The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) was enacted in 1977 to protect consumers from abusive, unfair, and deceptive practices by third-party debt collectors. The law details when and how a collector may contact a debtor. The government enforcer of the law has historically been the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), but some regulatory duties may be shared with the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection housed within the Federal Reserve, created in 2010. The FDCPA is a strict civil liability law, which means that a consumer need not prove actual damages in order to claim statutory damages of up to $1,000 per violation plus reasonable attorney fees.

See all Topics

DC Bar's "Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year" Sanctioned by Federal Judge in FDCPA Case

22 December 2014

Judge Rules that Government Debt is Covered by FDCPA, Forcing Collection Agency to Defend

18 December 2014

FDCPA Ruling in Potential Class Action Takes a Step Back on Voicemails

1 December 2014

FDCPA Suits Increase in October, But Yearly Trend Holds: FDCPA Down, TCPA Up

26 November 2014

TCPA and FDCPA Class Action Targets New Kind of Business: Digital Rights Enforcers

24 November 2014

Fallout Growing from FDCPA Decision on Proof of Claim on Time-Barred Debt

18 November 2014

Judge Dismisses Third Party Disclosure FDCPA Case and Opines on Nature of the Law

17 November 2014

Nearly 60% of ARM Firms Think They May Have Been Baited Into a Violation

17 November 2014

How to Avoid FDCPA Claims of Overshadowing

11 November 2014

POLL: Have You Ever Been Baited Into a Violation?

4 November 2014

Consumer Baits Collector to Violate FDCPA, Files Suit

3 November 2014

CFPB Finds UDAAP and FDCPA Violations in Debt Collection Supervisory Exams

29 October 2014

Circuit Court Rules Against ARM Firm in Allowable Interest FDCPA Case

28 October 2014

Defeat Claims That Your Envelopes Violate the FDCPA

23 October 2014

FDCPA and TCPA Lawsuits Rise in September

21 October 2014

Judge Rules that One Message Does Not Trigger FDCPA Liability

13 October 2014

State AG Proposes New Debt Collection Legislation

1 October 2014

Class Action Explores Door Hangers as Collection Communications Under FDCPA

26 September 2014

'Four-Second Review' FDCPA Decision Cited in Separate Class Action Filing

25 September 2014

Envelope Window FDCPA Case Denied Rehearing by Circuit Court

23 September 2014