The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is proposing a new rule that would allow debt collectors to send consumers an unlimited number of texts and emails.
The agency says that its rule would be good for consumers. The Washington Post reports, however, that consumer advocates worry the CFPB is giving the industry a new way to violate consumers’ privacy. "While many Americans understand how to deal with a pesky creditor calling their landline, their texts, emails and social media are new, more personal territory."
The proposed rule would also cap a debt collector's calls to a consumer at seven calls each week, and provide that the debt collector could not call again for one week after reaching the consumer.
The proposed rule is here. The Washington Post article is here.