§ 1692. — Congressional findings and declaration of purpose.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC1692]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 41--CONSUMER CREDIT PROTECTION
SUBCHAPTER V--DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES
Sec. 1692. Congressional findings and declaration of purpose
(a) Abusive practices
There is abundant evidence of the use of abusive, deceptive, and
unfair debt collection practices by many debt collectors. Abusive debt
collection practices contribute to the number of personal bankruptcies,
to marital instability, to the loss of jobs, and to invasions of
individual privacy.
(b) Inadequacy of laws
Existing laws and procedures for redressing these injuries are
inadequate to protect consumers.
(c) Available non-abusive collection methods
Means other than misrepresentation or other abusive debt collection
practices are available for the effective collection of debts.
(d) Interstate commerce
Abusive debt collection practices are carried on to a substantial
extent in interstate commerce and through means and instrumentalities of
such commerce. Even where abusive debt collection practices are purely
intrastate in character, they nevertheless directly affect interstate
commerce.
(e) Purposes
It is the purpose of this subchapter to eliminate abusive debt
collection practices by debt collectors, to insure that those debt
collectors who refrain from using abusive debt collection practices are
not competitively disadvantaged, and to promote consistent State action
to protect consumers against debt collection abuses.
(Pub. L. 90-321, title VIII, Sec. 802, as added Pub. L. 95-109, Sept.
20, 1977, 91 Stat. 874.)
Effective Date
Section 818 of title VIII of Pub. L. 90-321, as added Pub. L. 95-
109, provided that: ``This title [enacting this subchapter] takes effect
upon the expiration of six months after the date of its enactment [Sept.
20, 1977], but section 809 [section 1692g of this title] shall apply
only with respect to debts for which the initial attempt to collect
occurs after such effective date.''
Short Title
This subchapter known as the ``Fair Debt Collection Practices Act'',
see Short Title note set out under section 1601 of this title.
