Support the End Debt Collector Abuse Act!

Support the End Debt Collector Abuse Act!

The Issue

Since the recession began, aggressive debt collectors have gone completely overboard. In several states, debt collection agencies have been involved in unethical, illegal uses of law enforcement to sort out unpaid debts, resulting in modern day debtors prisons. Recent abusive practices by debt collectors have been well documented by both the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Government Accountability Office.

Minnesota Senator Al Franken and Florida Senator George LeMieux have introduced the bipartisan End Debt Collector Abuse Act, the key to ending systematic abuses by debt collectors and a consumer advocacy law that will help empower people to know their rights about unpaid debts.

The End Debt Collector Abuse Act will prohibit collectors from seeking arrest warrants for overdue bills and thus end misuse of law enforcement in seeking debt repayment. It will no longer be acceptable to jail debtors simply on the basis of unpaid bills. The bill will also increase penalties against aggressive lenders who break the law. It will help put a stop to those who use the legal system for private profit.

Photo credit: lemonjenny

avatar of the starter
Brittany ShootPetition StarterI'm a freelance writer, editor, and critic. I'm one of the editors of Elevate Difference, a frequent contributor to a variety of progressive publications including Bitch and RH Reality Check, and my work has been republished by The New York Times and ZNet. My writing often focuses on gender equity, the environment, food, animal rights, and class disparities in the U.S. I'm a former writer for both the Poverty in America and Women's Rights causes.
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This petition had 1,073 supporters

The Issue

Since the recession began, aggressive debt collectors have gone completely overboard. In several states, debt collection agencies have been involved in unethical, illegal uses of law enforcement to sort out unpaid debts, resulting in modern day debtors prisons. Recent abusive practices by debt collectors have been well documented by both the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Government Accountability Office.

Minnesota Senator Al Franken and Florida Senator George LeMieux have introduced the bipartisan End Debt Collector Abuse Act, the key to ending systematic abuses by debt collectors and a consumer advocacy law that will help empower people to know their rights about unpaid debts.

The End Debt Collector Abuse Act will prohibit collectors from seeking arrest warrants for overdue bills and thus end misuse of law enforcement in seeking debt repayment. It will no longer be acceptable to jail debtors simply on the basis of unpaid bills. The bill will also increase penalties against aggressive lenders who break the law. It will help put a stop to those who use the legal system for private profit.

Photo credit: lemonjenny

avatar of the starter
Brittany ShootPetition StarterI'm a freelance writer, editor, and critic. I'm one of the editors of Elevate Difference, a frequent contributor to a variety of progressive publications including Bitch and RH Reality Check, and my work has been republished by The New York Times and ZNet. My writing often focuses on gender equity, the environment, food, animal rights, and class disparities in the U.S. I'm a former writer for both the Poverty in America and Women's Rights causes.
Media inquiries

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Petition created on October 3, 2010