http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/le ... kowitz.htm
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20580
July 18, 1990
Michael Paskowitz, Esquire
Siegel, Kelleher & Kahn
22 Evans Street
Williamsville, New York 14221
Dear Mr. Paskowitz:
This is in response to your letter concerning the applicability for the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ("FDCPA") (15 U.S.C. 1692 et. seq.) and the Guides Against Debt Collection Deception (16 C.F.R. 237) to certain child support issues. You ask whether child support arrears, which has been reduced to judgment is to be considered a debt under the Act? If so, you ask (1) whether the person to whom such an obligation is owed is considered to be a creditor under the Act and, likewise, (2) whether the person who owes such an obligation is considered to be a debtor?
Finally, you ask whether ". . . the activities of an agency with whom the obligor contracts, are governed by the FDCPA and the regulations enacted pursuant thereto."
I am enclosing a copy of recent informal staff opinions that are dispositive of the issue of applicability of the FDCPA to the factual situations set out in your first three questions. I have also enclosed for your assistance a copy of the Staff Commentary on the FDCPA, 53 Fed. Reg. 50097 (December 13, 1988).
I do not understand question four. The contractual relationship to which you refer is unclear; likewise the nature of the debt and the identity of the agency you mention would be important to our answer. Without further information, therefore, I am unable to address this question.
You also inquire as to the applicability of the Guides Against Debt Collection Deception to the facts set out in your first three questions. Child support arrears would fall within the definition of debt as set out in 16 CFR 237.0 (b); the person to whom the obligation is owed would fall within the definition of creditor set out in 16 CFR 237.0 (d); finally, the person who owes such an obligation would fall within the definition of debtor as set out in 16 CFR 237.0 (c). Please bear in mind, however, that for all practical purposes, the Act has superseded the guides in terms of what we now actively enforce.
I hope this information will be helpful. The foregoing views are those of the Commission's staff and as such are not binding upon the Commission.
Please accept my apology for the tardiness of this reply, I can only plead the press of other matters.
Sincerely,
Roger J. Fitzpatrick
Attorney
Division of Credit Practices
FTC Informal Staff Opinion: Paskowitz (07-18-90)
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FTC Informal Staff Opinion: Paskowitz (07-18-90)
Post by David A. Szwak »
David Szwak
Chairman, Consumer Protection Section, Louisiana State Bar Association
Bodenheimer, Jones & Szwak
509 Market Street, 7th Floor
Mid South Tower
Shreveport, Louisiana 71101
318-221-6444
Fax 318-221-6555
Chairman, Consumer Protection Section, Louisiana State Bar Association
Bodenheimer, Jones & Szwak
509 Market Street, 7th Floor
Mid South Tower
Shreveport, Louisiana 71101
318-221-6444
Fax 318-221-6555
Return to “Creditor : Who is a Creditor Under the FDCPA?”
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- General Discussions, Registration and Debt Collection-Related News Stories
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- ↳ Debt Collector Misrepresenting Affiliation: 15 U.S.C. 1692e[9]
- ↳ Arbitration, Forum Selection, Choice of Law, Choice of Venue and Other Adhesionary Clauses
- ↳ Additional Collection Fees, Interest, Surcharges and Other Assessments
- ↳ Potential Exposure For Sanctions Due to Filing Bad Faith FDCPA Cases: 15 U.S.C. 1692k[a][3], 28 U.S.C. 1927, and Fed.R.Civ.Proc. 11
- ↳ Collection of Parking Tickets, Traffic Citation Charges, Court Costs and Other Governmentally-Imposed Debts
- The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: Statute and Definitions
- ↳ FDCPA, 15 USC 1692, et. seq.
- ↳ FDCPA: Purposes and Policies
- ↳ Communication: Specifically Defined Under the FDCPA
- ↳ Consumer : Who is a "Consumer"?
- ↳ Creditor : Who is a Creditor Under the FDCPA?
- ↳ Debt: What Constitutes a "Debt" as Defined by the FDCPA? 15 U.S.C. 1692a[5]
- ↳ Debt Collector: Who is a Debt Collector?
- Cease and Desist Letters, Dispute Letters, and Validation Letters
- ↳ Validation Notice Under the FDCPA
- ↳ Dispute Letters to Collectors
- ↳ Cease and Desist: Calling Off the Debt Collection Dogs: How Do You Do It?
- ↳ Envelopes Marked Up
- Types of Damages, Remedies, and Awards Under the FDCPA and Related State Law Claims
- ↳ Jury and Bench Trial Verdicts and Awards
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- ↳ Injunctive Relief: Can I Get It Under the FDCPA?
- ↳ Declaratory Judgment Relief: Can I Get It Under the FDCPA?
- ↳ Damages Available Under the FDCPA
- Jurisdiction, Venue, Removal to Federal Court, Remand to State Court, and Other Jurisdiction Issues
- ↳ Personal Jurisdiction in FDCPA Cases
- ↳ Jurisdiction and Venue: Where Can You Bring Your FDCPA Lawsuit?
- ↳ Removal to Federal Court and Remand to State Court: Important Considerations When Suing or Being Sued: Do You Want to be in Federal Court or State Cou
- Respondeat Superior, Vicarious Liability, and Whether Others Are Liable
- ↳ Vicarious Liability/Respondeat Superior For Violations of the FDCPA
- FDCPA Preemption, Immunity, Bona Fide Error Defense, and Qualified Immunity
- ↳ FDCPA: Preemption of State Laws
- ↳ Bona Fide Error Defense: The Loophole
- Do You Have a Right to Bring Claims and How Long Do You Have?
- ↳ Standing: An Important Question
- ↳ Statute of Limitations: How Long Do You Have to Sue?
- FDCPA Litigation Strategies and Procedural Issues and Law
- ↳ Settlements, Releases, Confidentiality and Other Things You Need to Kow and Consider If You Settle Pre-Trial
- ↳ Offers of Judgment In FDCPA Litigation
- State Debt Collection Statutes, Cases and Laws
- ↳ Alabama: Debt Collection Act
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- ↳ Wisconsin: Debt Collection Act
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- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: AAAAAA
- ↳ Account Solutions Group
- ↳ Alegis/Sherman Acquisitions/Performance
- ↳ Allied Interstate f/k/a Coldata
- ↳ Allen, Lewis & Associates
- ↳ Alliance One
- ↳ Allstate Financial/Allstate Adjustment
- ↳ Aman Collection Service
- ↳ American Acceptance a/k/a National Acceptance
- ↳ American Coradius
- ↳ American Legal Recovery
- ↳ Ameriquest Recovery Services
- ↳ AMO Recoveries
- ↳ Ariel Financial Services
- ↳ Arrow Financial Services
- ↳ Asta Funding a/k/a Palisades Collections
- ↳ Asset Acceptance Corp.
- ↳ Atlantic Credit & Finance
- ↳ Attention, LLC
- ↳ Apex Financial A/K/A Hilco Receivables
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: BBBBBB
- ↳ Barnes, Curtis a/k/a Calfin a/k/a Con-America
- ↳ Barnford, Thomas a/k/a Elder, Timothy a/k/a Con-America a/k/a CACV/CACH
- ↳ Baumann Law Firm
- ↳ Bay Area Credit Services
- ↳ Bennett & Deloney
- ↳ Boivin, Lawrence Law Firm
- ↳ Booska, Steven Law Offices
- ↳ Boyajian Law Offices
- ↳ Bronson & Migliaccio
- ↳ Buffaloe & Associates
- ↳ Burgess, Douglas Law Offices
- ↳ Burak, Donald Law offices
- ↳ Bureaus Inc.
- ↳ Burke, Edward T. & Associates
- ↳ BOSS: Business Office Systems and Solutions
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: CCCCCC
- ↳ California Financial Credit Association
- ↳ Cambece, James
- ↳ Capital Corporation AKA Capital Collections
- ↳ Capital Management Services
- ↳ Capital One Bank and its Sister Entities [including Westmoreland Agency]
- ↳ Cavalry Portfolio Services
- ↳ Client Services, Inc.
- ↳ Cohen & Slamowitz a/k/a Gemini Recoveries
- ↳ Collect America a/k/a CACV a/k/a CACH
- ↳ CMKS Holdings, LLC a/k/a Stouwie & Mayo, PLLC
- ↳ Coldata Collection Agency
- ↳ Collect Corp.
- ↳ Collectech Systems
- ↳ Collins Law Office
- ↳ Colonial Credit Corp.
- ↳ Colorado Capital Investments
- ↳ Commonwealth Financial Systems
- ↳ Consumer Recovery Associates
- ↳ Continental Credit
- ↳ Collecto, Inc., d/b/a Collection Company of America
- ↳ Continental Fairways
- ↳ Convergys
- ↳ CPS Investigations
- ↳ Credit Collection Service
- ↳ Credit One, LLC
- ↳ Credit Store [The Credit Store]
- ↳ Credit Systems International
- ↳ Creditors Financial Group
- ↳ Creditors Interchange Receivable Management, LLC
- ↳ Capital Recovery Service [CRS]
- ↳ C. Water Recovery
- ↳ Credit Bureau of the South
- ↳ Credit Collections, Inc.
- ↳ Credigy Receivables
- ↳ Cadle Co., Inc.
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: DDDDDD
- ↳ D.C. Credit Services a/k/a David Cohen
- ↳ De Lage Landen Financial Services
- ↳ Daniels & Norelli, P.C. a/k/a Con America
- ↳ DeFede, John A. Esq. [John Defede, Esq.]
- ↳ DeJana, Richard Esq. [Richard DeJana, Esq.
- ↳ Delta Group aka Joseph, Ortiz & Epstein, LLC
- ↳ Dendy, Michael D. Esq.
- ↳ DMG Consulting
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: EEEEEE
- ↳ Ebbets Partners
- ↳ eCast Settlement
- ↳ Elder, Timothy L. / Barnford, Thomas K.
- ↳ Elite Recovery Services, Inc.
- ↳ Ellis Crosby and Associates
- ↳ Encore Receivable Management
- ↳ Endeavor Financial Partners, LLC
- ↳ ER Solutions
- ↳ Eskanos & Adler, PC
- ↳ Estate Recoveries
- ↳ Evans Law Offices
- ↳ ED Fund
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: FFFFFF
- ↳ Financial Credit Services
- ↳ FBCS Federal Bond & Collection Service
- ↳ Federal Credit Corp.
- ↳ Federal Credit Recovery/FCR Offices
- ↳ First Revenue Assurance
- ↳ French, WC (Bill), Law Offices of
- ↳ First Nationwide Resource Group
- ↳ Federal Adjustment Bureau
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: GGGGGG
- ↳ Go-More Financial, Inc.
- ↳ GC Services
- ↳ Gemini Recoveries, Inc.
- ↳ Giove Law Office, P.C.
- ↳ Global Acceptance Credit Company (GACC)
- ↳ Global Asset Investigation Services, LLC
- ↳ General Revenue Corp.
- ↳ Goggins & Lavintman, PA
- ↳ Gulf State Credit
- ↳ Great Seneca Financial Corp.
- ↳ Greenberg, Grant & Richards, Inc.
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: HHHHHH
- ↳ Hanna, Frederick J. & Assoc.
- ↳ Harker, John W. [CACV]
- ↳ Harrison Ross Byck, Esq.
- ↳ Harry Cohn and Scott M. Miller
- ↳ Hosto and Buchan
- ↳ Household Recovery Services Corp.
- ↳ Hudson & Keyse, LLC
- ↳ Hull & Associates, P.C.
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: IIIIII
- ↳ Integrity Resolution Group, LLC
- ↳ International Portfolio Management
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: JJJJJJ
- ↳ Javitch, Block & Rathbone L.L.P.
- ↳ Joseph, Ortiz & Epstein, LLC a/k/a Delta Group
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: KKKKKK
- ↳ Kay, Mitchell N., P.C. [Law Offices]
- ↳ Kravitz, Schnitzer, Sloane, Johnson & Eberhardy, CHTD
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: LLLLLL
- ↳ Lenahan Law Offices
- ↳ Lang, Richert & Patch
- ↳ LDG Financial Services II, LLC
- ↳ Leasecomm Corporation
- ↳ Legal Recovery Services, Inc.
- ↳ LHR, Inc.
- ↳ Love, Beal & Nixon, PC
- ↳ Lowery, Scott P., P.C. a/k/a CACH, LLC
- ↳ LTD Financial Services, L.P.
- ↳ LVNV Funding, LLC
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: MMMMMM
- ↳ Magnus Services, Inc.
- ↳ Mann-Bracken, LLC
- ↳ Marauder Corporation
- ↳ McKelvey Law Office
- ↳ Meadows Law Office - Sheree Meadows
- ↳ Mel S. Harris & Associates
- ↳ Merchant's Credit Guide Co.
- ↳ Messerli & Kramer
- ↳ Midland Credit Management, Inc.
- ↳ Mims, Jerry M., Lawyer
- ↳ Moore, Gerald E. & Associates
- ↳ MRS Associates, Inc.
- ↳ Myers & Porter, Attorneys
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: NNNNNN
- ↳ NCO Financial
- ↳ National Action Financial Services, Inc.
- ↳ National Acceptance
- ↳ National Asset Management
- ↳ National Asset Services Co.
- ↳ National Attorney's Network
- ↳ National Credit Adjusters
- ↳ National Enterprise Systems
- ↳ National Financial Systems
- ↳ National Revenue Corporation
- ↳ Nationwide Capital Recovery
- ↳ Nationwide Credit, Inc.
- ↳ Neuheisel Law Firm, PC
- ↳ New Horizon Credit, Inc.
- ↳ New Vision Financial
- ↳ North Shore Agency
- ↳ North Star Capital Acquisitions, LLC
- ↳ Northeast Credit & Collections
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: OOOOOO
- ↳ Omnia Credit Services
- ↳ O'Neill Management, Inc. Investigators
- ↳ Ozark Capital Corporation
- ↳ OSI/Outsourcing Solutions
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: PPPPPP
- ↳ Performance Capital Management
- ↳ Pacific Coast Collections (Alliance One)
- ↳ Palisades Collections, LLC
- ↳ Penn Credit Corporation
- ↳ Phillips & Burns, LLC
- ↳ Phillips & Cohen Associates, Ltd.
- ↳ Pinnacle Asset & Capital Management Grp, LLC
- ↳ Plaza Associates
- ↳ Portfolio Exchange
- ↳ Portfolio Management of Amherst, LLC.
- ↳ Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC
- ↳ Preferred Platinum Plan
- ↳ Prime Asset Recovery, Inc. / www.giovelawofficeexposed.com
- ↳ Pro Collect, Inc.
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: QQQQQQ
- ↳ Quadrant Group LLC - The Recycle Shop
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: RRRRRR
- ↳ Ranieri, Christopher, Law Office of
- ↳ RCS Centre Corp.
- ↳ Redline Recovery Services, LLC
- ↳ Regent & Associates, P.C.
- ↳ Resurgent Capital Services / Sherman Acquisitions
- ↳ Reynolds, Jacobson & Sloane, Attorneys
- ↳ Riddle [Jessie Riddle] & Associates
- ↳ Risk Management Alternatives (RMA)
- ↳ RJM Acquisitions, LLC
- ↳ Roach, Larry, Law Offices of
- ↳ Rosenthal & Colby, Inc.
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: SSSSSS
- ↳ Sherman Acquisitions
- ↳ Sagres Company, (the)
- ↳ Scherr, Harold E. , Attorney / Con-America
- ↳ Schreiber and Associates, PC.
- ↳ Shekinah, Inc.
- ↳ Sherman Financial Group/Alegis (SDB)
- ↳ Specified Credit Association
- ↳ Stanley Weinberg & Associates
- ↳ Steinbrenner, Carl A.
- ↳ Stevens & James Debt Collectors
- ↳ Sky Recovery Services
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: TTTTTT
- ↳ Tabula Rasa, Inc.
- ↳ Taylor, Jay A., PC [Jay A. Taylor, Esq.]
- ↳ Titan Recovery Group
- ↳ Transcontinental Adjustment Corp.
- ↳ Trauner Cohen & Thomas f/k/a Trauner King & Cohen
- ↳ Triadvantage Credit Services
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: UUUUUU
- ↳ Unifund Group Corp. a/k/a Unifund CCR Partners, LLC
- ↳ United Creditors
- ↳ United Legal Corp.
- ↳ United Recovery System
- ↳ US Audit Control
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: VVVVVV
- ↳ Van Ru Credit Corp.
- ↳ Varde
- ↳ Vasques, Luis, Attorney [Luis E. Vasques, Esq.]
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: WWWWWW
- ↳ Wexler & Wexler, PA
- ↳ Wolpoff & Abramson, LLP
- ↳ Weltman, Weinberg & Reis
- ↳ Wendt Law Offices
- ↳ West Asset Management
- ↳ Westmoreland Agency [Capital One Bank]
- ↳ Winn and Sims, PC
- ↳ Wolf, Jack, PA [Jack Wolf, Esq.]
- ↳ Wolpoff & Abramson, LLP
- ↳ Wolter, Warren H, Attorney [Warren H. Wolter, Esq.]
- ↳ Worldwide Asset Purchasing, LLC
- ↳ Wright, Makel Ann, Esq. [Makel Ann Wright, Esq.]
- Debt Collection Companies and Attorneys: ZZZZZZ
- ↳ Zenith Acquisitions Corporation
- ↳ Zwicker & Associates, PC