Debt Collection Practices Act
PL 95-109 (H.R.5294), enacted 09/20/1977

91 STAT. 874 
PUBLIC LAW 95-109—SEPT, 20, 1977 
Public Law 95-109 
95th Congress 
An Act 
Sept. 20, 1977 
[H.R. 5294] 
To amend the Consumer Credit Protection Act to prohibit abusive practices by 
debt collectors. 
• 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Consumer Credit 
United States of Anberica m Congress assembled.) That the Consumer 
Protection Act, 
Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) is amended by adding 
amendment. 
^^ ^j^g ^^^ thereof the following new title: 
Fair Debt 
Collection 
Practices Act. 
15 u s e 1601 
note. 
15 u s e 1692. 
"TITLE VIII—DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES 
"Sec. 
"801. Short title. 
- 
-
"802. Findings and 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 practices. 
"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 
"This title may be cited as the 'Fair Debt Collection Practices Act'. 
"§ 802. Findings and purpose 
"(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 bank-
ruptcies, 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 col-
lection 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 inter-
state commerce. 
"(e) It is the purpose of this title to eliminate abusive debt collec-
tion practices by debt collectors, to insure that those debt collectors 
who refrain from using abusive debt collection practices are not com-
petitively disadvantaged, and to promote consistent State action to 
protect consumers against debt collection abuses. 
PUBLIC LAW 95-109—SEPT. 20, 1977 
91 STAT. 875 
"§803. Definitions 
"As used in this title— 
"(1) The term 'Commission' means the Federal 
Trade 
Commission. 
"(2) The term 'communication' means the conveying of infor-
mation 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 otfers 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 obliga-
tion 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 busi-
ness the principal purpose of which is the collection of any debts, 
or who regularly collects or attempts to collect, directly or indi-
rectly, debts owed or due or asserted to be owed or due another. 
Notwithstanding the exclusion provided by clause (G) of the 
last sentence of this paragraph, the term includes any creditor 
Avho, 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 busi-
ness 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 owner-
ship 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; 
"(F) any attorney-at-law collecting a debt as an attorney 
on behalf of and in the name of a client; and 
15 use 1692a. 
91 STAT. 876 
PUBLIC LAW 95-109—SEPT. 20, 1977 
J ) 
"(G) 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 Eico, or any political subdivision of any of the fore-
going. 
15 use 1692b. 
«§ 804. Acquisition of location information 
"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 busi-
ness 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 
01, 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 
communication from the debt collector. 
15 use 1692c. 
"§ 805. Communication in connection with debt collection 
" (a) 
COMMUNICATION W I T H THE CONSUMER GENERAIXY.—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 
PUBLIC LAW 95-109—SEPT. 20, 1977 
91 STAT. 877 
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 pro-
hibits the consumer from receiving such communication. 
*'(b) COMMUNICATION W I T H 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 post judgment 
judicial remedy, a debt collector may not communicate, in connection 
with the collection of any debt, with any person other than the con-
sumer, his attorney, a consumer reporting agency if otherwise per-
mitted 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 col-
lector in writing that the consumer refuses to pay a debt or that the 
consumer wishes the debt collector to cease fuither 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 
"A debt collector may not engage in any conduct the natural con-
sequence of which is to harass, oppress, or abuse any person in con-
nection 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) 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 tele-
phone calls without meaningful disclosure of the caller's identity. 
"§ 807. False or misleading representations 
"A debt collector may not use any false, deceptive, or misleading 
representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt. 
15 
use 
1692(1. 
15 
use 
1681a, 
1681b. 
15 
use 
1692e. 
91 STAT. 878 
PUBLIC LAW 95-109—SEPT. 20, 1977 
Without limiting the general application ot tue foregoing, the follow-
ing conduct is a violation of this section: 
"(1) The false representation or implication that the debt col-
lector 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, a.mount, 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 individ-
ual is an attorney or that any comnumication 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 author-
ized, 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) Except as otherwise provided for communications to 
acquire location information under section 804, the failure to dis-
close clearly in all communications made to collect a debt or to 
obtain information about a consumer, that the debt collector is 
attempting to collect a debt and that any information obtained 
will be used for that purpose. 
"(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. 
'• 
"(l''^) The false representation or implication that documents 
are not legal process forms or do not require action by the 
consvimer. 
PUBLIC LAW 95-109~SEPT. 20, 1977 
91 STAT. 879 
"(16) The false representation or implication that a debt col-
lector operates or is employed by a consumer reporting agency as 
defined by section 603 (f) of this Act. 
15 USC 1681a. 
"§ 808. Unfair practices 
15 USC I692f. 
"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 threat-
ening 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 communica-
tions by concealment of the true purpose 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 disposses-
sion or disablement. 
"(7) Communicating with a consumer regarding a debt by 
post card. 
"(8) Using any language or symbol, other than the debt col-
lector'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 U
S
C I692g. 
"(a) Within five days after the initial communication with a con-
sumer in connection with the collection of any debt, a debt collector 
shall, unless the following information is contained in the initial com-
munication 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 anj'^ 
portion thereof, the debt will be assumed to be valid by the debt 
collector; 
29-194 
0 - 8 0 
91 STAT. 880 
PUBLIC LAW 95-109—SEPT. 20, 1977 
"(4) a statement that if the consumer notifies the debt collector 
in writing within the thirty-day period that the debt, or any por-
tion 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 con-
sumer 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 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. 
"(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. 
15 use I692h. 
"§ 810. Multiple debts 
"If any consumer owes multiple debts and makes any single pay-
ment to any debt collector with respect to such debts, such debt col-
lector 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. 
15 use I692i. 
"§ 811. Legal actions by debt collectors 
"(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 prop-
erty securing the consumer's obligation, bring such action only in 
a judicial district or similar legal entity in Avhich 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. 
f' 
"(b) Nothing in this title shall be construed to authorize the bring-
ing of legal actions by debt collectors. 
15 use 1692J. 
"§ 812. Furnishing certain deceptive forms 
" (a) It is unlawful to design, compile, and furnish any form know-
ing that such form would be used to create the false belief in a con-
sumer 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 sec-
tion 813 for failure to comply with a provision of this title. 
PUBLIC LAW 95-109—SEPT. 20, 1977 
91 STAT. 881 
"§ 813. Civil liability 
15 USC 1692k. 
"(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, any debt col-
lector 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 dama<j;e sustained by such person as a result 
of such failure; 
"(2) (A) in the case of any action by an individual, such addi-
tional 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 fore-
going 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 fre-
quency 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 evi-
dence 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 Jurisdiction. 
brought in any appropriate United States district court without regard 
to the amount in controversy, or in any other court of competent juris-
diction, within one year fi-om 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 1692/. 
"(a) Compliance with this title shall be enforced by the Commis-
sion, except to the extent 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 15 USC 58. 
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 
91 STAT. 882 
PUBLIC LAW 95-109—SEPT. 20, 1977 
12 
use 
1464. 
12 
use 
1730. 
12 
use 
1426, 
1437. 
12 use 1751. 
15 use 58. 
the Commission under the Federal Trade Commission Act are avail-
able to the Commission to enforce compliance by any person with this 
:j;., 
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— 
12 use 1818. 
"(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, sec-
tion 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 directly or through the Federal Savings and 
Loan Insurance Corporation), in the case of any institution sub-
ject 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) the Acts to regulate commerce, by the Interstate Commerce 
Commission with respect to any common carrier subject to those 
Acts; 
"(5) the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, by the Civil Aeronautics 
Board 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 sub-
section, a violation of any requirement imposed under this title shall 
s ; i 
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 con-
ferred 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 regula-
tions with respect to the collection of debts by debt collectors as defined 
in this title. 
15 use 1692m. 
"§ 815. Reports to Congress by the Commission 
" (a) Not later than one year after the effective date of this title and 
at one-year intervals thereafter, the Commission sliall make reports to 
the Congress concerning the administration of its functions under this 
' ' 
title, including such; recommendations as the C(;pimission deems neces-
sary or appropriate. In addition, each report of the Commission shall 
include its assessment of the extent to which compliance with this title 
49 use 1301 
note. 
7 use 181. 
7 use 226, 227. 
PUBLIC LAW 95-109—SEPT. 20, 1977 
91 STAT. 883 
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 Commis-
sion 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 
"This title does not annul, alter, or affect, or exempt any person sub-
ject 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 
"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 pro-
vision for enforcement. 
"§ 818. Effective date 
"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. 
15 u s e 1692n. 
15 u s e 16920. 
15 u s e 1692 
note. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-131 (eomtn. on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs). 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-382 (eomm. on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs). 
eONGRESSIONAL 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.