Source: https://creditservices.com/fdcpa/
Timestamp: 2020-07-06 21:16:48
Document Index: 77224108

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1681', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1681', '§ 1', '§ 6801', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 5511', '§ 1692', '§ 41', '§ 1692', '§ 5511', '§ 1692', '§ 1818', '§ 1751', '§ 10101', '§ 40101', '§ 40101', '§ 181', '§ 226', '§ 181', '§ 5561', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 5519', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 1692', '§ 5002']

FDCPA – CreditServices.com™
Source | https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/rules/rulemaking-regulatory-reform-proceedings/fair-debt-collection-practices-act-text
1692. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF PURPOSE
(a) Abusive practices. 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) Inadequacy of laws. Existing laws and procedures for redressing these injuries are inadequate to protect consumers.
(c) Available non-abusive collection methods. Means other than misrepresentation or other abusive debt collection practices are available for the effective collection of debts.
(d) Interstate commerce. 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) Purposes. It is the purpose of this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.] 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.
1692A. DEFINITIONS
As used in this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.]–
(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) [15 USCS § 1692f(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–
1692B. ACQUISITION OF LOCATION INFORMATION
(b) Communication with third parties. Except as provided in section 804 [15 USCS § 1692b], 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 the 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–
(d) “Consumer” defined. 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.
(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) [604(a)(3)] of this Act [15 USCS § 1681a(f) or 1681b(a)(3)].
(6) Except as provided in section 804 [15 USCS § 1692b], the placement of telephone calls without meaningful disclosure of the caller’s identity.
(B) become subject to any practice prohibited by this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.].
(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 [15 USCS § 1681a(f)].
(a) Notice of debt; contents. 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–
(b) Disputed debts. 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 a 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. Collection activities and communications that do not otherwise violate this title may continue during the 30-day period referred to in subsection (a) unless the consumer has notified the debt collector in writing that the debt, or any portion of the debt, is disputed or that the consumer requests the name and address of the original creditor. Any collection activities and communication during the 30-day period may not overshadow or be inconsistent with the disclosure of the consumer’s right to dispute the debt or request the name and address of the original creditor.
(c) Admission of liability. 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.
(d) Legal pleadings. A communication in the form of a formal pleading in a civil action shall not be treated as an initial communication for purposes of subsection (a).
(e) Notice provisions. The sending or delivery of any form or notice which does not relate to the collection of a debt and is expressly required by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [26 USCS §§ 1 et seq.], title V of Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act [15 USCS §§ 6801 et seq.], or any provision of Federal or State law relating to notice of data security breach or privacy, or any regulation prescribed under any such provision of law, shall not be treated as an initial communication in connection with debt collection for purposes of this section.
1692H. MULTIPLE DEBTS
1692I. LEGAL ACTIONS BY DEBT COLLECTORS
(a) Venue. Any debt collector who brings any legal action on a debt against any consumer shall–
(b) Authorization of actions. Nothing in this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.] shall be construed to authorize the bringing of legal actions by debt collectors.
1692J. FURNISHING CERTAIN DECEPTIVE FORMS
(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 [15 USCS § 1692k] for failure to comply with a provision of this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.].
1692K. CIVIL LIABILITY
(a) Amount of damages. Except as otherwise provided by this section, any debt collector who fails to comply with any provision of this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.] with respect to any person is liable to such person in an amount equal to the sum of–
(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
(b) Factors considered by court. In determining the amount of liability in any action under subsection (a), the court shall consider, among other relevant factors–
(c) Intent. A debt collector may not be held liable in any action brought under this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.] 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) Jurisdiction. An action to enforce any liability created by this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.] 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) Advisory opinions of Bureau. 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 Bureau, 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.
1692L. ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT
(a) Federal Trade Commission. The Federal Trade Commission shall be authorized to enforce compliance with this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.], except to the extent that enforcement of the requirements imposed under this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.] is specifically committed to another Government agency under any of paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (b), subject to subtitle B of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 [12 USCS § 5511 et seq.]. For purpose of the exercise by the Federal Trade Commission of its functions and powers under the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.), a violation of this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.] shall be deemed an unfair or deceptive act or practice in violation of that Act. All of the functions and powers of the Federal Trade Commission under the Federal Trade Commission Act [15 USCS §§ 41 et seq.] are available to the Federal Trade 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 under the Federal Trade Commission Act, including the power to enforce the provisions of this
title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.], in the same manner as if the violation had been a violation of a Federal Trade Commission trade regulation rule.
(b) Applicable provisions of law. Subject to subtitle B of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 [12 USCS §§ 5511 et seq.], compliance with any requirements imposed under this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.] shall be enforced under–
(1) section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act [12 USCS § 1818], by the appropriate Federal banking agency, as defined in section 3(q) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813(q)), with respect to–
(B) member banks of the Federal Reserve System (other than national banks), branches and agencies of foreign banks (other than Federal branches, Federal agencies, and insured State branches of foreign banks), commercial lending companies owned or controlled by foreign banks, and organizations operating under section 25 or 25A of the Federal Reserve Act ; and
(2) the Federal Credit Union Act [12 USCS §§ 1751 et seq.], by the Administrator of the National Credit Union Administration [National Credit Union Administration Board] with respect to any Federal credit union;
(3) the Acts to regulate commerce [49 USCS §§ 10101 et seq.], by the Secretary of Transportation, with respect to all carriers subject to the jurisdiction of the Surface Transportation Board;
(4) the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 [49 USCS §§ 40101 et seq.], by the Secretary of Transportation with respect to any air carrier or any foreign air carrier subject to that Act [49 USCS §§ 40101 et seq.];
(5) the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 [7 USCS §§ 181 et seq.] (except as provided in section 406 of that Act [7 USCS §§ 226 and 227]), by the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to any activities subject to that Act [7 USCS §§ 181 et seq.]; and
(6) subtitle E of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 [12 USCS §§ 5561 et seq.], by the Bureau, with respect to any person subject to this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.].
The terms used in paragraph (1) that are not defined in this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.] or otherwise defined in section 3(s) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813(s)) shall have the meaning given to them in section 1(b) of the International Banking Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 3101).
(c) Agency powers. 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 [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.] 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 [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.] any other authority conferred on it by law, except as provided in subsection (d).
(d) Rules and regulations. Except as provided in section 1029(a) of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 [12 USCS § 5519(a)], the Bureau may prescribe rules with respect to the collection of debts by debt collectors, as defined in this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.].
1692M. REPORTS TO CONGRESS BY THE COMMISSION; VIEWS OF OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES
(a) Not later than one year after the effective date of this title and at one-year intervals thereafter, the Bureau shall make reports to the Congress concerning the administration of its functions under this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.], including such recommendations as the Bureau deems necessary or appropriate. In addition, each report of the Bureau shall include its assessment of the extent to which compliance with this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.] is being achieved and a summary of the enforcement actions taken by the Bureau under section 814 of this title [15 USCS § 1692l]
(b) In the exercise of its functions under this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.], the Bureau may obtain upon request the views of any other Federal agency which exercises enforcement functions under section 814 of this title [15 USCS § 1692l].
1692N. RELATION TO STATE LAWS
This title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.] does not annul, alter, or affect, or exempt any person subject to the provisions of this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.] 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 [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.], and then only to the extent of the inconsistency. For purposes of this section, a State law is not inconsistent with this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.] if the protection such law affords any consumer is greater than the protection provided by this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.].
1692O. EXEMPTION FOR STATE REGULATION
The Bureau shall by regulation exempt from the requirements of this title [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.] any class of debt collection practices within any State if the Bureau 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 [15 USCS §§ 1692 et seq.], and that there is adequate provision for enforcement.
1692P. EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN BAD CHECK ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS OPERATED BY PRIVATE ENTITIES
(1) Treatment of certain private entities. Subject to paragraph (2), a private entity shall be excluded from the definition of a debt collector, pursuant to the exception provided in section 803(6) [15 USCS § 1692a(6)], with respect to the operation by the entity of a program described in paragraph (2)(A) under a contract described in paragraph (2)(B).
(2) Conditions of applicability. Paragraph (1) shall apply if–
(b) Certain checks excluded. A check is described in this subsection if the check involves, or is subsequently found to involve–
(1) State or district attorney. The term “State or district attorney” means the chief elected or appointed prosecuting attorney in a district, county (as defined in section 2 of title 1, United States Code), municipality, or comparable jurisdiction, including State attorneys general who act as chief elected or appointed prosecuting attorneys in a district, county (as so defined), municipality or comparable jurisdiction, who may be referred to by a variety of titles such as district attorneys, prosecuting attorneys, commonwealth’s attorneys, solicitors, county attorneys, and state’s attorneys, and who are responsible for the prosecution of State crimes and violations of jurisdiction-specific local ordinances.
(2) Check. The term “check” has the same meaning as in section 3(6) of the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act [12 USCS § 5002(6)].
(3) Bad check violation. The term “bad check violation” means a violation of the applicable State criminal law relating to the writing of dishonored checks.