Submission Number: 00121 

Received: 11/30/2010 10:16:58 AM
Commenter: Jeremy Davis
Organization: 
State: Virginia
Agency: Federal Trade Commission
Initiative: Statement of Policy Regarding Communications in Connection with Collection of a Decedent’s Debt; Project No. P104806
Attachments: No Attachments
Submission Text
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits abusive and deceptive practices by third-party debt collectors, including contacts with unobligated family members, friends and neighbors for any purpose except to seek contact information for those who owe debts. This proposed policy could undermine that prohibition, and provide a cover for debt collectors who persuade friends and family members to reach into their own pockets to pay debts allegedly owed by dead consumers. This is absolutely ridiculous. The FTC should strengthen protections for grieving families and friends, not open the door to debt collection efforts that often aim to exploit the vulnerability of the bereaved.