As per section 1692(a)(3) of the FDCPA violations checklist, a consumer is anyone legally obligated to pay a debt to creditors through third-party collectors. Simply put, consumers are people who owe money to another person (friend, family, employer, etc.), financial institutions (banks, credit unions, etc.), or other creditors. The FDCPA protects their rights and ensures a fair, safe, and ethical debt collection process.