Are creditors restricted in how they can acquire information about a consumer?
The first step debt collectors generally take in the debt collection process is to seek out the whereabouts of a consumer. While trying to locate a consumer, creditors must be careful not to reveal personal information about the consumer. The Act lays out specific guidelines to protect against this: • The creditor is required to identify himself but not his employer unless specifically requested to do so. • The creditor must not disclose that the consumer owes any debt. • The creditor must not communicate with any one person more than once unless that person specifically requests a return phone call or unless the creditor reasonably believes that person’s initial response was false or incomplete. • The creditor must not send mail via post card or in an envelope that discloses the nature of the communication. • The creditor is permitted to speak only with the consumer’s attorney if the consumer has legal representation. Are creditors restricted in how they can communicate with a consume
