April 2020

Recognizing the impact of the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) health crisis, the North America Collection Agency Regulatory Association (“NACARA”) recently released a message offering information and guidance to consumers, financial institutions, including debt buyers and collection agencies, and fellow regulators.

Consumers and Commercial Debtors

Noting that many consumers and commercial debtors may face difficulties in repaying accounts

Consumers may be struggling to come to grips with a “new normal” during the ongoing coronavirus (“COVID-19”) epidemic, but fraudsters are pressing forward with a variety of online scams and fraudulent conduct, swindling millions of dollars from American consumers just in a matter of weeks.

The Federal Trade Commission reports a recent spike in complaints

On March 27, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz clarified that Executive Order 20-20, which directed Minnesota residents to stay at home, applies to debt collection professionals. Due to ongoing coronavirus (“COVID-19”) concerns, Executive Order 20-20, which will remain in effect until April 10, 2020, orders all persons living in the State of Minnesota to stay

On March 30, 2020, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals issued its long awaited en banc decision in Riccio v. Sentry Credit, Inc., overruling decades-old precedent and holding Section 1692g(a)(3) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) allows debtors to dispute a debt orally as well as in writing. See No. 18-1463 (3d