
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 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.
