What laws govern debt collection practices?
Both federal and state laws protect consumers from unfair and deceptive debt collection practices. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) of 1978 is the federal law designed to ensure the ethical collection of debts. It also provides consumers with a means to dispute unfair debt collection practices and seek compensation when they have been the victim of consumer fraud. State laws also protect consumers against unfair debt collection practices. Many of these laws provide additional protections not allotted by the FDCPA. For instance, the FDCPA applies generally to third-party debt collectors, yet in California, state debt collection laws protect consumers from these third-party collectors and the primary creditor. To learn more about the specific rights in your state, please click here to contact a qualified attorney. Your state’s Attorney General’s office may also be able to inform you of your rights. The following information will focus on the federal consumer protections con
