Laws in the state of Pennsylvania are constantly in a state of flux. Those pertaining to consumer protection are not an exception. In previous posts we have written about the guidelines in place that dictate what creditors or debt collectors can do when trying to recoup money that is owed. Readers may be aware that if those rules are violated, a debtor may be able to take legal action against the offending parties. Last month several senators introduced a bill that seeks to make a change as to what a creditor or debt collector can do. Specifically, SB 1072 would amend the Pennsylvania Fair Credit Extension Uniformity Act.
In a nutshell, the legislation would reduce the number of communications a creditor or debt collector could have with a debtor via the phone. If it passes, the total number of telephone communications allowed would be three. This would likely be a relief to consumers who are sometimes intimidated by aggressive creditors or debt collectors.
It is important to note that the change does not address how many contacts can be made by a creditor or debt collector in other ways. After the three telephone call limit is exhausted, they would be able to use other modes of communication to continue to try to recoup the amount owed. It is unclear how the situation would be handled if a debtor wishes to continue to communicate with the creditor or debt collector, in an effort to resolve the matter.
Whether the bill will become law remains to be seen. We will provide relevant updates on the topic as they become available.