Debt collection expert Bill Bartmann is on a crusade across America to raise awareness of debt collection abuse. His latest stop landed him in Washington DC to present his recommendations to Congressman Barney Frank and members of the House Financial Services Committee. It his part of Bartmann’s “Stop These Criminals” campaign, aimed at making regulatory changes in the debt collection business.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), there were 140,036 consumer complaints against debt collectors in 2010. One of Bartmann’s goals is to update the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act of 1978, which is the federal law that regulates debt collectors. Some of Bartmann’s recommendations include:
- Require all collection agencies and collectors to be licensed
- Allow consumers to record phone calls from collection agencies
- Raise the requirements for filing a lawsuit on credit card debt
- Require an annual compliance audit for all collection agencies
Oklahoma recently enacted a new law adopting Bartmann’s recommendations for providing protection to people dealing with abusive debt collectors.
If your credit card debt is out of control, a Washington DC bankruptcy lawyer can provide useful bankruptcy information. Contact a Washington DC attorney to find out if Chapter 7 is an option for you. A free telephone consultation is available.
