http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/letters/nants2.htm
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20580
March 1, 1989
Mr. Bruce A. Nants
13 South Magnolia Avenue
Post Office Box 547871
Orlando, Florida 32854
Dear Mr. Nants:
Ms. Rachelle V. Browne has asked me to respond to your inquiry of January 18, 1989, regarding the venue provisions of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ("Act"). In your letter you describe a situation in which a law firm that is clearly subject to the Act files several thousand collection suits against credit cardholders for debts, owed on their VISA and MasterCard credit card accounts. These cards are issued based on the personal credit qualifications of the individual cardholders. You also indicate that the suits name only individuals and not businesses, corporations, partnerships, or trusts. Your question concerns the applicability of Section 811 of the Act -- the venue provision -- to such suits when the credit card debts are of both a business and personal nature.
As you note, Section 803 (5) defines "debt" to mean an obligation arising from a transaction in which the goods or services that are the subject of the transaction are for "personal, family, or household purposes." Thus, debts incurred for business or commercial purposes are not covered by the Act. Your question is whether and to what extent the Act applies in situations where a consumer's VISA or MasterCard account is used for both personal as well as business expenses. You ask, for example, whether some percentage of the purchases made with a credit card must be business-related in order for the concomitant debts to be excluded from the Act.
Purchases made on credit card accounts may involve debts that are and are not covered by the Act. Each credit card transaction constitutes a separate and distinct item for purposes of the Act. Thus, rather than considering the account as a whole, we would look to each transaction to determine whether related debts are subject to the Act. However, we acknowledge that it may be impractical for an attorney suing to collect delinquent balances on a credit card account to distinguish between those debts that are subject to the Act and those that are not.
In order to avoid violating the Act, an attorney debt collector who sues to collect on a credit card account issued in the name of an individual, as opposed to a business, should probably assume, absent evidence to the contrary, that the account is used, at least in part, for personal expenses and that therefore, some or all of the obligations incurred constitute "debts" under the Act. If any of the individual transactions underlying an unpaid credit card balance represent consumer debts, then any legal action taken to collect those debts must comply with the provisions of Section 811. The percentage of consumer debt in the balance is irrelevant so long as at least one transaction falls in that category. In those cases, the attorney would be required to file suit only in the judicial district where the consumer signed the contract sued upon or where the consumer resides at the commencement of the action.(1)
Please note that these comments represent unofficial staff opinion and, as such, are not binding on the Commission or any court. They do, however, constitute the staff's present enforcement position.
Sincerely,
Laureen France
Investigative Specialist
Division of Credit Practices
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1. However, in the case of an action to enforce an interest in real property securing the consumer's obligation, Section 811 (a) (1) requires that the action be brought only in the judicial district where the real property is located.
FTC Informal Staff Opinion: Nants (03-01-89)
This folder examines the definition of "debt" under the FDCPA. Whether a "debt" is the subject matter will determine whether the FDCPA applies. Case law and the definition under the FDCPA differentiate consumer debt from business-related debt.
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- ↳ Consumer : Who is a "Consumer"?
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- Cease and Desist Letters, Dispute Letters, and Validation Letters
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- Do You Have a Right to Bring Claims and How Long Do You Have?
- ↳ Standing: An Important Question
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- FDCPA Litigation Strategies and Procedural Issues and Law
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- State Debt Collection Statutes, Cases and Laws
- ↳ Alabama: 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