The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) was passed in 1977 as a means to protect consumers and debtors from harassment or unfair treatment by debt collectors. In 1986, an amendment was made to include only those attorneys who collect debts as a regular part of their practice. Debt collectors must abide by FDCPA rules when attempting to collect delinquent debts. Although this law has afforded debtors some protection, private collectors still resort to underhanded scare tactics. If the collector is from the original retailer or lending institution, the FDCPA holds no restriction to debt collection practices. In this case, complaints of excessive telephone calls within a short time period or threats which go beyond litigation are often hard to restrict.

To read The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in its entirety, visit
http://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/rules/6500-1300.html#6500titleviiidcp