§ 1692c. — Communication in connection with debt collection.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC1692c]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 41--CONSUMER CREDIT PROTECTION
SUBCHAPTER V--DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES
Sec. 1692c. Communication in connection with debt collection
(a) Communication with the consumer generally
Without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt
collector or the express permission of a court of competent
jurisdiction, a debt collector may not communicate with a consumer in
connection with the collection of any debt--
(1) at any unusual time or place or a time or place known or
which should be known to be inconvenient to the consumer. In the
absence of knowledge of circumstances to the contrary, a debt
collector shall assume that the convenient time for communicating
with a consumer is after 8 o'clock antemeridian and before 9 o'clock
postmeridian, local time at the consumer's location;
(2) if the debt collector knows the consumer is represented by
an attorney with respect to such debt and has knowledge of, or can
readily ascertain, such attorney's name and address, unless the
attorney fails to respond within a reasonable period of time to a
communication from the debt collector or unless the attorney
consents to direct communication with the consumer; or
(3) at the consumer's place of employment if the debt collector
knows or has reason to know that the consumer's employer prohibits
the consumer from receiving such communication.
(b) Communication with third parties
Except as provided in section 1692b of this title, without the prior
consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector, or the
express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, or as
reasonably necessary to effectuate a postjudgment judicial remedy, a
debt collector may not communicate, in connection with the collection of
any debt, with any person other than the consumer, his attorney, a
consumer reporting agency if otherwise permitted by law, the creditor,
the attorney of the creditor, or the attorney of the debt collector.
(c) Ceasing communication
If a consumer notifies a debt collector in writing that the consumer
refuses to pay a debt or that the consumer wishes the debt collector to
cease further communication with the consumer, the debt collector shall
not communicate further with the consumer with respect to such debt,
except--
(1) to advise the consumer that the debt collector's further
efforts are being terminated;
(2) to notify the consumer that the debt collector or creditor
may invoke specified remedies which are ordinarily invoked by such
debt collector or creditor; or
(3) where applicable, to notify the consumer that the debt
collector or creditor intends to invoke a specified remedy.
If such notice from the consumer is made by mail, notification shall be
complete upon receipt.
(d) ``Consumer'' defined
For the purpose of this section, the term ``consumer'' includes the
consumer's spouse, parent (if the consumer is a minor), guardian,
executor, or administrator.
(Pub. L. 90-321, title VIII, Sec. 805, as added Pub. L. 95-109, Sept.
20, 1977, 91 Stat. 876.)
