Nearly all households who are behind on their bills paid their bills until they faced a financial catastrophe: unemployment, illness, disability, divorce, or succumbed to some of the daily exhortations in their mailbox to borrow and on TV to buy on credit. During recessions even more consumers fall behind because they are laid off by an employer. Recognizing this, federal and many states’ laws require that financially distressed consumers not be abused, deceived, lose their privacy, or be treated unfairly.

Debt collectors use various forms of illegal intimidation, including talking with friends and employers about a consumer’s debt without permission from the debtor; making harassing or abusive telephone calls; threatening to take actions that are illegal or not intended; and suing on debts that were paid or not owed. Fortunately there are more lawyers specializing in helping consumers with debt collection harassment than ever before.  Check out www.naca.net to find a lawyer.

Reports & Press Releases

The Debt Machine: How the Collection Industry Hounds Consumers and Overwhelms the Courts
Press Release and Report, July 2010

Comments to the FTC: Protecting Consumers
in Debt Collection Litigation and Arbitration: A Roundtable Discussion, 2009

Press Release: Debt Collection Horror Stories, 2007

Comments to the FTC: Collecting Consumer Debts: The Challenges of Change, 2007

Consumer Information

Four Ways to Get Help if You are a Consumer

Related Publications

Fair Debt Collection
2008 6th ed. and 2009 Supplement
The latest thinking and definitive analysis of
the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), the statute that dramatically alters how collection agencies and attorneys collect consumer debts, now in an all new revised edition.

Collection Actions
2008 1st ed. and 2009 Supplement
This new title covers consumer defenses to collection lawsuits on credit card, medical, and other debts.

Policy Analysis

NCLC urges Federal Communications Commission to allow prerecorded debt collection calls to consumers only with consumers' express consent, May 2010

Testimony regarding Protecting Social Security Benefits from Predatory Lending and Other Harmful Financial Institution Practices, 2008

Comments to the Federal Regulators on the InterAgency Guidance on Exempt Benefits, November 27, 2007

NCLC's Comments Opposing Debt Collectors Autodialing Personal Cell Phones, 2006

NCLC Criticizes States Treating Checking Account Mistakes As Criminal

Testimony: The Consumer Impact of Regulatory Relief Proposals Affecting Banks, Thrifts and Credit Unions, 2006

NCLC Reports

Debt Collection & Repossessions

These four-page reports, issued 6 times a year, keep you up-to-date with the latest trends and tactics, and also the practice implications of recent decisions and law changes.