Debt collectors are regulated by the FTC on the federal level. At the state level, attorneys general are typically responsible for enforcing state and federal laws. A few local governments also separately regulate debt collectors. The laws that govern the ARM industry are civil, meaning that liability is almost always monetary. So a state’s attorney general will not file criminal charges against a debt collector accused of violating the law, rather, he/she will sue for damages. Collection laws include federal and state statutes that govern the proper operation of companies and personnel that work in the debt collection industry. The most comprehensive collection law is the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Other federal laws that collectors must follow include the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the data security requirements of the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act (GLBA).

See all Topics

Mike Ginsberg's ABCs of ARM

29 January 2013

ARM Industry Urges Supreme Court to Hear FDCPA Case on Fees

28 January 2013

President Obama Re-Nominates Richard Cordray to Head CFPB

25 January 2013

Social Media is Next Horizon in Debt Collection Regulation

24 January 2013

Monarch Recovery Management, Inc. Publishes Whitepaper on Debt Collection Agency Compliance

24 January 2013

Debt Collectors Causing Spike in UK Suicides: Report

23 January 2013

How to Avoid TCPA Lawsuits

22 January 2013

Today, Audit Experts Join LiveVox to Discuss Practical Approaches to Preparing for the CFPB

22 January 2013

CFPB 3rd Party Risk Assessments for Debt Buyers, Lenders, and Agencies

22 January 2013

SoundBite Partners with TMCnet on Webinar to Discuss How Organizations Can Mobilize their Collections Strategies

22 January 2013

Officers of Debt Collection Agency to Pay $1.1 million; Banned from ARM Industry

18 January 2013

HIPAA Omnibus Package Will Cost Healthcare Debt Collection Agencies Millions

18 January 2013

FDCPA Lawsuits Filed by Consumers Decline 7 Percent in 2012

17 January 2013

Free Whitepaper: How Your Back Office Should Be Driving Your Front Office's Compliance Actions

17 January 2013

Appeals Court Rules Foreclosures are "Debt Collection" Under FDCPA

16 January 2013

Where Do You Want to Sue Your Business Customer?

16 January 2013

Executive Change: RGS Financial Promotes Stefanie Ratcliff to Director of Compliance

15 January 2013

Debt Buyer Bills Backed by AG Swanson Introduced in Minnesota

15 January 2013

Aggressive Chicago Debt Collection Law Vote Put on Hold

11 January 2013

Bill Bartmann Reiterates Call to Suspend Debt Collection Lawsuits

10 January 2013