A new set of rules has been proposed by the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau which changes the way debt collectors can get in touch with debtors. There’s some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the rules limit the number of times that the collection agencies can call debtors.
The bad news is that no such limits are placed on text messages and emails so debt collectors will essentially be able to send as many of them as they want. These rules amend the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act which was enacted in 1977. Emails and text messages weren’t common back then so one can imagine why these amendments are now necessary.
According to the proposed rules, debt collectors would not be able to call debtors more than seven times in a week. If one of the calls is answered by the debtor, the agency then has to wait for a week before it can call them back.
As far as electronic messages through texts and emails are concerned, no limits have been placed on them, so debt collectors can send as many as they want. However, a CFPB official confirmed to Bloomberg, that the messages that debt collectors send will be required to include the option to opt out of receiving similar messages in the future.
The amended rules will allow them to contact debtors through social media as well through a private channel that’s not “viewable by a potentially wide array of the consumer’s social or professional colleagues.” This means that they can DM debtors but not @ them.
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