Civil Liability Under Federal FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act) (15 U.S.C. § 1692k): Statutory Language for the Class Action Defense Lawyer

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq., enacted by Congress in 1978, establishes certain that ethical guidelines for the collection of consumer debts, and provides debtors with a means for challenging payoff demands and determining the validity and accuracy of asserted debts. As class action defense attorneys know, the FDCPA has generated numerous class actions. The FDCPA expressly provides private rights of action and for the recovery statutory damages as well as actual damages.

FDCPA Class Actions Statutes & Rules Uncategorized

Summary of Judicial Consideration of Federal FDCPA Claims Based on Debt Collection Letters: Defense of Class Action Issues

To Defeat Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Class Actions, Defense Lawyer Must Satisfy “Least Sophisticated Debtor” or “Unsophisticated Debtor” Standard

Class action lawsuits alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) are commonplace. The class action defense lawyer frequently must defend against claims that the initial letter from the debt collector to the consumer failed to give the information required by 15 U.S.C. § 1692g. We discuss here the two main approaches taken by federal courts in determining whether such a violation occurred: the “least sophisticated debtor” standard, and the “unsophisticated debtor” standard.

We begin with the “least sophisticated debtor” approach because it is the most widely accepted. At least 6 courts have adopted this objective standard. See Greco v. Trauner, Cohen & Thomas, L.L.P., 412 F.3d 360, 365-66 (2d Cir. 2005); Wilson v. Quadramed Corp., 225 F.3d 350, 354-55 (3d Cir. 2000); United States v. National Fin. Serv., Inc., 98 F.3d 131, 136 (4th Cir. 1996); Smith v. Computer Credit, Inc., 167 F.3d 1052, 1054 (6th Cir. 1999); Terran v. Kaplan, 109 F.3d 1428, 1431-32 (9th Cir. 1997); Jeter v. Credit Bureau, Inc., 760 F.2d 1168, 1174-75 (11th Cir.1985). The least sophisticated debtor testis “lower than simply examining whether particular language would deceive or mislead a reasonable debtor.” Swanson v. Southern Oregon Credit Serv., Inc., 869 F.3d 1222, 1227 (9th Cir. 1998). Put another way, “The basic purpose of the least-sophisticated-consumer standard is to ensure that the FDCPA protects all consumers, the gullible as well as the shrewd.” Clomon v. Jackson, 988 F.2d 1314, 1318 (2d Cir. 1993). But while this standard “protects naïve consumers,” Wilson, at 354, it also “prevents liability for bizarre or idiosyncratic interpretations of collection notices by preserving a quotient of reasonableness and presuming a basic level of understanding and willingness to read with care.” National Financial Services, at 136 (citation omitted).

FDCPA Class Actions Uncategorized

Furnishing Deceptive Forms (15 U.S.C. § 1692j): Statutory Language for the Defense Lawyer of Class Action Lawsuits Under Federal FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act)

The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq., has spawned numerous class action lawsuits, presenting defense attorneys with a wide array of claims. As a resource to the class action defense lawyer, we quote below the statutory provision of the FDCPA concerning deceptive forms: § 1692j. Furnishing certain deceptive forms (a) It is unlawful to design, compile, and furnish any form knowing that such form would be used to create the false belief in a consumer that a person other than the creditor of such consumer is participating in the collection of or in an attempt to collect a debt such consumer allegedly owes such creditor, when in fact such person is not so participating.

FDCPA Class Actions Statutes & Rules Uncategorized

Legal Actions By Debt Collectors (15 U.S.C. § 1692i): Statutory Language for the Defense Lawyer of Federal Class Action Lawsuits Under the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act)

Class action defense attorneys know that the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq., is used frequently by a plaintiff’s lawyer to bring a class action against a debt collector for violating the FDCPA’s terms. The FDCPA, however, also includes provisions for lawsuits brought by debt collectors. Specifically, § 1692i addresses the venue for such lawsuits. It provides: § 1692i. Legal actions by debt collectors

FDCPA Class Actions Statutes & Rules Uncategorized

Hapin v. Arrow Financial: Defense Motion to Dismiss FDCPA Class Action Granted Because Debt Collector Letter Not Misleading California Court Holds

California Federal Court Finds Letter Referring to Debtor as “Customer” and to Debt Collector as “Account Representative,” and Offering to “Help” Resolve Debt, Not Misleading Under Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, But Allegation That Debt Collector Sought to Recover Excess Interest Sufficient to Survive Motion to Dismiss

In January 2006, a putative class action was filed in California federal court against Arrow Financial Services alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1692 et seq. (FDCPA), and its California equivalent, California Civil Code, §§1788 et seq. Hapin v. Arrow Fin. Serv., 428 F.Supp.2d 1057, 1059 (N.D. Cal. 2006). Plaintiff’s lawyer asserted that the debt collector letter from Arrow was “false, deceptive, and misleading” in that it (1) described plaintiff as a “customer,” (2) characterized the debt collector as an “account representative,” and (3) offered to “‘help Plaintiff regain his financial future . . . [and] by the false . . . characterization of debt as helping “regain his financial future.”’” Id. The complaint also alleged that Arrow sought to collect excessive interest, id. Defense attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the class action complaint, which the California federal court granted in part and denied in part.

Class Action Court Decisions Class Actions In The News FDCPA Class Actions Uncategorized

Multiple Debts (15 U.S.C. § 1692h): Federal Statutory Language for the Defense Lawyer of Class Action Lawsuits Under the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act)

Class action defense attorneys know that many provisions of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq., form the basis of class actions, other provisions do not appear to be controversial. For example, even if a plaintiff’s lawyer has argued a violation of § 1692h, concerning multiple debts, it appears that it has not yet generated any appellate decisions. The statutory language of the FDCPA concerning multiple debts is as follows:

FDCPA Class Actions Statutes & Rules Uncategorized

Validation of Debts (15 U.S.C. § 1692g): Statutory Language for the Defense Lawyer of Class Action Lawsuits Under the Federal FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act)

Federal class action defense attorneys know that the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq., provides debtors with a means for challenging payoff demands and determining the validity and accuracy of asserted debts. The specific statutory language of the FDCPA concerning the validation of debts is quoted below: § 1692g. Validation of debts (a) Notice of debt; contents Within five days after the initial communication with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt, a debt collector shall, unless the following information is contained in the initial communication or the consumer has paid the debt, send the consumer a written notice containing–

FDCPA Class Actions Statutes & Rules Uncategorized

Unfair Practices (15 U.S.C. § 1692f): Statutory Language for the Class Action Defense Lawyer of Lawsuits Under the Federal FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act)

A defense lawyer in a federal class action under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq., often confronts allegations of “unfair practices” by debt collectors. As a resource to attorneys in class actions, we here provide the statutory language of the FDCPA relevant to such claims: § 1692f. Unfair practices A debt collector may not use unfair or unconscionable means to collect or attempt to collect any debt.

FDCPA Class Actions Statutes & Rules Uncategorized

False or Misleading Representations (15 U.S.C. § 1692e): Statutory Language for the Defense Lawyer of Class Action Lawsuits Under Federal FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act)

Defense attorneys often deal with class actions under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq., alleging false or misleading representations made by debt collectors. As a resource for the class action defense lawyer, we set forth the language of the application statute under the FDCPA: § 1692e. False or misleading representations A debt collector may not use any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt.

FDCPA Class Actions Statutes & Rules Uncategorized

Harassment or Abuse (15 U.S.C. § 1692d): Federal Statutory Language for the Defense Lawyer of Class Action Lawsuits Under the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act)

As a resource for federal defense lawyer defending against class actions under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq., we provide on this site the text of the FDCPA. Attorneys in FDCPA class action cases often concern communications from debt collectors, which is governed by the following statute: § 1692d. Harassment or abuse A debt collector may not engage in any conduct the natural consequence of which is to harass, oppress, or abuse any person in connection with the collection of a debt.

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