The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) was enacted in 1977 to protect consumers from abusive, unfair, and deceptive practices by third-party debt collectors. The law details when and how a collector may contact a debtor. The government enforcer of the law has historically been the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), but some regulatory duties may be shared with the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection housed within the Federal Reserve, created in 2010. The FDCPA is a strict civil liability law, which means that a consumer need not prove actual damages in order to claim statutory damages of up to $1,000 per violation plus reasonable attorney fees.

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CFPB Examination Manual Sections Applicable to Debt Collectors

29 June 2012

California Committee Approves Fair Debt Buyers Practices Act

28 June 2012

Debt Collection Complaint Data Shows Shift in What is Angering Consumers

26 June 2012

Collection Agency Complaints Report: FTC Debt Collection Complaints Compendium - Q1 2012

20 June 2012

Better For Whom? Debt Collection & the Better Business Bureau

19 June 2012

The Complaints Issue: Revisiting Consumer Debt Collection Complaints

18 June 2012

Complaints About Debt Collectors Going After Wrong Debt Top List in January

18 June 2012

FDCPA Lawsuits Increase in Last Half of May; Still Down 6% for Year

18 June 2012

Courts Reject FDCPA Claims that Lack Common Sense

14 June 2012

Appeals Court Rules for Collection Law Firm in FDCPA Collection Letter Case

13 June 2012

FDCPA Violation Claims Supported Only by Material Disputes

12 June 2012

State Opinion Deems Sending Collection Letters as the Practice of Law

6 June 2012

FDCPA Lawsuits Fall Significantly in First Half of May; Filings Off Nearly 5% for Year

31 May 2012

Death to Foti? Supreme Court to Hear FDCPA Case on Awarding Costs to Defendants

30 May 2012

Debt Buyers, Collection Agencies: Be Clearer with Your Collection Letters

24 May 2012

Fair Debt Collection Reform Bill Re-Introduced by Barney Frank

21 May 2012

Mike Ginsberg: First Quarter ARM Legal, Legislative and Regulatory Climate Summed Up

21 May 2012

FDCPA Lawsuits Pick Up in Second Half of April, Still Lag 2011 Numbers

16 May 2012

Are Debt Collector Phone Messages Illegal?

16 May 2012

Debt Collectors Settle with FTC for $3.1 million

15 May 2012