§1692d — Title 15 Commerce and Trade | U.S. Code

Summary

Debt collectors cannot do things that clearly scare, bother, or hurt people when trying to collect a debt. That rule covers threats or violence, using obscene or abusive words, publishing lists of people who won’t pay (except to credit agencies or other allowed recipients), advertising a debt for sale to force payment, repeated annoying phone calls, and calling without saying who they are unless section 1692b allows it.

Title 15, §1692d

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

A debt collector may not engage in any conduct the natural consequence of which is to harass, oppress, or abuse any person in connection with the collection of a debt. Without limiting the general application of the foregoing, the following conduct is a violation of this section: (1)

(2)The use of obscene or profane language or language the natural consequence of which is to abuse the hearer or reader.

(3)The publication of a list of consumers who allegedly refuse to pay debts, except to a consumer reporting agency or to persons meeting the requirements of section 1681a(f) or 1681b(3) 11 See References in Text note below. of this title.

(4)The advertisement for sale of any debt to coerce payment of the debt.

(5)Causing a telephone to ring or engaging any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass any person at the called number.

(6)Except as provided in section 1692b of this title, the placement of telephone calls without meaningful disclosure of the caller’s identity.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 1681b(3) of this title, referred to in par. (3), was redesignated section 1681b(a)(3) of this title by Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title II, § 2403(a)(1), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–430.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective upon the expiration of six months after Sept. 20, 1977, see section 819 of Pub. L. 90–321, as added by Pub. L. 95–109, set out as a note under section 1692 of this title.

§1692d Harassment or abuse