{"id":119870,"date":"2021-12-01T12:09:43","date_gmt":"2021-12-01T17:09:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=119870"},"modified":"2021-12-01T12:09:43","modified_gmt":"2021-12-01T17:09:43","slug":"attorney-general-urges-consumers-to-be-aware-of-debt-collection-rights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=119870","title":{"rendered":"Attorney General urges consumers to be aware of debt collection rights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Consumers who believe they are victims of improper debt collection practices should file a complaint with OAG<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert, informing New Yorkers of their rights when contacted by a debt collector. Consumers facing debt collection now have added protections under federal and state law. New nationwide rules adopted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau<\/a> \u2014 that took effect Nov. 30, 2021 \u2014 limit how and when debt collectors are allowed to contact consumers. These rules also require debt collectors to give consumers detailed information about the origin and history of the debt they seek to collect. Additionally, a new state law \u2014 the Consumer Credit Fairness Act, which was signed into law Nov. 8, 2021 \u2014 gives New Yorkers rights when sued in regard to consumer debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNew Yorkers have the right to know how much they owe without smoke and mirrors,\u201d James said. \u201cNo consumer should be sued over a debt they do not legally owe or which a creditor has no right to collect, but as we recover financially from COVID-19, we are seeing more and more debt collectors come out of the woodwork with outrageous claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese simple tips should help protect our state\u2019s consumers from deceptive and abusive debt collection practices. My office will continue to take the necessary actions to protect New Yorkers\u2019 wallets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For years, the Office of the Attorney General has brought dozens of enforcement actions and obtained numerous settlements against debt collectors that engaged in improper debt collection tactics. In 2019, James partnered with the Federal Trade Commission to obtain court orders halting a scheme to distribute and collect on millions of dollars in \u201cphantom debts\u201d<\/a> \u2014 fake debts that consumers did not owe. Earlier, the OAG reached agreements with four of the nation\u2019s major debt buyers,<\/a> which regularly pursued untimely lawsuits against New York consumers, often obtaining default judgments when the consumers failed to respond to the lawsuits. As a result of the OAG\u2019s actions, many companies and individuals have been permanently banned from engaging in debt collection in New York<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The OAG reminds consumers that they should be aware of their rights under federal and state law:<\/p>\n\n\n\n