Opinion ID: 811551
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Statutes at Issue

Text: The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), in part, prevents debt collectors from contacting a consumer “if the debt collector knows or has reason to know that the consumer’s employer prohibits the consumer from receiving such communication” and forbids a debt collector from “engag[ing] in any conduct the natural consequence of which is to harass, oppress, or abuse any person in connection with the collection of a debt.” 15 U.S.C. §§ 1692c(a)(3); 1692d. A consumer is “any natural person obligated or allegedly obligated to pay any debt.” 15 U.S.C. § 1692a(3). Consumers may bring suit for “any actual damage sustained” and “in the case of any action by an individual, [for] such 3 Case: 11-20269 Document: 00512046805 Page: 4 Date Filed: 11/07/2012 No. 11-20269 additional damages as the court may allow, but not exceeding $1,000.” 15 U.S.C. §§ 1692k(a)(1)–(2)(A). To determine the appropriate amount of damages, the factfinder considers, among other relevant factors, “the frequency and persistence of noncompliance by the debt collector, the nature of such noncompliance, and the extent to which such noncompliance was intentional.” 15 U.S.C. § 1692k(b)(1). Under the Texas Debt Collection Practices Act (TDCPA), “a debt collector may not oppress, harass, or abuse a person by . . . causing a telephone to ring repeatedly or continuously, or making repeated or continuous telephone calls, with the intent to harass a person at the called number.” Tex. Fin. Code Ann. § 392.302(4). Consumers have standing to bring suit under the act and include any “individual who has a consumer debt.” Tex. Fin. Code Ann. § 392.001(1). “‘Consumer debt’ means an obligation, or an alleged obligation, primarily for personal, family, or household purposes and arising from a transaction or alleged transaction.” Tex. Fin. Code Ann. § 392.001(2). “A person may sue for . . . actual damages sustained as a result of a violation of this chapter.” Tex. Fin. Code Ann. § 392.403(a)(2). “A person who successfully maintains an action under this section . . . is entitled to not less than $100 for each violation of this chapter.” Tex. Fin. Code. Ann. § 392.403(e). The TDCPA is a “tie-in” statute to the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA). Tex. Fin. Code Ann. § 392.404(a) (“A violation of this chapter is a deceptive trade practice under Subchapter E, Chapter 17, Business & Commerce Code, and is actionable under that subchapter.”). Under the DTPA: each consumer who prevails may obtain: [ ] the amount of economic damages found by the trier of fact. If the trier of fact finds that the conduct of the defendant was committed knowingly, the consumer may also recover damages for mental anguish, as found by the trier of fact, and the trier of fact may award not more than three times the amount of economic damages; or if the trier of fact finds the conduct was committed intentionally, the consumer may recover 4 Case: 11-20269 Document: 00512046805 Page: 5 Date Filed: 11/07/2012 No. 11-20269 damages for mental anguish, as found by the trier of fact, and the trier of fact may award not more than three times the amount of damages for mental anguish and economic damages. Tex. Bus. & Com. Code Ann. § 17.50(b). Consumer is defined as, an individual, partnership, corporation, this state, or a subdivision or agency of this state who seeks or acquires by purchase or lease, any goods or services, except that the term does not include a business consumer that has assets of $25 million or more, or that is owned or controlled by a corporation or entity with assets of $25 million or more. Tex. Bus. & Com. Code Ann. § 17.45(4).