On May 7, 2019, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued proposed rules (“Proposed Rules”) under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and its authority under the Dodd-Frank Act. If finalized, the Proposed Rules will be the first substantive regulations for debt collection practices since the FDCPA was enacted in 1977. The Proposed Rules would clarify the application of the FDCPA to current market conditions, most notably by permitting the use of text messages, emails, and social media to communicate with debtors. At the same time, the Proposed Rules would address concerns about traditional means of communication, such as phone calls and voice mail messages.
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