[20190610]IF11247_《公平收债实践法》：法律框架.pdf

https:/crsreports.congress.gov June 10, 2019The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: Legal FrameworkOverview Congress enacted the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) in 1977 to “eliminate abusive debt collection practices by debt collectors” by rendering particular types of collection activities unlawful. This In Focus provides an overview of some of the FDCPAs most salient provisions and identifies pertinent legal considerations for Congress. To Whomand to Which DebtsDoes the FDCPA Apply? With limited exceptions, the FDCPA applies only to entities that qualify as “debt collectors.” The statutes definition of “debt collector” is intricate and excludes various entities from its scope. For example, a creditor seeking to collect debts on its own behalf and under its own name ordinarily does not qualify as a “debt collector.” Federal employees who collect debts pursuant to their official governmental duties seldom qualify as “debt collectors” either. Additionally, Congress amended the FDCPAs definition of “debt collector” in 2006 to exclude certain private entities that operate bad check enforcement programs on behalf of a state or district attorney. Along with only covering cer