On February 13, 2020 the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) dealing with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Regulation F. The NPRM supplements the May 2019 Proposed Rule by proposing to require debt collectors to make certain disclosures when collecting time-barred debts.
The CFPB proposes to prohibit collectors from using non-litigation means (such as calls) to collect on time-barred debt unless collectors disclose to consumers during the initial contact and on any required validation notice that the debt is time-barred. Consumer research conducted by the Bureau found that a time-barred debt disclosure helps consumers understand that they cannot be sued if they do not pay. That can help consumers make better informed decisions whether to pay the debt or not.
The NPRM has a 60-day comment period, and is expected to be published in the Federal Register soon. The CFPB’s press release was published on February 21, 2020
