Articles and Guides

Your knowledge deepened. Relevant compliance articles and comprehensive guides are written to broaden your understanding in compliance responsibilities.

Compliance-Related Articles

Compliance articles authored by ACA's compliance team featured in ACA International's flagship publication, Collector^® magazine, from 2014 to present.

2017

• Full Disclosure
  Can debt collectors send sensitive consumer information through the CFPB’s compliant portal?  
• ID, Please
  What you need to know about California’s Identity Theft Resolution Act 
• Got Accuracy and Integrity
  ​​​​​​​What data furnishers need to know about the FCRA and Regulation V 
• New Year, New Policies
  Three reasons to update your compliance management system  

2016

• Understanding the National Consumer Assistance Plan
  What’s already here and what’s coming​​​​​
• License to Communicate
  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Answers to some common questions about state licenses and consumer communication
• UDAAP: "A" is for Abusive
  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Recent CFPB enforcement actions have provided some specific examples of what is considered “abusive” conduct. 
• To Delete or Not to Delete?
  Debt collectors sometimes ask whether it's permissible to delete information from a consumer's credit report. The short answer is: it depends on why you're deleting the information.
• Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen 
  Serious problems can arise if multiple entities attempt to collect.
• Identifiable Elements 
  The CFPB's areas of focus.
• Call Me Maybe?
  Understanding prior express consent and its revocation under the TCPA.
• Tracking the Trends 
  Data from the CFPB complaint database may highlight potential areas of compliance risk.
• Knock, Knock, Who’s There?
  In-person collection attempts may present heightened compliance risks for collection agencies.
• Full Disclosure
  ACA answers three common questions about the mini-Miranda.
• CFPB Issues Bulletin on FCRA Compliance
  Furnishers must implement policies and procedures spelling out how they will provide accurate information to all consumer reporting agencies.
• Working with Consumer Reporting Agencies
  Are you providing the correct date of delinquency?
• To Disclose or Not to Disclose?
  When to tell consumers that their debt is out of statute.
• Sizing Up Your Collection Notices
  Are you following the legal requirements for font sizes and colors?
• New Restrictions
  CRAs are implementing changes to the consumer reporting process.

2015

• Clues From the CFPB’s Consent Orders 
  The CFBP's recent consent orders with two debt buyers may provide some foreshadowing for the collection industry.
• Answering an Old Question
  Can out-of-statute debt appear on a consumer's credit report.
• Planning Ahead
  Four essential takeaways from the CFPB's examination procedures.
• Do you have a Permissible Purpose?
  In order to review a consumer report, collectors must consider the source of the debt.
• Who Are You?
  Verifying that the person on the other end of the line is the right person.
• Winds of Change
  What collection agencies should be doing now.
• Compliance Checkpoints 
  Use the CFPB's Supervisory Highlights reports to refine your compliance management system.
• Me Too?
  Compliance with the FDCPA for creditors.
• Out-of-Stat Debt Complexity 
  Three frequently asked questions about collecting out-of-statute debt.
• Communication Challenges
  Federal and state laws have specific requirements for communicating with third parties.
• Privacy Matters
  Collection agencies should review their business associate agreements to ensure they are current.

2014

• Enhancing Accuracy
  CFPB actions bolster the need strong policies regarding accuracy and integrity of information.
• Navigating the Regulatory Environment
  CFPB bulletins provide insight the bureau's compliance expectations.
• New Rules for Old Debts
  Some jurisdictions have enacted stringent disclosure requirements for out-of-statute debts.
• Handling Consumer Disputes
  How to handle disputes.
• Military Matters: Compliant Collections
  Agencies should have policies and procedures in place regarding service members' accounts.