From: weverka@spot.Colorado.EDU (Robert T. Weverka)
Subject: Re: Debt Collection...
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 14:00:35 GMT


This should be in the FAQ.  
stuff which is civilly forbidden by the federal
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

 o  The use or threat of use of violence or other criminal means to
    harm the physical person, reputation or property of any person.

 o  The use of obscene or profane language or language the natural
    consequence of which is to abuse the hearer or reader.

 o  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.

 o  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.

 o  The false representation or implication that any individual is
    an attorney or that any communication is from an attorney.

 o  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, when such action is unlawful or the debt
    collector does not intend to take such action.

 o  The false representation or implication that the consumer
    committed any crime or other personal conduct, in order to
    disgrace the consumer.

 o  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.

 o  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.

 o  The false representation or implication that accounts have been
    turned over to innocent purchasers for value.

 o  The false representation or implication that documents are legal
    process.

 o  The false representation or implication that documents are *not*
    legal process forms or do not require action by the consumer.

 o  Communication with debtor at unusual or known-inconvient time or place.

 o  Communication with third parties without debtor consent.

 o  False or Misleading Representations
  including
            The threat to take any action that cannot legally be taken
            or that is not intended to be taken.

            Communication 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.

            The use or distribution of any written communication which
            simulates or is falsesly 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.

Xref: sparky misc.consumers:15887 rec.food.drink:2829 ba.food:3089