When does the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act apply?

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) applies to any person or company whose purpose is collecting debts that are owed by an individual. This includes attorneys, collection agencies, and debt collectors. The FDCPA applies to most debts, such as medical bills, credit cards, car loans, and mortgages. The debt has to be one that is primarily for personal, family, or household use, and not for a business purpose. The FDCPA is designed to protect consumers from unfair and abusive practices by debt collectors. A debt collector must follow certain rules when attempting to collect a debt, such as contacting the debtor no more than three times a week, avoiding repeated phone calls from the same debt collector, notifying debtors of their rights, not using profane language or threats of violence, and not misrepresenting the amount owed or the legal status of a debt. The FDCPA generally applies to debt collection activities that occur in or originate from Washington. If a debt collector contacts a Washington resident or attempts to collect a debt in Washington, then the FDCPA applies. Additionally, if a debt collector contacts a Washington resident from a state other than Washington, then the FDCPA will still apply.

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