Debt Collection Practices (Regulation F) | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2024)

FAQs

What is the Reg F rule for debt collection? ›

Regulation F prohibits a debt collector from suing or threatening to sue to collect a time-barred debt.

If you are struggling with debt and debt collectors, Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC can help. As soon as you use the 11-word phrase “please cease and desist all calls and contact with me immediately” to stop the harassment, call us for a free consultation about what you can do to resolve your debt problems for good.

The law makes it illegal for debt collectors to harass debtors in other ways, including threats of bodily harm or arrest. They also cannot lie or use profane or obscene language. Additionally, debt collectors cannot threaten to sue a debtor unless they truly intend to take that debtor to court.

On November 30, 2021, the Debt Collection Rule became effective. The rule clarifies how debt collectors can communicate with you, including what information they're required to provide you.

Code § 90003(a). The FDCPA and Regulation F set forth broad prohibitions on using unfair, unconscionable, false, deceptive, misleading, harassing, abusive or oppressive practices or means to collect a consumer debt.

Consumers are well-protected when it comes to debt collection. One of the most rigorous rules in their favor is the 7-in-7 rule. This rule states that a creditor must not contact the person who owes them money more than seven times within a 7-day period.

Debt collectors lose the right in many states to sue consumers after three or more years. But there's a loophole: If the consumer makes a payment, even against his or her own will, that can be used to try to revive the life of the debt.

Debt collectors cannot harass or abuse you. They cannot swear, threaten to illegally harm you or your property, threaten you with illegal actions, or falsely threaten you with actions they do not intend to take. They also cannot make repeated calls over a short period to annoy or harass you.

Under the FDCPA, a debt collector cannot harass or abuse you while attempting to collect money. The most common complaints the CFPB received in this category were: Frequent or repeated phone calls. Continued contact after the consumer requested the debt collector stop contacting them.

How long before a debt becomes uncollectible? ›

§ 1692f. The FDCPA also provides, for example, that debt collectors may not harass or annoy debtors, may not threaten debtors with arrest, and may not threaten legal action unless litigation actually is being contemplated. 15 U.S.C. §1692d.

What is Regulation F? Reg F is a new law that all debt collectors have to adhere to. The overall aim of Regulation F is to outline prohibitions on harassment or abuse, false or misleading representations, and unfair practices.

The final rule clarifies the information that a debt collector must provide to a consumer at the outset of debt collection communications and provides a model validation notice containing such information.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices to collect debts from you, including: Misrepresenting the nature of the debt, including the amount owed.

Among other things, the final rule clarifies the information that a debt collector must provide to a consumer at the outset of debt collection communications, prohibits debt collectors from bringing or threatening to bring a legal action against a consumer to collect a time-barred debt, and requires debt collectors to ...

Debt collectors cannot harass or abuse you. They cannot swear, threaten to illegally harm you or your property, threaten you with illegal actions, or falsely threaten you with actions they do not intend to take. They also cannot make repeated calls over a short period to annoy or harass you.

A debt collector may not engage in any conduct the natural consequence of which is to harass, oppress, or abuse any person in connection with the collection of a debt.

The 20/10 rule of thumb is a budgeting technique that can be an effective way to keep your debt under control. It says your total debt shouldn't equal more than 20% of your annual income, and that your monthly debt payments shouldn't be more than 10% of your monthly income.