The California Assembly on July 1, 2013 passed the Fair Debt Buying Practices Act by a unanimous vote, ushering in a new set of protections for consumers dealing with debt collectors.
The bill, sponsored by Attorney General Kamala D. Harris, passed the Assembly after clearing the Senate earlier in 2013 with a 36-0 vote.
The bill, which becomes effective as of January 1, 2014, will require debt buyers to have in their possession a significant amount of account information before debt collection efforts can begin.
In addition, debt buyers who collect against California consumers must also use very specific language in their debt collection communications.
Hat tip to the folks at InsideARM, a trade publication for the debt collection industry, for the information. We’ll be dissecting the Fair Debt Buying Practices Act in the coming weeks and months, helping you understand this new and powerful law better.