Hopefully you all had an enjoyable holiday season. Now that 2019 is in this history books here is a quick recap of some key legislative changes or rulings that have taken place.
FCC Approves Call Blocking
The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has allowed voice service providers to block illegal and unwanted calls by default. This means that such calls will be blocked before they reach consumers’ phones. Providers must now inform consumers about an option to opt out of the call blocking service. Additionally, voice service providers may offer customer to block from any number not listed on a customer contact list.
Maine Passes Law Protecting Consumers
Back in June the Maine Governor signed a new law intended to protect consumers from “economic abuse.” The bill provided a definition of “economic abuse,” along with outlining rules for debt collectors and credit reporting agencies to follow when consumers present evidence economic abuse.
Email and the FDCPA
A Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals decision on emails, disclosure notices and compliance with the FDCPA may potentially impact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s proposed rules for the 1977 law.
Supreme Court Ruling on the ‘Discovery Rule’
In early December the Supreme Court released its long-awaited opinion in Rotkiske v. Klemm, a case examining the statute of limitations under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq. At issue in the case was a default judgment granted against Rotkiske after serving him through an unknown person at his last known address. While the “discovery rule” may no longer be used by FDCPA plaintiffs, they may still apply through the application of a longer statute of limitations due to legitimate reasons, such as fraud. Because of this ruling arguments relevant to the FDCPA’s statute of limitations will likely continue.
Does your business or practice need help collecting outstanding AR?
As you can see the “world” of collecting outstanding payments is fraught with legal loopholes, rule changes and possible liability as you try to collect what you’re owed. Which is why hiring a professional agency is the best course of action to take when you need to collect some (or all?) of your outstanding revenue.
Click the link and compare free collection agency quotes today.
After all, when you get down to it you really have two choices:
- keep doing what you’re doing (and hope for a different result), or
- find a national collection agency that will help you recover what’s rightfully yours.
Either way you decide… it’s your money.