Source: http://www.scribd.com/doc/152913139/CFPB-Consumer-Financial-Protection-Bureau-Bulletin-2013-07-7-10-2013-Prohibition-of-Unfair-Deceptive-or-Abusive-Collection-of-Consumer-Debts
Timestamp: 2014-12-22 09:54:37
Document Index: 574835952

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1002', '§ 5481', '§ 1036', '§ 5536', '§ 806', '§ 1692', '§ 807', '§ 1692', '§ 808', '§ 1692', '§ 803', '§ 1692', '§ 812', '§ 1692', '§ 1031', '§ 5531', '§ 1031', '§ 5531', '§ 1031', '§ 5531', '§ 1031', '§ 5531', '§ 807', '§ 1002', '§ 5481', '§ 1036', '§ 5536', '§ 806', '§ 1692', '§ 807', '§ 1692', '§ 808', '§ 1692', '§ 803', '§ 1692', '§ 812', '§ 1692', '§ 1031', '§ 5531', '§ 1031', '§ 5531', '§ 1031', '§ 5531', '§ 1031', '§ 5531', '§ 807', '§ 1002', '§ 5481', '§ 1036', '§ 5536', '§ 806', '§ 1692', '§ 807', '§ 1692', '§ 808', '§ 1692', '§ 803', '§ 1692', '§ 812', '§ 1692', '§ 1031', '§ 5531', '§ 1031', '§ 5531', '§ 1031', '§ 5531']

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P. 1CFPB Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Bulletin 2013-07 7-10-2013 Prohibition of Unfair, Deceptive or Abusive Collection of Consumer Debts. CFPB Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Bulletin 2013-07 7-10-2013 Prohibition of Unfair, Deceptive or Abusive Collection of Consumer Debts. Ratings: (0)|Views: 18
|Likes: 0Published by Mary Cochrane 1 See Dodd-Frank Act, §§ 1002, 1031 & 1036(a), codified at 12 U.S.C. §§ 5481, 5531 & 5536(a). It is alsoprohibited for any person, even if not a covered person or service provider, to knowingly or recklessly providesubstantial assistance to a covered person or service provider in violating section 1031 of the Dodd-Frank Act.See Dodd-Frank Act, § 1036(a)(3), 12 U.S.C. § 5536(a)(3). The principles of “unfair” and “deceptive”practices in the Act are informed by the standards for the same terms under Section 5 of the Federal TradeCommission Act (FTC Act). See CFPB Examination Manual v.2 (Oct. 2012) at UDAAP 1 (CFPB ExamManual). To the extent that this Bulletin cites FTC guidance or authority, such references reflect the views ofthe FTC, and are not binding upon the Bureau in interpreting the Dodd-Frank Act’s prohibition on UDAAPs.2 FDCPA § 806, 15 U.S.C. § 1692d.3 FDCPA § 807, 15 U.S.C. § 1692e. This provision also imposes affirmative obligations on “debt collectors”under the FDCPA when collecting consumer debts.4 FDCPA § 808, 15 U.S.C. § 1692f. This provision also imposes affirmative obligations on “debt collectors”under the FDCPA when collecting consumer debts.5 See FDCPA § 803(6), 15 U.S.C. § 1692a(6). The FDCPA also covers, as a “debt collector,” a creditor who, incollecting its own debts, uses any name other than its own which would indicate that a third person isattempting to collect the debts.6 The FDCPA also reaches any person who designs, compiles, or furnishes forms knowing such forms would beused to create the false belief in a consumer that a person other than the creditor is participating in collecting thecreditor’s debts. See FDCPA § 812, 15 U.S.C. § 1692j.7 Dodd-Frank Act §§ 1031, 1036, 12 U.S.C. §§ 5531, 5536.8 CFPB Exam Manual at UDAAP 2; see also FTC v. Accusearch, Inc., 06-cv-105-D, 2007 WL 4356786, at *7-8 (D. Wyo. Sept. 28, 2007); FTC Policy Statement on Unfairness (Dec. 17, 1980), available athttp://www.ftc.gov/bcp/policystmt/ad-unfair.htm.9 CFPB Exam Manual at UDAAP 2.10 Id.11 Id.12 Id.13 See id. at 2-3.14 Dodd-Frank Act § 1031(c)(1)(B), 12 U.S.C. § 5531(c)(1)(B); see also CFPB Exam Manual at UDAAP 2.15 Dodd-Frank Act § 1031(c)(2), 12 U.S.C. § 5531(c)(2); see also CFPB Exam Manual at UDAAP 3.16 The standard for “deceptive” practices in the Dodd-Frank Act is informed by the standards for the same termsunder Section 5 of the FTC Act. See CFPB Exam Manual at UDAAP 5.17 CFPB Exam Manual at UDAAP 5.18 Id.19 See id. at 6.20 Id.21 Id.22 Id.23 Id.; see also CFPB Bulletin 12-06, Marketing of Credit Card Add-On Products (July 12, 2012), available athttp://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201207_cfpb_bulletin_marketing_of_credit_card_addon_products.pdf.24 Dodd-Frank Act § 1031(d), 12 U.S.C. § 5531(d); see also CFPB Exam Manual at UDAAP 9; Stipulated FinalJudgment and Order, Conclusions of Law ¶ 12, 9:13-cv-80548 and Compl. ¶¶ 55-63, CFPB v. Am. DebtSettlement Solutions, Inc., 9:13-cv-80548 (S.D. Fla. May 30, 2013), available athttp://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201305_cfpb_proposed-order_adss.pdf andhttp://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201305_cfpb_complaint_adss.pdf. The Stipulated Final Judgment and Orderwas signed by U.S. District Judge Middlebrooks and entered on the court docket on June 6, 2013. SeeStipulated Final J. & Order [ECF Docket Entry No. 5], 9:13-cv-80548 (S.D. Fla.).25 CFPB Exam Manual at UDAAP 9.26 See Compl. ¶¶ 34-38 & 43-44, FTC v. Fairbanks Capital Corp., 03-12219 (D. Mass. Nov. 12, 2003) (allegingthat the charging of late fees and other associated charges was unfair practice under Section 5 of the FTC Actand a violation of §§ 807 and 808 of the FDCPA), available athttp://www.ftc.gov/os/2003/11/0323014comp.pdf.27 Id. ¶¶ 22-25.28 See, e.g., Compl. ¶¶ 24 & 30-31, FTC v. Cash Today, Ltd., 3:08-cv-590 (D. Nev. Nov. 12, 2008), available athttp://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/0723093/081112cmp0923093.pdf, (assert1 See Dodd-Frank Act, §§ 1002, 1031 & 1036(a), codified at 12 U.S.C. §§ 5481, 5531 & 5536(a). It is alsoprohibited for any person, even if not a covered person or service provider, to knowingly or recklessly providesubstantial assistance to a covered person or service provider in violating section 1031 of the Dodd-Frank Act.See Dodd-Frank Act, § 1036(a)(3), 12 U.S.C. § 5536(a)(3). The principles of “unfair” and “deceptive”practices in the Act are informed by the standards for the same terms under Section 5 of the Federal TradeCommission Act (FTC Act). See CFPB Examination Manual v.2 (Oct. 2012) at UDAAP 1 (CFPB ExamManual). To the extent that this Bulletin cites FTC guidance or authority, such references reflect the views ofthe FTC, and are not binding upon the Bureau in interpreting the Dodd-Frank Act’s prohibition on UDAAPs.2 FDCPA § 806, 15 U.S.C. § 1692d.3 FDCPA § 807, 15 U.S.C. § 1692e. This provision also imposes affirmative obligations on “debt collectors”under the FDCPA when collecting consumer debts.4 FDCPA § 808, 15 U.S.C. § 1692f. This provision also imposes affirmative obligations on “debt collectors”under the FDCPA when collecting consumer debts.5 See FDCPA § 803(6), 15 U.S.C. § 1692a(6). The FDCPA also covers, as a “debt collector,” a creditor who, incollecting its own debts, uses any name other than its own which would indicate that a third person isattempting to collect the debts.6 The FDCPA also reaches any person who designs, compiles, or furnishes forms knowing such forms would beused to create the false belief in a consumer that a person other than the creditor is participating in collecting thecreditor’s debts. See FDCPA § 812, 15 U.S.C. § 1692j.7 Dodd-Frank Act §§ 1031, 1036, 12 U.S.C. §§ 5531, 5536.8 CFPB Exam Manual at UDAAP 2; see also FTC v. Accusearch, Inc., 06-cv-105-D, 2007 WL 4356786, at *7-8 (D. Wyo. Sept. 28, 2007); FTC Policy Statement on Unfairness (Dec. 17, 1980), available athttp://www.ftc.gov/bcp/policystmt/ad-unfair.htm.9 CFPB Exam Manual at UDAAP 2.10 Id.11 Id.12 Id.13 See id. at 2-3.14 Dodd-Frank Act § 1031(c)(1)(B), 12 U.S.C. § 5531(c)(1)(B); see also CFPB Exam Manual at UDAAP 2.15 Dodd-Frank Act § 1031(c)(2), 12 U.S.C. § 5531(c)(2); see also CFPB Exam Manual at UDAAP 3.16 The standard for “deceptive” practices in the Dodd-Frank Act is informed by the standards for the same termsunder Section 5 of the FTC Act. See CFPB Exam Manual at UDAAP 5.17 CFPB Exam Manual at UDAAP 5.18 Id.19 See id. at 6.20 Id.21 Id.22 Id.23 Id.; see also CFPB Bulletin 12-06, Marketing of Credit Card Add-On Products (July 12, 2012), available athttp://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201207_cfpb_bulletin_marketing_of_credit_card_addon_products.pdf.24 Dodd-Frank Act § 1031(d), 12 U.S.C. § 5531(d); see also CFPB Exam Manual at UDAAP 9; Stipulated FinalJudgment and Order, Conclusions of Law ¶ 12, 9:13-cv-80548 and Compl. ¶¶ 55-63, CFPB v. Am. DebtSettlement Solutions, Inc., 9:13-cv-80548 (S.D. Fla. May 30, 2013), available athttp://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201305_cfpb_proposed-order_adss.pdf andhttp://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201305_cfpb_complaint_adss.pdf. The Stipulated Final Judgment and Orderwas signed by U.S. District Judge Middlebrooks and entered on the court docket on June 6, 2013. SeeStipulated Final J. & Order [ECF Docket Entry No. 5], 9:13-cv-80548 (S.D. Fla.).25 CFPB Exam Manual at UDAAP 9.26 See Compl. ¶¶ 34-38 & 43-44, FTC v. Fairbanks Capital Corp., 03-12219 (D. Mass. Nov. 12, 2003) (allegingthat the charging of late fees and other associated charges was unfair practice under Section 5 of the FTC Actand a violation of §§ 807 and 808 of the FDCPA), available athttp://www.ftc.gov/os/2003/11/0323014comp.pdf.27 Id. ¶¶ 22-25.28 See, e.g., Compl. ¶¶ 24 & 30-31, FTC v. Cash Today, Ltd., 3:08-cv-590 (D. Nev. Nov. 12, 2008), available athttp://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/0723093/081112cmp0923093.pdf, (assertMore info:Categories:Types, Business/LawPublished by: Mary Cochrane on Jul 10, 2013Copyright:Attribution Non-commercialAvailability:Read on Scribd mobile: iPhone, iPad and Android.download as PDF, TXT or read online from ScribdFlag for inappropriate content|Add to collectionSee moreSee lesshttps://www.scribd.com/doc/152913139/CFPB-Consumer-Financial-Protection-Bureau-Bulletin-2013-07-7-10-2013-Prohibition-of-Unfair-Deceptive-or-Abusive-Collection-of-Consumer-Debts10/13/2013pdftextoriginal 1
CFPB Bulletin 2013-07Date: July 10, 2013Subject: Prohibition of Unfair, Deceptive, or Abusive Acts or Practices in theCollection of Consumer DebtsUnder the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act), all covered persons or service providers are legally required to refrainfrom committing unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices (collectively,UDAAPs) in violation of the Act. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPBor Bureau) is issuing this bulletin to clarify the contours of that obligation in thecontext of collecting consumer debts.This bulletin describes certain acts or practices related to the collection of consumerdebt that could, depending on the facts and circumstances, constitute UDAAPsprohibited by the Dodd-Frank Act. Whether conduct like that described in this bulletin constitutes a UDAAP may depend on additional facts and analysis. Theexamples described in this bulletin are not exhaustive of all potential UDAAPs. TheBureau may closely review any covered person or service provider’s consumer debtcollection efforts for potential violations of Federal consumer financial laws.
UDAAPs can cause significant financial injury to consumers, erode consumerconfidence, and undermine fair competition in the financial marketplace. Originalcreditors and other covered persons and service providers under the Dodd-Frank Actinvolved in collecting debt related to any consumer financial product or service aresubject to the prohibition against UDAAPs in the Dodd-Frank Act.
In addition to the prohibition of UDAAPs under the Dodd-Frank Act, the Fair DebtCollection Practices Act (FDCPA) also makes it illegal for a person defined as a “debtcollector” from engaging in conduct “the natural consequence of which is to harass,oppress, or abuse any person in connection with the collection of a debt,”
to “use
Dodd-Frank Act, §§ 1002, 1031 & 1036(a), codified at 12 U.S.C. §§ 5481, 5531 & 5536(a). It is also prohibited for any person, even if not a covered person or service provider, to knowingly or recklessly providesubstantial assistance to a covered person or service provider in violating section 1031 of the Dodd-Frank Act.
Dodd-Frank Act, § 1036(a)(3), 12 U.S.C. § 5536(a)(3). The principles of “unfair” and “deceptive” practices in the Act are informed by the standards for the same terms under Section 5 of the Federal TradeCommission Act (FTC Act).
CFPB Examination Manual v.2 (Oct. 2012) at UDAAP 1 (CFPB ExamManual). To the extent that this Bulletin cites FTC guidance or authority, such references reflect the views of the FTC, and are not binding upon the Bureau in interpreting the Dodd-Frank Act’s prohibition on UDAAPs.
FDCPA § 806, 15 U.S.C. § 1692d.
any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with thecollection of any debt,”
or to “use any unfair or unconscionable means to collect orattempt to collect any debt.”
The FDCPA generally applies to third-party debtcollectors, such as collection agencies, debt purchasers, and attorneys who areregularly engaged in debt collection.
All parties covered by the FDCPA must comply with any obligations they have under the FDCPA, in addition to any obligations torefrain from UDAAPs in violation of the Dodd-Frank Act. Although the FDCPA’s definition of “debt collector” does not include some persons who collect consumer debt, all covered persons and service providers must refrainfrom committing UDAAPs in violation of the Dodd-Frank Act.
Summary of Applicable Standards for UDAAPs
The Dodd-Frank Act prohibits conduct that constitutes an unfair act or practice. Anact or practice is unfair when:(1)
It causes or is likely to cause substantial injury to consumers;(2)
The injury is not reasonably avoidable by consumers; and(3)
The injury is not outweighed by countervailing benefits to consumersor to competition.
A “substantial injury” typically takes the form of monetary harm, such as fees orcosts paid by consumers because of the unfair act or practice. However, the injury does not have to be monetary.
Although emotional impact and other subjectivetypes of harm will not ordinarily amount to substantial injury, in certaincircumstances emotional impacts may amount to or contribute to substantial injury.
In addition, actual injury is not required; a significant risk of concrete harm issufficient.
FDCPA § 807, 15 U.S.C. § 1692e. This provision also imposes affirmative obligations on “debt collectors”under the FDCPA when collecting consumer debts.
FDCPA § 808, 15 U.S.C. § 1692f. This provision also imposes affirmative obligations on “debt collectors”under the FDCPA when collecting consumer debts.
FDCPA § 803(6), 15 U.S.C. § 1692a(6). The FDCPA also covers, as a “debt collector,” a creditor who, incollecting its own debts, uses any name other than its own which would indicate that a third person isattempting to collect the debts.
The FDCPA also reaches any person who designs, compiles, or furnishes forms knowing such forms would beused to create the false belief in a consumer that a person other than the creditor is participating in collecting thecreditor’s debts.
FDCPA § 812, 15 U.S.C. § 1692j.
Dodd-Frank Act §§ 1031, 1036, 12 U.S.C. §§ 5531, 5536.
CFPB Exam Manual at UDAAP 2;
see also FTC v. Accusearch, Inc.,
06-cv-105-D, 2007 WL 4356786, at *7-8 (D. Wyo. Sept. 28, 2007); FTC Policy Statement on Unfairness (Dec. 17, 1980),
available at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/policystmt/ad-unfair.htm.
CFPB Exam Manual at UDAAP 2.
An injury is not reasonably avoidable by consumers when an act or practiceinterferes with or hinders a consumer’s ability to make informed decisions or takeaction to avoid that injury.
Injury caused by transactions that occur without aconsumer’s knowledge or consent is not reasonably avoidable.
Injuries that canonly be avoided by spending large amounts of money or other significant resourcesalso may not be reasonably avoidable.
Finally, an act or practice is not unfair if theinjury it causes or is likely to cause is outweighed by its consumer or competitive benefits.
Established public policy may be considered with all other evidence to determine whether an act or practice is unfair, but may not serve as the primary basis for suchdetermination.
The Dodd-Frank Act also prohibits conduct that constitutes a deceptive act orpractice. An act or practice is deceptive when:(1)
The act or practice misleads or is likely to mislead the consumer;(2)
The consumer’s interpretation is reasonable under the circumstances;and(3)
To determine whether an act or practice has actually misled or is likely to mislead aconsumer, the totality of the circumstances is considered.
Deceptive acts orpractices can take the form of a representation or omission.
The Bureau also looksat implied representations, including any implications that statements about theconsumer’s debt can be supported. Ensuring that claims are supported before they are made will minimize the risk of omitting material information and/or makingfalse statements that could mislead consumers.To determine if the consumer’s interpretation of the information was reasonableunder the circumstances when representations target a specific audience, such asolder Americans or financially distressed consumers, the communication may beconsidered from the perspective of a reasonable member of the target audience.
A statement or information can be misleading even if not all consumers, or not allconsumers in the targeted group, would be misled, so long as a significant minority 11
Dodd-Frank Act § 1031(c)(1)(B), 12 U.S.C. § 5531(c)(1)(B);
CFPB Exam Manual at UDAAP 2
Dodd-Frank Act § 1031(c)(2), 12 U.S.C. § 5531(c)(2);
CFPB Exam Manual at UDAAP 3.
The standard for “deceptive” practices in the Dodd-Frank Act is informed by the standards for the same termsunder Section 5 of the FTC Act.