which may be lawfully received
by any debt collector for the collection of a debt.
(3) The false representation or implication that any individual is
an attorney or that any communication is from an attorney.
(4) The representation or implication that nonpayment of any debt will
result in the arrest or imprisonment of any person or the seizure, garnishment,
attachment, or sale of any property or wages of any person unless such
action is lawful and the debt collector or creditor intends to take
such action.
(5) The threat to take any action that cannot legally be taken or that
is not intended to be taken.
(6) The false representation or implication that a sale, referral,
or other transfer of any interest in a debt shall cause the consumer
to --
(A) lose any claim or defense to payment of the debt; or
(B) become subject to any practice prohibited by this title.
(7) The false representation or implication that the consumer committed
any crime or other conduct in order to disgrace the consumer.
(8) Communicating or threatening to communicate to any person credit
information which is known or which should be known to be false, including
the failure to communicate that a disputed debt is disputed.
(9) The use or distribution of any written communication which simulates
or is falsely represented to be a document authorized, issued, or approved
by any court, official, or agency of the United States or any State,
or which creates a false impression as to its source, authorization,
or approval.
(10) The use of any false representation or deceptive means to collect
or attempt to collect any debt or to obtain information concerning a
consumer.
(11) The failure to disclose in the initial written communication with
the consumer and, in addition, if the initial communication with the
consumer is oral, in that initial oral communication, that the debt
collector is attempting to collect a debt and that any information obtained
will be used for that purpose, and the failure to disclose in subsequent
communications that the communication is from a debt collector, except
that this paragraph shall not apply to a formal pleading made in connection
with a legal action.
(12) The false representation or implication that accounts have been
turned over to innocent purchasers for value.
(13) The false representation or implication that documents are legal
process.
(14) The use of any business, company, or organization name other than
the true name of the debt collector's business, company, or organization.
(15) The false representation or implication that documents are not
legal process forms or do not require action by the consumer.
(16) The false representation or implication that a debt collector
operates or is employed by a consumer reporting agency as defined by
section 603(f) of this Act.
§ 808. Unfair practices
[15 USC 1692f]
A debt collector may not use unfair or unconscionable means to collect
or attempt to collect any debt. Without limiting the general application
of the foregoing, the following conduct is a violation of this section:
(1) The collection of any amount (including any interest, fee, charge,
or expense incidental to the principal obligation) unless such amount
is expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or permitted
by law.
(2) The acceptance by a debt collector from any person of a check or
other payment instrument postdated by more than five days unless such
person is notified in writing of the debt collector's intent to deposit
such check or instrument not more than ten nor less than three business
days prior to such deposit.
(3) The solicitation by a debt collector of any postdated check or
other postdated payment instrument for the purpose of threatening or
instituting criminal prosecution.
(4) Depositing or threatening to deposit any postdated check or other
postdated payment instrument prior to the date on such check or instrument.
(5) Causing charges to be made to any person for communications by
concealment of the true propose of the communication. Such charges include,
but are not limited to, collect telephone calls and telegram fees.
(6) Taking or threatening to take any nonjudicial action to effect
dispossession or disablement of property if --
(A) there is no present right to possession of the property claimed
as collateral through an enforceable security interest;
(B) there is no present intention to take possession of the property;
or
(C) the property is exempt by law from such dispossession or disablement.
(7) Communicating with a consumer regarding a debt by post card.
(8) Using any language or symbol, other than the debt collector's address,
on any envelope when communicating with a consumer by use of the mails
or by telegram, except that a debt collector may use his business name
if such name does not indicate that he is in the debt collection business.
§ 809. Validation of debts
[15 USC 1692g]
(a) Within five days after the initial communication with a consumer
in connection with the collection of any debt, a debt collector shall,
unless the following information is contained in the initial communication
or the consumer has paid the debt, send the consumer a written notice
containing --
(1) the amount of the debt;
(2) the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed;
(3) a statement that unless the consumer, within thirty days after
receipt of the notice, disputes the validity of the debt, or any portion
thereof, the debt will be assumed to be valid by the debt collector;
(4) a statement that if the consumer notifies the debt collector in
writing within the thirty-day period that the debt, or any portion thereof,
is disputed, the debt collector will obtain verification of the debt
or a copy of a judgment against the consumer and a copy of such verification
or judgment will be mailed to the consumer by the debt collector; and
(5) a statement that, upon the consumer's written request within the
thirty-day period, the debt collector will provide the consumer with
the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the
current creditor.
(b) If the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the
thirty-day period described in subsection (a) that the debt, or any portion
thereof, is disputed, or that the consumer requests the name and address
of the original creditor, the debt collector shall cease collection of
the debt, or any disputed portion thereof, until the debt collector obtains
verification of the debt or any copy of a judgment, or the name and address
of the original creditor, and a copy of such verification or judgment,
or name and address of the original creditor, is mailed to the consumer
by the debt collector.
(c) The failure of a consumer to dispute the validity of a debt under
this section may not be construed by any court as an admission of liability
by the consumer.
§ 810. Multiple debts
[15 USC 1692h]
If any consumer owes multiple debts and makes any single payment to any
debt collector with respect to such debts, such debt collector may not
apply such payment to any debt which is disputed by the consumer and,
where applicable, shall apply such payment in accordance with the consumer's
directions.
§ 811. Legal actions by
debt collectors [15 USC 1692i]
(a) Any debt collector who brings any legal action on a debt against
any consumer shall --
(1) in the case of an action to enforce an interest in real property
securing the consumer's obligation, bring such action only in a judicial
district or similar legal entity in which such real property is located;
or
(2) in the case of an action not described in paragraph (1), bring
such action only in the judicial district or similar legal entity --
(A) in which such consumer signed the contract sued upon; or
(B) in which such consumer resides at the commencement of the action.
(b) Nothing in this title shall be construed to authorize the bringing
of legal actions by debt collectors.
§ 812. Furnishing certain
deceptive forms [15 USC 1692j]
(a) It is unlawful to design, compile, and furnish any form knowing that
such form would be used to create the false belief in a consumer that
a person other than the creditor of such consumer is participating in
the collection of or in an attempt to collect a debt such consumer allegedly
owes such creditor, when in fact such person is not so participating.
(b) Any person who violates this section shall be liable to the same
extent and in the same manner as a debt collector is liable under section
813 for failure to comply with a provision of this title.
§ 813. Civil liability
[15 USC 1692k]
(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, any debt collector
who fails to comply with any provision of this title with respect to any
person is liable to such person in an amount equal to the sum of --
(1) any actual damage sustained by such person as a result of such
failure;
(2) (A) in the case of any action by an individual, such additional
damages as the court may allow, but not exceeding $1,000; or
(B) in the case of a class action, (i) such amount for each named
plaintiff as could be recovered under subparagraph (A), and (ii) such
amount as the court may allow for all other class members, without
regard to a minimum individual recovery, not to exceed the lesser
of $500,000 or 1 per centum of the net worth of the debt collector;
and
(3) in the case of any successful action to enforce the foregoing liability,
the costs of the action, together with a reasonable attorney's fee as
determined by the court. On a finding by the court that an action under
this section was brought in bad faith and for the purpose of harassment,
the court may award to the defendant attorney's fees reasonable in relation
to the work expended and costs.
(b) In determining the amount of liability in any action under subsection
(a), the court shall consider, among other relevant factors --
(1) in any individual action under subsection (a)(2)(A), the frequency
and persistence of noncompliance by the debt collector, the nature of
such noncompliance, and the extent to which such noncompliance was intentional;
or
(2) in any class action under subsection (a)(2)(B), the frequency and
persistence of noncompliance by the debt collector, the nature of such
noncompliance, the resources of the debt collector, the number of persons
adversely affected, and the extent to which the debt collector's noncompliance
was intentional.
(c) A debt collector may not be held liable in any action brought under
this title if the debt collector shows by a preponderance of evidence
that the violation was not intentional and resulted from a bona fide error
notwithstanding the maintenance of procedures reasonably adapted to avoid
any such error.
(d) An action to enforce any liability created by this title may be brought
in any appropriate United States district court without regard to the
amount in controversy, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction,
within one year from the date on which the violation occurs.
(e) No provision of this section imposing any liability shall apply to
any act done or omitted in good faith in conformity with any advisory
opinion of the Commission, notwithstanding that after such act or omission
has occurred, such opinion is amended, rescinded, or determined by judicial
or other authority to be invalid for any reason.
§ 814. Administrative
enforcement [15 USC 1692l]
(a) Compliance with this title shall be enforced by the Commission, except
to the extend that enforcement of the requirements imposed under this
title is specifically committed to another agency under subsection (b).
For purpose of the exercise by the Commission of its functions and powers
under the Federal Trade Commission Act, a violation of this title shall
be deemed an unfair or deceptive act or practice in violation of that
Act. All of the functions and powers of the Commission under the Federal
Trade Commission Act are available to the Commission to enforce compliance
by any person with this title, irrespective of whether that person is
engaged in commerce or meets any other jurisdictional tests in the Federal
Trade Commission Act, including the power to enforce the provisions of
this title in the same manner as if the violation had been a violation
of a Federal Trade Commission trade regulation rule.
(b) Compliance with any requirements imposed under this title shall be
enforced under --
(1) section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, in the case of
--
(A) national banks, by the Comptroller of the Currency;
(B) member banks of the Federal Reserve System (other than national
banks), by the Federal Reserve Board; and
(C) banks the deposits or accounts of which are insured by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation (other than members of the Federal Reserve
System), by the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation;
(2) section 5(d) of the Home Owners Loan Act of 1933, section 407 of
the National Housing Act, and sections 6(i) and 17 of the Federal Home
Loan Bank Act, by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board (acting directing
or through the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation), in the
case of any institution subject to any of those provisions;
(3) the Federal Credit Union Act, by the Administrator of the National
Credit Union Administration with respect to any Federal credit union;
(4) subtitle IV of Title 49, by the Interstate Commerce Commission
with respect to any common carrier subject to such subtitle;
(5) the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, by the Secretary of Transportation
with respect to any air carrier or any foreign air carrier subject to
that Act; and
(6) the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (except as provided in section
406 of that Act), by the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to any
activities subject to that Act.
(c) For the purpose of the exercise by any agency referred to in subsection
(b) of its powers under any Act referred to in that subsection, a violation
of any requirement imposed under this title shall be deemed to be a violation
of a requirement imposed under that Act. In addition to its powers under
any provision of law specifically referred to in subsection (b), each
of the agencies referred to in that subsection may exercise, for the purpose
of enforcing compliance with any requirement imposed under this title
any other authority conferred on it by law, except as provided in subsection
(d).
(d) Neither the Commission nor any other agency referred to in subsection
(b) may promulgate trade regulation rules or other regulations with respect
to the collection of debts by debt collectors as defined in this title.
§ 815. Reports to Congress
by the Commission [15 USC 1692m]
(a) Not later than one year after the effective date of this title and
at one-year intervals thereafter, the Commission shall make reports to
the Congress concerning the administration of its functions under this
title, including such recommendations as the Commission deems necessary
or appropriate. In addition, each report of the Commission shall include
its assessment of the extent to which compliance with this title is being
achieved and a summary of the enforcement actions taken by the Commission
under section 814 of this title.
(b) In the exercise of its functions under this title, the Commission
may obtain upon request the views of any other Federal agency which exercises
enforcement functions under section 814 of this title.
§ 816. Relation to State
laws [15 USC 1692n]
This title does not annul, alter, or affect, or exempt any person subject
to the provisions of this title from complying with the laws of any State
with respect to debt collection practices, except to the extent that those
laws are inconsistent with any provision of this title, and then only
to the extent of the inconsistency. For purposes of this section, a State
law is not inconsistent with this title if the protection such law affords
any consumer is greater than the protection provided by this title.
§ 817. Exemption for State
regulation [15 USC 1692o]
The Commission shall by regulation exempt from the requirements of this
title any class of debt collection practices within any State if the Commission
determines that under the law of that State that class of debt collection
practices is subject to requirements substantially similar to those imposed
by this title, and that there is adequate provision for enforcement.
§ 818. Effective date
[15 USC 1692 note]
This title takes effect upon the expiration of six months after the date
of its enactment, but section 809 shall apply only with respect to debts
for which the initial attempt to collect occurs after such effective date.
Approved September 20, 1977
ENDNOTES
1. So in original; however, should read "604(a)(3)."
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Public Law 95-109 [H.R. 5294]
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-131 (Comm. on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs).
SENATE REPORT No. 95-382 (Comm. on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 123 (1977):
Apr. 4, considered and passed House.
Aug. 5, considered and passed Senate, amended.
Sept. 8, House agreed to Senate amendment.
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 13, No. 39:
Sept. 20, Presidential statement.
AMENDMENTS:
SECTION 621, SUBSECTIONS (b)(3), (b)(4) and (b)(5) were amended to transfer
certain administrative enforcement responsibilities, pursuant to Pub.
L. 95-473, § 3(b), Oct. 17, 1978. 92 Stat. 166; Pub. L.
95-630, Title V. § 501, November 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3680;
Pub. L. 98-443, § 9(h), Oct. 4, 1984, 98 Stat. 708.
SECTION 803, SUBSECTION (6), defining "debt collector," was
amended to repeal the attorney at law exemption at former Section (6)(F)
and to redesignate Section 803(6)(G) pursuant to Pub. L. 99-361, July
9, 1986, 100 Stat. 768. For legislative history, see H.R. 237,
HOUSE REPORT No. 99-405 (Comm. on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: Vol. 131 (1985): Dec. 2, considered and passed House.
Vol. 132 (1986): June 26, considered and passed Senate.
SECTION 807, SUBSECTION (11), was amended to affect when debt collectors
must state (a) that they are attempting to collect a debt and (b) that
information obtained will be used for that purpose, pursuant to Pub. L.
104-208 § 2305, 110 Stat. 3009 (Sept. 30, 1996).
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