The CFPB recently updated its FAQs on the Reg F debt collection rule, including information about electronic communication, limited-content messaging and more. ACA will regularly feature updates on the FAQs when available from the CFPB.
01/30/2023 12:30 P.M.
3 minute read
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has published Debt Collection Rule FAQs for Regulation F, containing questions and answers that pertain to compliance with the rule. The FAQs cover call frequency issues, electronic communications, limited-content messages and more.
ACA International regularly highlights the bureau’s updates to the FAQs. Read on to learn about guidelines related to requirements for limited-content messages.
Q. Is a debt collector required to use their legal or registered Doing Business As (DBA) name in a limited-content message?
A. No. The Debt Collection Rule does not require the business name in a limited-content message to be the debt collector’s legal name or registered DBA.
As discussed in Debt Collection Limited-Content Messages Question 1, in order for a voicemail message to be a limited-content message under the Debt Collection Rule, the voicemail must contain certain required content, including a business name for the debt collector that does not indicate that the caller is in the business of collecting debts. 12 CFR Section 1006.2(j)(1). The Debt Collection Rule does not change existing case law regarding whether or what names indicate or do not indicate that a debt collector is in the debt collection business. For example, if a debt collector could properly use the business name on an envelope without violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act or the Debt Collection Rule, the debt collector could use the same business name in a limited-content message. 12 CFR Section 1006.22(f)(2). Further, as discussed in Debt Collection Limited-Content Messages Question 1, leaving a limited-content message does not violate the requirement to meaningfully disclose the caller’s identity with respect to that voicemail message, even though that message may contain abbreviations or may not include the debt collector’s full legal name. 12 CFR Section 1006.2(j) and Comment 2(j)-3.
State licensing or other laws, however, may require a debt collector to use their registered DBA when leaving messages for consumers. If a debt collector’s registered DBA indicates that the debt collector is in the business of debt collection, and if, pursuant to a state licensing or other legal requirement, the debt collector is required to use its registered DBA in a voicemail for a consumer, the voicemail would not be a limited-content message. 12 CFR Section 1006.2(j)(1).
In that case, because, under the Debt Collection Rule, a limited-content message must contain a business name and the business name must not indicate the caller is in the business of collecting debts, the debt collector would not be able to leave limited-content messages that comply with state law.
Additionally, a debt collector must also comply with all other applicable provisions of the Debt Collection Rule when disclosing their business name in a limited-content message, such as the prohibition against using false, deceptive, or misleading representations or means in connection with the collection of any debt. 12 CFR Section 1006.18(a).
For more information about the prohibition against false, deceptive, or misleading representations or means, see Section 8 in the Debt Collection Small Entity Compliance Guide .
Read the CFPB’s complete debt collection rule FAQs here.
Related Content from ACA International:
Reg F Question of the Week: Can a Person Limit Debt Collector Communications?
Reg F Question of the Week: What is the Opt-Out Notice Requirement for Electronic Communications?
Reg F Question of the Week: How Long is a Consumer’s Direct Prior Consent Valid?
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